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The Equation of "Continuity": NPTEL, IIT Kharagpur, Prof. Saikat Chakraborty, Department of Chemical Engineering
The Equation of "Continuity": NPTEL, IIT Kharagpur, Prof. Saikat Chakraborty, Department of Chemical Engineering
The Equation of "Continuity": NPTEL, IIT Kharagpur, Prof. Saikat Chakraborty, Department of Chemical Engineering
Module 1 :
The equation of continuity
Lecture 5:
Conservation of Mass for each species
& Ficks Law
NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering
Basic Definitions
In Mass Transfer, we usually deal with concentration in one form or other. For this we define
some symbols which are discussed below.
Mass Concentration of ith species: This is the ratio of mass of species i per unit volume. It is
represented by the symbol i . Thus the total mass concentration is given by
all i
Molar Concentration of ith species: This is the ratio of moles of species i per unit volume. It
is represented by the symbol c i . Substituting for moles (i.e. Mass/molecular weight) we get
c = i
i M
i
(3.1)
where
M i Molecular weight of the i th component
Mass fraction of the ith species: This is the ratio of mass of species i to the total mass. It is
represented by the symbol w i . Using definition of mass concentration, mass of species i equals
volume times mass concentration of i th species. Therefore we can write
wi =
(3.2)
NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering
Mole fraction of the ith species: This is the ratio of moles of species i to the total moles. It is
represented by the symbol x i . Using definition of molar concentration, we can write
xi =
ci
c
(3.3)
U
i =1
n
i =1
(3.4.)
where i is the Mass Concentration of the ith species and U i is the velocity of the ith species
relative to stationary coordinate axes.
Molar average velocity
Local Molar Average Velocity is defined as
NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering
c U
i
i =1
n
c
i =1
(3.5)
cU =U
i =1
i =1
ci = ci U i
(3.6)
It is not the velocity of the individual molecules but rather the average velocity over a small
volume element of the fluid.
Diffusion velocities
Ui
Ui U
Fluxes
The flux is defined as the product of a species concentration, c i or density, i and its
velocity U i . For fluxes relative to stationary coordinates we will use n (or N) while for fluxes
referred to moving coordinates we will use j (or J). For moving coordinate, the speed at which
NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering
the coordinate frame is moving for cases we will consider will be either Mass average velocity
or Molar average velocity.
1. Fluxes relative to Stationary Coordinates
Mass
ni = U i
i
(3.7)
Molar
Ni = c Ui
i
(3.8)
j i = i (U i U )
(3.9)
J i = c i (U i U )
(3.10)
Molar
ji = i U i U
*
J i = ci U i U
(3.11)
(3.12)
It relates the diffusive flux to the concentration field, by postulating that the flux moves from
region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration with a magnitude i.e.
proportional to the concentration gradient (spatial derivative). The proportionality constant is
known as diffusion coefficient or diffusivity, DAB (m2/s).
j A = D AB wA
(3.13)
where
j A is Mass Flux of component A referred to axes moving at the Mass average velocity
DAB = diffusivity of component A through B
Also Molar flux of component A referred to axes moving at the Molar average velocity is given
by
*
J A = c D AB x A
(3.14)
where
Fig.3.2 Diffusion of Gas (A) into Liquid or Solid (B) at Gas-Liquid (Solid) interface
NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering
n A = wA (n A + n B ) DABwA
(3.15)
NA =
xA N A + N B
"Bulk" Fluid motion
c DABx A
Diffusion superimposed
on bulk flow
(3.16a)
(3.16b)
Dilute Solutions
For dilute solution of component A in a solvent B e.g. a low concentration of NaCl (A) in
*
cAU
Convection
c D AB x A
Diffusion
(3.17)
NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering
Ficks law is an empirical law, as is the Fouriers law of heat conduction. Similarly Newtons
law of viscosity establishes a relationship between shear stress and velocity gradient. So all these
laws having analogy in between them and are discussed below.
Ficks law for = constant
jAy = D AB
d
( )
dy A
(3.18)
yx =
d
U x
dy
(3.19)
qy =
d
c T
dy p
(3.20)
Thus we can draw a conclusion from the above three relationships that
(Flux)= - (Transport Coefficient) (gradient of concentration field)
NPTEL,IITKharagpur,Prof.SaikatChakraborty,DepartmentofChemicalEngineering