Mass Transfer Coefficient
Mass Transfer Coefficient
Mass Transfer Coefficient
= k
Interfacial
area
Concentration
difference
Q A q h t s t m
-------------------- (1)
N A k c C As C A
-------------------- (2)
The molar flux N A is measured relative to a set of axes fixed in space. The driving
force is the difference between the concentration at the phase boundary, CAS (a
solid surface or a fluid interface) and the concentration at some arbitrarily defined
point in the fluid medium, C
function of geometry of the system and the velocity and properties of the fluid
similar to the heat transfer coefficient, h.
Momentum diffusivit y
Thermal diffusivit y
Mass diffusivit y D AB
k
Cp
Pr
Thermal diffusivit y
Sc
Mass diffusivit y
D AB
D AB
The ratio of the molecular diffusivity of heat to the molecular diffusivity of mass is
designated the Lewis Number, and is given by
Thermal diffusivit y
k
Le
Mass diffusivit y
D AB
C p D AB
Let us consider the mass transfer of solute A from a solid to a fluid flowing past the
surface of the solid. For such a case, the mass transfer between the solid surface
and the fluid may be written as
N A k c C As C A
Since the mass transfer at the surface is by molecular diffusion, the mass transfer may
also described by
N A D AB
dCA
dy
y 0
d C A C As
dy
y 0
Above Equations may be equated, since they define the same flux of component A
leaving the surface and entering the fluid
k c C A s C A D AB
d
C A C As
dy
y 0
kc
D AB
d C A C As d y
C A C A
y 0
kc L
D AB
d C A C As d y
C A S C A L
y 0
The right hand side of equation is the ratio of the concentration gradient at the
surface to an overall or reference concentration gradient; accordingly, it may be
considered as the ratio of molecular mass-transport resistance to the convective
mass-transport resistance of the fluid. This ratio is generally known as the
Sherwood number, Sh and analogous to the Nusselt number Nu, in heat transfer.
dCA
dz
dT
dz
d
dz
Several analogies among transfer phenomenon which has been proposed because of
the similarity in their mechanisms. The analogies are useful in understanding the transfer
phenomena and as a satisfactory means for predicting behaviour of systems for which
limited quantitative data are available.
The similarity among the transfer phenomena and accordingly the existence of the
analogies require that the following five conditions exist within the system
1. The physical properties are constant
2. There is no mass or energy produced within the system. This implies that there is no
chemical reaction within the system
3. There is no emission or absorption of radiant energy.
4. There is no viscous dissipation of energy.
5. The velocity profile is not affected by the mass transfer. This implies there should be
a low rate of mass transfer.
Reynolds
Analogy
The first recognition of the analogous behaviour of mass, heat and momentum
transfer was reported by Osborne Reynolds in 1874. Although his analogy is limited
in application, it served as the base for seeking better analogies.
Reynolds postulated that the mechanisms for transfer of momentum, energy and
mass are identical. Accordingly,
kc
Cp
f
2
kc
Sc 2 3
23
Nu
h
Re Pr
C p
Based on data collected in both laminar and turbulent flow regimes, they found
jD jH
f
2
This analogy is valid for gases and liquids within the range of 0.6 < Sc < 2500 and 0.6 < Pr
< 100.
The Chilton-Colburn analogy has been observed to hold for many different geometries for
example, flow over flat plates, flow in pipes, and flow around cylinders.
A stream of air at 100 kPa pressure and 300 K is flowing on the top surface of a thin flat sheet
of solid naphthalene of length 0.2 m with a velocity of 20 m/sec. The other data are:
Mass diffusivity of naphthalene vapor in air = 6 * 10 6 m 2/sec
Kinematic viscosity of air = 1.5 * 10 5 m 2.sc
Concentration of naphthalene at the air-solid naphthalene interface = 1 * 10 5 kmol/m3
Calculate:
the overage mass transfer coefficient over the flat plate
the rate of loss of naphthalene from the surface per unit width
Note: For heat transfer over a flat plate, convective heat transfer coefficient for laminar flow
can be calculated by the equation.
Analogy between mass and heat transfer.
Nu 0.664 Re1L 2 Pr 1 3
Sh 0.664 Re1L 2 Sc 1 3
where
Sh = Sherwood number = kL/D AB
Re L = Reynolds number = L/
Sc = Schmidt number = / ( D AB)
k = overall mass transfer coefficient
L = length of sheet
D AB = diffusivity of A in B
k 0 .2
6 * 10
0.2 20
0.664
1.5 * 10
12
1.5 * 10 5
13
6 * 10 6
k = 0.014 m/sec
Rate of loss of naphthalene = k (C Ai C A)
= 0.014
(1 * 10
7
2
0) = 1.4024 * 10 kmol/m sec
Gas
N1 K L (c1* c10 )
c1i
KL
p10
c10
p1i
N1 k p ( p10 p1i )
N1 k L (c1i c10 )
p1i Hc1i
N1
1
1 H
k p kL
( p10 Hc10 )
c1*
1
1 overall liquid-side
mass transfer
k L k p H coefficient
p10
H
N1 K p ( p10 p1* )
Kp
1
1 H
k p kL
p1* Hc10
overall gas-side
mass transfer
coefficient