1.
Film Theory
Assumptions:-
a) Mass transfer occurs purely by molecular diffusion through a
stagnant fluid layer at the phase boundary. Beyond this film,
the fluid is well mixed having a concentration which is the
same as that of the bulk fluid.
b) Mass Transfer through the film occurs at steady state.
c) The bulk flow term in the expression for Fick’s law is small.
So the flux can be written as NA=-DAB(dCA/dz). As stated
before, this is valid when: (i) the flux is low and (ii) the mass
transfer occurs at low concentrations.
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Dutta,B.K. (2007), Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes,(3rd ed),EEE publications
Film Theory(Derivation)
Consider an elementary volume of thickness Δz and of unit area normal to
the z-direction. Applying steady state mass balance over element located at
position
NA|z NA|Δz
Δz
Integrating and
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Dutta,B.K. (2007), Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes,(3rd ed),EEE publications
2. Penetration Theory
Assumptions:-
a) Unsteady state mass transfer occurs to a liquid
element so long as it is in contact with the
bubble.
b) Equilibrium exists at the gas-liquid interface.
c) Each of the liquid elements stays in contact with
the gas for the same period of time
Dutta,B.K. (2007), Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes,(3rd ed),EEE publications
Penetration theory (derivation)
Consider db be the diameter of bubble which is rising with the velocity ub, therefore the contact time
of a liquid element with the gas is tc=db/ub. Unsteady state mass transfer to a liquid element during
this period of time can be given by
Above equation can be solved using one initial condition and two boundary conditions which is
given by:
Implies solution of above equation can be given by:
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Dutta,B.K. (2007), Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes,(3rd ed),EEE publications
Penetration theory (derivation)
Dutta,B.K. (2007), Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes,(3rd ed),EEE publications
3. Surface Renewable Theory
Major drawback of the penetration theory is its assumption i.e., the contact time of the liquid element is
same for all.
Instead of constant contact time there will be a distribution of age of the liquid element present at the
interface at any moment. The above statement is the basic principle of Surface renewable theory.
Following assumptions are made
1. The liquid elements at interface are being randomly replaced by fresh element from bulk
2. At any moment each of the liquid elements at the surface has the same probability of being replaced
by fresh element.
3. Unsteady state mass transfer occurs to an element during the stay at the interface
The surface renewal model states that the fraction of surface is renewed in unit time. According to
surface renewal theory mass transfer coefficient is given by:
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Dutta,B.K. (2007), Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes,(3rd ed),EEE publications
4. Boundary Layer Theory
Other theories of mass transfer idealize mass transfer at
phase boundaries.
u= u(x,y)
The general equation of motion of a viscous fluid, called
the Navier-Stokes equation.
Also characteristics of boundary layer depends upon the
Reynolds number
𝜌𝑉∞ 𝑥
𝑅𝑒𝑥 =
𝜇
Where 𝑅𝑒𝑥 is the local Reynolds number and is based on
the distance x from the leading edge.
Region remains laminar if 𝑅𝑒𝑥 is less than 3 X 105 above 1 𝛿
which it turns turbulent. 𝑆𝑐 3 =
𝛿𝑚
Similarly, CA= CA(x,y) 𝑘𝐿,𝑥 𝑥 1 1
𝛿 = 𝛿𝑚 𝑥 𝑆ℎ𝑥 = = 0.332 𝑅𝑒𝜘 2 𝑆𝐶 3
𝐷𝐴𝐵
Where 𝛿𝑚 is the thickness of concentration boundary 𝑘𝐿,𝑎𝑣 𝑙 1 1
layer 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑣 = = 0.664 𝑅𝑒𝑙 2 𝑆𝐶 3
𝐷𝐴𝐵
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Dutta,B.K. (2007), Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes,(3rd ed),EEE publications
Side by Side comparison of Different theories
Steady/Unstea Expression for Dependence on Model Parameter
Theory
dy state coefficient kL Diffusivity (unit)
Film Theory Steady State kL= D/δ k Lα D δ(m)
kL,inst= [D/πt]1/2 kLα D1/2
Penetration Theory Unsteady State
kL,av= 2[D/πtc]1/2 kLα D1/2 tc(s)
Surface Renewal
Unsteady state kL,av= [Ds]1/2 kLα D1/2 s(s-1)
Theory
Boundary Layer
Steady State kLα D2/3
Theory
Dutta,B.K. (2007), Principles of Mass Transfer and Separation Processes,(3rd ed),EEE publications
Film-penetration theory
• Total resistance to MT is assumed to be confined to a finite laminar film at interface, but unsteady
state
• For short exposure time, transfer process can be explained by penetration theory
• For longer time – film theory
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Film-surface renewal theory
• For rapid penetration (Large DAB), rate of renewal is very small – film theory
• For slow penetration (small DAB) – surface renewal theory
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A mixture of 50 % CO2 and 50 % N2 is bubbling through water in a laboratory column at 30 °C and 1
atmosphere. The depth of water in column is 30 cm. A single-nozzle gas distributor is used. The gas
flow rate is 15 cm3/min. The bubbles are of 1 cm diameters on average. Bubble rise velocity is 20
cm/s. Calculate the rate of absorption of CO2. DCO2-W = 2.19X10^(-5) cm2/s. p = 1860x*. Solubility of
CO2 in water is 1.493X10^(-5) gmole/s.
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tc = 1/20 = 0.05 sec
kL = 0.0236 cm/s
Residence time of bubble in liquid = depth/rise velocity = 1.5 sec
Vb = 0.5236 cm3, Ab = 3.1416 cm2, Cs = 1.493X10^(-5) gmole/s, Cb = 0
Amount of CO2 absorbed from single bubble during 1.5 sec = 1.66X10^(-6) gmole
Average number of bubble formed/min = 28.65 per min
Rate of absorption of CO2 from bubble per min = 4.757X10^(-5) gmole/min
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A large volume of pure water at 26 °C is flowing parallel to a flat plate of solid
benzoic acid. The length of the plate in the direction of flow is L = 0.244 m. The water
velocity is 0.061 m/s. the solubility of Benzoic acid in water at that temperature =
0.0295 kmol/m3. The diffusivity of Benzoic acid in water (DAB = 1.24*10^(-9) m2/s).
Calculate the mass transfer coefficient (Kc) and the rate of mass transfer flux NA.
Assume dilute solution, given the following data:
μ = 8.71*10^(-4) kg/m.s
ρ = 996 kg/m3
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A large volume of pure water at 26 °C is flowing parallel to a flat plate of solid
benzoic acid. The length of the plate in the direction of flow is L = 0.244 m. The water
velocity is 0.061 m/s. the solubility of Benzoic acid in water at that temperature =
0.0295 kmol/m3. The diffusivity of Benzoic acid in water (DAB = 1.24*10^(-9) m2/s).
Calculate the mass transfer coefficient (Kc) and the rate of mass transfer flux NA.
Assume dilute solution, given the following data:
μ = 8.71*10^(-4) kg/m.s
1 𝛿
𝑆𝑐 3 =
ρ = 996 kg/m3 𝛿𝑚
𝑘𝐿,𝑥 𝑥 1 1
𝑆ℎ𝑥 = = 0.332 𝑅𝑒𝜘 2 𝑆𝐶 3
𝐷𝐴𝐵
𝑘𝐿,𝑎𝑣 𝑙 1 1
𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑣 = = 0.664 𝑅𝑒𝑙 2 𝑆𝐶 3
𝐷𝐴𝐵 14
Example:
Example:
