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Topic 3.0 TCE2101 Problem Solving Unsteady State Molecular Diffusion
Topic 3.0 TCE2101 Problem Solving Unsteady State Molecular Diffusion
Topic 3.0 TCE2101 Problem Solving Unsteady State Molecular Diffusion
P3.1.
The CO 2 is diffusing through non-diffusing N 2at steady state in a conduit of 2 m long at 300 K
and a total pressure of 1 atm. The partial pressure of CO 2at the left end is 20 kPa and 5 kPa at the
other end. The cross section of the conduit is in the shape of an equilateral triangle being 0.025 m
at the left end and tapering uniformly to 0.05 m at the right end. Calculate the rate of transport of
CO 2. The diffusivity is D = −5 2/s. R = 8 .314
m3
.kPa/(kmol.K).
AB 2 x 10 m
√ 3 D AB PT a1 a 2 PT −P A 2
Ń A (W A )=
4 RT ∆x
ln ( PT −P A 1 )
SOLN
−5 2
Given data: D CO −N =2 x 10 m /s; R = 8 .314 m3.kPa/(kmol.K)
2 2
P3.2
Consider a diffusion couple between metals A and B. After a 30-hr heat treatment at 1400°K,
the concentration of A is 3.2 wt% at a distance of 1.5 mm from the interface. If an identical
diffusion couple is instead heated 1200°K for 30 hr, at what position will the concentration be
3.2 wt%? Assume that the pre-exponential factor and activation energy for diffusion are 1.8x10 -
5
m2/s and 152 kJ/mol, respectively, and that the surface concentration of A is 100 wt%. R =
8.314 kJ/(mol.K)
Soln
C As−C A 0
=1−erf
2 √ Dt ( )
; D=D 0 e RT
0.368−0.35 y−0.3794
Interpolating: = :⇒ y =0.397∨erf ( 0.368 )=0.397
0.40−0.35 0.4284−0.3794
3.2
=1−0.397 : ⇒ C As=5.31 wt %
C As
3.2−0 x
5.31−0
=1−erf
(
2 √ ( 4.35 x 10−12) (30 x 3600) )
0.603=1−erf ( 729.5 x )
erf ( 729.5 x )=0.397
x1 x2
• Therefore: 1−erf
(√ )
2 D1 t 1
=1−erf
(
2 √ D2 t 2 )
x 21 x 22
=
D1 t 1 D2 t2
1.52 x 22
−11
= −12
:⇒ x=0.50 mm
(3.84 x 10 )(30) (4.35 x 10 )(30)