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Diffusion Calculations in Palladium

This document is a tutorial on diffusion in the context of Mech-2410, covering key concepts such as diffusion flux and Fick's laws. It includes several questions and solutions related to the calculation of hydrogen diffusion through palladium sheets, as well as discussions on diffusion coefficients and error functions. The tutorial is authored by Huang Xinyue and dated April 14, 2025.

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林逸崢
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8 views15 pages

Diffusion Calculations in Palladium

This document is a tutorial on diffusion in the context of Mech-2410, covering key concepts such as diffusion flux and Fick's laws. It includes several questions and solutions related to the calculation of hydrogen diffusion through palladium sheets, as well as discussions on diffusion coefficients and error functions. The tutorial is authored by Huang Xinyue and dated April 14, 2025.

Uploaded by

林逸崢
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Tutorial 8

Mech-2410
Diffusion

HuangXinyue 14th April 2025


Review
• Diffusion flux: the rate of mass transfer per unit area

• The flux is proportional to the concentration gradient. (Fick’s First Law)


steady state
Question1
Compute the number of kilograms of hydrogen that pass per hour through a 5-mm-
thick sheet of palladium having an area of 0.25m2 at 500°C. Assume a diffusion
coefficient of 𝟏. 𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝒎𝟐 /𝒔, that the concentrations at the high- and low-
pressure sides of the plate are 2.4 and 0.6kg of hydrogen per cubic meter of
palladium, and that steady-state conditions have been attained.
Question1
Compute the number of kilograms of hydrogen that pass per hour through a 5-mm-thick sheet of
palladium having an area of 0.25m2 at 500°C. Assume a diffusion coefficient of 𝟏. 𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝒎𝟐 /𝒔, that
the concentrations at the high- and low-pressure sides of the plate are 2.4 and 0.6kg of hydrogen per
cubic meter of palladium, and that steady-state conditions have been attained.

Question1 Solution：

This problem calls for the mass of hydrogen, per hour, that diffuse through a Pd sheet. It first
becomes necessary to employ both Equations 7.1a and 7.2. Combining these expressions and
solving for the mass yields
∆𝐶
𝑀 = 𝐽𝐴𝑡 = −𝐷𝐴𝑡
∆𝑥
−8 2 2
0.6 − 2.4 𝐾𝑔/𝑚3
= − 1.0 × 10 𝑚 /𝑠 0.25 𝑚 3600 𝑠/ℎ
5 × 10−3 𝑚
= 3.2 × 10−3 𝐾𝑔/ℎ
Question 2
Question 2

Solution:
𝐶𝐴 − 𝐶𝐵 −11
4−2
𝑥𝐵 = 𝑥𝐴 + 𝐷 = 0 + 6 × 10 ×
𝐽 1.2 × 10−7
= 0.001𝑚 𝑜𝑟 1𝑚𝑚
Review
Fick’s second law:
Question 3

Error function:
Question 3
𝑧 − 0.4 0.429 − 0.4284
=
0.45 − 0.4 0.4755 − 0.4284
𝑧 = 0.4006
𝑥 = 0.00126𝑚

=z

erf 𝑧 = 0.429
Question 4

• Tip: The diffusion length is the average distance that the excess
carriers can cover before they recombine. 𝑳 = 𝑫𝒕
• 𝐞𝐫𝐟 𝟎. 𝟓 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟐𝟎𝟓
Question 4

𝐶𝑥 − 5 × 1015
20 15
= 1 − 0.5205
𝑥 = 𝐷𝑡 4.5 × 10 − 5 × 10

𝐶𝑥 = 2.15 × 1020 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑠/𝑐𝑚3


Review
• Diffusion coefficient:
Question 5
Question 5

875
(b)
Solution: At 875 °C, T=1112𝐾:
(a) 𝑄𝑑
𝐷 = 𝐷0 exp −
𝑅𝑇
= 7.538 × 10−5
196690𝐽
−
× exp 𝑚𝑜𝑙
8.31 × 1112𝐾

= 4.29 × 10−14 𝑚2 /𝑠
Tutorial 8

Questions

HKUST
HUANG Xinyue
xhuangcz@[Link]

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