DIFFUSIVITY & THE
MECHANISM OF MASS
TRANSFER
CE2207
Transport Phenomena
Universitas Pertamina
2020
What will be discussed
Viscosity & mechanism of momentum transport
Basic equations for momentum transport in laminar &
Momentum turbulent flow
Friction factors
Macroscopic momentum balance
Transport Thermal conductivity & the mechanism of heat transfer
Phenomena Heat
Basic equations for heat transfer in laminar & turbulent
flow
Diffusivity & mechanism of mass transfer
Mass Basic equations for mass transfer in laminar &
turbulent flow
Similarity in transport phenomena
Momentum Heat Mass
Basic Laws Newton’s law of Fourier’s law of
viscosity thermal conductivity
Transport properties Dynamic viscosity thermal conductivity
Kinematic viscosity thermal diffusivity
Profiles Velocity Temperature
Fluxes Momentum flux Heat flux
Equations of change Eq. of Motion/ Navier- Eq. of Energy +
Stokes (Appendix B6) Dissipation function
(Appendix B7 & B9)
Main Topics Objective
• Fick’s law of binary diffusion • To estimate the diffusivity of fluids at
• Self diffusion & binary diffusion various temperature and pressure
• Dimensionless Number (Schmidt & • To estimate the diffusivity of
Lewis) gases/gas mixtures at low density
• P & T dependence of diffusivity
• Diffusivity of gases at low density
• Diffusivity of liquid
Reference:
Chapter 17 : Bird, R.B., Stewart, W.E., Lightfoot, E.N., “Transport
Phenomena”, revised 2nd edition.
What is diffusion?
When molecules bump into each other (due to external force, random/brownian movement, or
etc.) and therefore disperse/diffuse through space → facilitate mass/molecular transport of
substance → The ability to diffuse is called as Diffusivity
Diffusion (2) Hardening of steel
Example by carbon diffusion
(carburizing)
(1) Working mechanism of
catalysts
(3) Doping of n-type silicon semiconductor with phospor
[Link]
Fick’s Law of Binary Diffusion Mass flow rate of helium (substance A) in y
direction per unit area is proportional to
the mass fraction difference divided by the
plate thickness.
Helium
diffuses in
silica
ρ is the density, DAB (m2/s or cm2/s) is the
diffusivity of the binary (A-B) system. In
Helium
differential form, mass flux:
diffuses in
silica
Final
concentration
profile
Notations
When concentration is uniform, random
movement of molecules only
the movement of one chemical species A through a binary mixture of A and B
because of a concentration gradient of A.
Dimensionless Numbers
Effect of Lewis Number on bunsen flame intensity
Indicate which transport process is more
prominent in a system
How to estimate the diffusivity
of binary mixtures?
P & T DEPENDENCE
Method 1: Using equation 17.2-1 (at low pressure)
Should not be used for He or H2 isotopes
Error 6-8%
Nonpolar pairs
Nonpolar gas + H2O
P & T DEPENDENCE
Method 2: Using Corresponding
states plot (Figure 17.2-1)
Self diffusivity for nonpolar
substances
Data are based on few substances
Usually for high pressure
For binary mixtures:
P & T DEPENDENCE
Method 2: Using Corresponding states plot (Figure 17.2-1)
Critical diffusivity (cDAA*)c can be estimated by:
a) cDAA* at known P&T → read (cDAA*)r from the graph→ calculate (cDAA*)c
b) Use empirical formula to estimate critical diffusivity:
For binary diffusion:
GAS AT LOW DENSITY
Chapman-Enskog theory
Gas at Low Density
Chapman-Enskog theory
(1) Lennard-Jones parameter using Table E1 & E2:
• Table E1,
• Calculate
• Read from Table E2
(2) Lennard-Jones parameters from critical properties:
Fluids, at critical point
Liquid, at boiling point
Solids , at melting point
LIQUIDS
Wilke-Chang Equation
For solvent at low/dilute concentration
Good for solution with nondissociating solutes
Error ~10%
LIQUIDS
from hydrodynamic model, for dilute solution, usually not good for binary diffusion
Stoke-Einstein equation (no slip condition)
Diffusion of very large molecules (eg. Protein) in solvents with low molecular weight
Self diffusion (complete slip condition)
(eg. Liquid metal, molten sulfur, etc.)
Discussion questions:
1. Define the difference between diffusivity and self diffusivity
2. Explain why diffusivity can influence mass transfer
3. Solve the following problem and determine which diffusivity estimation
method is the most suitable for those condition.
EXERCISE
1) Estimate the diffusivity of CO2-air system at 293 K and 1 atm. Which method is the most
accurate? State your reason. (Experimental value of DAB = 0.151 cm2/s)
Ans . 17-2-1 (because it’s at low pressure) or 17.3-12 (low density) → Pr
2) Calculate Schmidt number for question (1) if CO2 concentration in the mixture is 5% mol. Use
additional references if necessary. What does the value mean?
a b Ma/Mb Miu a/Miu b Phi
CO2 CO2
Air
Air CO2
Air
𝜌𝑚𝑖𝑥 = 𝑥𝑎 𝜌𝑎
𝑎=1
END