Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Convective and Interphase Mass Transfer
Convective and Interphase Mass Transfer
Convective and Interphase Mass Transfer
Sánchez, UPB
Chapter 6
Introduction to Convective and
Interphase Mass Transfer
Jorge H. Sánchez, UPB
Introduction
Convective mass transfer involves the transport of material between a boundary surface and a moving fluid.
When the mass transfer involves a solute dissolving into a moving fluid, we can define a convective mass
transfer coefficient by an equation analogous to Newton’s law of cooling:
N A = kc ( c A,i − c A, )
Where cA,i is the composition of the solute in the fluid of
interest at the interface (in equilibrium at T and P), and cA,
represents the composition at some point within the fluid phase.
Jorge H. Sánchez, UPB
Introduction
Consider the mass transfer of a solute A from a solid to a fluid flowing past the surface of the solid
c A,i − c A,
The mass transfer at the surface is by molecular diffusion
y c A,i − c A = f ( y ) dc A
N A = − DAB
dy y =0
Dimensional Analysis
v Lc
Re = Reynolds number
gL3c
Gr = Grashof number
2
Sc = Schmidt number
DAB
kc Lc
Sh = Sherwood number
DAB
Example
In a manufacturing process, an organic solvent (methyl ethyl ketone, MEK) is used to dissolve a thin coating of a
polymer film away from a nonporous flat surface of length 20 cm and width 10 cm, as shown in the figure. The
thickness of the polymer film is initially uniform at 0:20 mm (0.02 cm). In the present process, a volumetric flow rate
of 30 cm3/s of MEK liquid solvent is added to an open flat pan of length 30 cm and width 10 cm. The depth of the
liquid MEK solvent in the pan is maintained at 2.0 cm. It may be assumed that the concentration of dissolved polymer
in the bulk solvent is essentially zero even though in reality the concentration of dissolved polymer in the solvent
increases very slightly from the entrance to the exit of the pan. It may also be assumed that the change film thickness
during the dissolution process does not affect the convection mass transfer process. Let A = polymer (solute), B =
MEK (liquid solvent).
Jorge H. Sánchez, UPB
ÑA
total
= S ky (y A,i − y A ) LM
( y A,i − y A )
A,i
Ln bottom
( y A,i − y A ) top
Jorge H. Sánchez, UPB
Raoult’s law (liquid phase is ideal) Henry’s law (dilute solutions) Distribution law (immiscible liquids)
p A = x A p Av p A = Hc A c A,1 = Kc A,2
Jorge H. Sánchez, UPB
Two-resistance theory
Interphase mass transfer involves three steps:
N A = k y ( y A − y A,i )
N A = k x ( x A,i − x A )
k x y A − y A,i
− =
k y x A − x A,i
Example
Example
Consider the waste treatment operation proposed in the figure below. In this process, wastewater containing a TCE concentration of 50
gmol/m3 enters a clarifier, which is essentially a shallow, well-mixed tank with an exposed liquid surface. The overall diameter is 20 m
and the maximum depth of the liquid in the tank is 4 m. The clarifier is enclosed to contain the gases (often quite odorous) that are
emitted from the wastewater. Fresh air is blown into this enclosure to sweep away the gases emitted from the clarifier and is then sent to
an incinerator. The TCE content in the effluent gas is 4.0 mol%, whereas the TCE content in the effluent liquid phase is 10 gmol
TCE/m3 liquid. The clarifier operates at 1.0 atm and a constant temperature of 20ºC.
In independent pilot plant studies for TCE, the liquid film mass transfer coefficient for the clarifier was, kx = 200 gmol/m2s, whereas
the gas film mass transfer coefficient for the clarifier was ky = 0.1 gmol/m2s. Equilibrium data for the air–TCE–water system at 20ºC
are represented by Henry’s law in the form pA = HxA with H = 550 atm. The molar density of the effluent liquid is 66 gmol/m3.
a. What is the overall mass-transfer coefficient based on the liquid phase, KL?
b. What is the flux of TCE from the clarifier liquid surface?
c. What is the inlet volumetric flow rate of wastewater, in units of m3/h, needed to ensure that the liquid effluent TCE
concentration is 10 gmol TCE/m3?