Assignment 1

CEIC3000 T1 2024

Question 1

Pipe wall:

a) Obtain a suitable differential equation describing the ethanol

concentration profile in the pipe wall.

To obtain the differential equation, we first must define the control volume:

z
x Ethanol out

Ethanol in

Overall balance for ethanol obeys the general energy balance:

Concentrationin – Concentrationout + Generation – Consumption = Accumulation

Based on the question, we can make certain assumptions:

𝑑 𝑑𝐶
• Ethanol diffuses in the wall only along the radial (z) direction, 𝑑𝑥 (𝐷𝑋 𝑑𝑥 ) = 0 ,
𝑑 𝑑𝐶
(𝐷𝑦 𝑑𝑦) = 0.
𝑑𝑦
• Turbulent flow, so that fluid elements are well mixed in the radial direction, so
concentration is uniform in the radial direction.
• The ethanol flux exiting the outer pipe wall boundary can be taken to be zero,
Concentrationout = 0.
• No ethanol gets generated in the pipe wall, ∑ 𝑄𝐺𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 0.
• Steady state, accumulation = 0
• Diffusivity of ethanol in the pipe wall is constant.

𝑑 𝑑𝐶 𝑑 𝑑𝐶 𝑑 𝑑𝐶
(𝐷𝑥 ) + (𝐷𝑦 ) + (𝐷𝑧 ) + ∑ 𝑄𝐺𝑒𝑡ℎ − ∑ 𝑄𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ = 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑧
Given the above assumptions we can further simplify the equation to:
𝑑 𝑑𝐶
(𝐷𝑧 ) − ∑ 𝑄𝐶𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 0
𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑧
The rate of ethanol reaction (consumption) is given and represented by:
𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑟 = 𝑘 ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡
𝑚3 ∗ 𝑠
Therefore, the partial derivative becomes:
𝑑 𝑑𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ
(𝐷𝐸 ) = 𝑘 ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡
𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑍
b) Identify appropriate boundary condition/s to solve the differential
equation.
𝑑𝐶𝑒𝑡
1. At z = R+d, = 0 (given information about outer wall concentration of
𝑑𝑧
ethanol)
2. At z = R, 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 (Due to continuity equation to describe the
behaviour of the ethanol concentration leaving the hollow section of the pipe
and entering the pipe wall.)

c) Solve the obtained differential equation using appropriate methods (this

involves determining the integration constant/s as well).

The above derived equation is a second order ODE, which can be re-written in the
form:

𝑑2 ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡
𝐷𝐸 ∗ − 𝑘 ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡 = 0
𝑑𝑧 2
𝐷𝐸 ∗ 𝜆2 + 0 ∗ 𝜆 − 𝑘 = 0

𝐷𝐸 ∗ 𝜆2 − 𝑘 = 0
𝑘
𝜆2 =
𝐷𝐸

𝑘
𝜆 = ±√
𝐷𝐸

We have two real, distinct roots. Therefore, we can use the general solution to the ODE:

𝐶𝐸𝑡ℎ (𝑧) = 𝐴 ∗ 𝑒 𝜆1∗𝑧 + 𝐵 ∗ 𝑒 𝜆2∗𝑧

𝑘 𝑘
−√ ∗𝑧 √ ∗𝑧
𝐶𝐸𝑡ℎ (𝑧) = 𝐴 ∗ 𝑒 𝐷 𝐸 +𝐵∗ 𝐷
𝑒 𝐸

𝑑𝐶𝑒𝑡
Using the first boundary condition z = R+d, =0
𝑑𝑅
 𝑑𝐶𝑒𝑡 𝑘 𝑘 𝑘 𝑘
−√ ∗𝑧 √ ∗𝑧
= 0 = −𝐴√ ∗ 𝑒 𝐷𝐸 + 𝐵√ ∗ 𝑒 𝐷𝐸
𝑑𝑅 𝐷𝐸 𝐷𝐸

𝑘 𝑘
−√ ∗(𝑅+𝑑) √ ∗(𝑅+𝑑)
𝐴∗𝑒 𝐷𝐸 =𝐵∗𝑒 𝐷𝐸

𝑘
√ ∗(𝑅+𝑑)
𝑒 𝐷𝐸
𝐴 =
𝑘
−√ ∗(𝑅+𝑑)
𝐵∗𝑒 𝐷𝐸

𝑘
2 ∗ √ ∗(𝐿+𝑑)
𝐴 = 𝐵∗ 𝑒 𝐷 𝐸

Using the second boundary condition at z = R, 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑙 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 𝐶𝐸𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑙 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤

𝑘 𝑘
−√ ∗𝑧 √ ∗𝑧
𝐶𝐸𝑡ℎ (𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒) = 𝐴 ∗ 𝑒 𝐷𝐸 + 𝐵∗𝑒 𝐷𝐸

𝑘 𝑘 𝑘
2√ ∗(𝐿+𝑑) −√ ∗𝑅 √ ∗𝑅
𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ = (𝐵 ∗ 𝑒 𝐷 𝐸 ) ∗ 𝑒 𝐷 𝐸 + 𝐵∗ 𝐷
𝑒 𝐸
𝑘 𝑘 𝑘
2√ ∗(𝐿+𝑑) −√ ∗𝑅 √ ∗𝑅
𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ = (𝐵 ∗ 𝑒 𝐷 𝐸 𝐷 𝐸 ) + 𝐵∗ 𝐷
𝑒 𝐸
𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ
𝐵=
𝑘 𝑘 𝑘
−2√ ∗(𝐿+𝑑) −√ ∗𝑅 √ ∗𝑅
𝑒 𝐷𝐸 𝐷𝐸 +𝑒 𝐷𝐸

The overall equation becomes:

𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ −2√
𝑘
𝐷𝐸
∗(𝐿+𝑑) −√
𝑘
𝐷𝐸
∗𝑧 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ √
𝑘
𝐷𝐸
∗𝑧
𝐶𝐸𝑡ℎ (𝑧) = ( )∗𝑒 ∗𝑒 + ∗𝑒
𝑘 𝑘 𝑘 𝑘 𝑘 𝑘
−2√ ∗(𝐿+𝑑) −√ ∗𝑅 √ ∗𝑅 −2√ ∗(𝐿+𝑑) −√ ∗𝑅 √ ∗𝑅
𝑒 𝐷𝐸 𝐷𝐸 +𝑒 𝐷𝐸 𝑒 𝐷𝐸 𝐷𝐸 +𝑒 𝐷𝐸

By simplifying the equation and substituting in the given values, we obtain the following
equation in terms of 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ :
𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ
𝐶𝐸𝑡ℎ (𝑧) = 𝑒 23.26 ∗ ∗ 𝑒 −223.61∗𝑧 + 12.08 ∗ 𝑒 223.61∗𝑧
𝑒 12.08 + 𝑒 11.18 𝑒 + 𝑒 11.18
𝑒 23.26 ∗ 𝑒 −223.61∗𝑧 𝑒 223.61∗𝑧
𝐶𝐸𝑡ℎ (𝑧) = 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ ∗ ( + )
𝑒 12.08 + 𝑒 11.18 𝑒 12.08 + 𝑒 11.18

d) Obtain the molar flux of ethanol (mol/m2 /s) entering the catalytic pipe
wall.

The molar flux of ethanol entering the catalytic pipe wall we need to consider the
general formula for molar flux:
 𝑑𝐶
𝑁𝑒 = −𝐷𝐸
𝑑𝑧
At z = R =0.05 (given):
−223.61∗0.05
𝑑 𝐶𝐸𝑡ℎ (𝑟) −223.61 ∗ 𝑒23.26 ∗ 𝑒 223.61𝑒223.61∗0.05
| = 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ ∗ ( + )
𝑑𝑧 0.05 𝑒12.08 + 𝑒11.18 𝑒12.08 + 𝑒11.18

𝑑𝐶𝐸𝑡ℎ (𝑟)
𝑁𝑒 = − (1 ∗ 10−7 ) ∗ |
𝑑𝑧 0.05

mol
𝑁𝑒 = −(1 ∗ 10−7 ) ∗ (−94.22. . . ) ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ
𝑚2 𝑠
mol
𝑁𝑒 = 9.422 ∗ (1 ∗ 10−6 ) ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ
𝑚2 𝑠
Hollow section

e) Obtain a suitable differential equation describing the ethanol

concentration profile in the hollow section of the pipe.

To obtain the differential equation, we first must define the control volume:

𝐴𝑅 = 2 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 𝑅 ∗ 𝛥𝑧
𝐴𝐿 = 𝜋 ∗ 𝑅 2
Advection in 𝛥𝑉 = 𝜋 ∗ 𝑅 2 ∗ 𝛥𝑧
Advection out

Consumption (kCet)

Overall balance for ethanol obeys the general energy balance:

Concentrationin – Concentrationout + Generation – Consumption = Accumulation

Assumptions:

• Steady state, accumulation = 0

• No ethanol gets generated in the hollow pipe, ∑ 𝑄𝐺𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 = 0.
• Molar flow rate is mostly due to advection, and therefore all other molar
flows can be ignored.
• Advection = 𝑛̇ 𝑧 = 𝑣0 ∗ 𝐴𝑧 ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ = 𝑣0 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 𝑅 2 ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ
mol
• Molar flux = 𝑁𝑒 = 9.422 ∗ (1 ∗ 10−6 ) ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ 𝑚2 𝑠
 Therefore, the equation becomes:
𝑛̇ 𝑧 − 𝑛̇ 𝑧+𝛥𝑧 − 𝑁𝑒 ∗ 𝐴𝑅 = 0

By using Taylor series and dividing by volume, we can simplify the equation to:
−𝑑𝑛̇ 𝑧 𝛥𝑍 𝐴𝑅
− 𝑁𝑒 ∗ =0
𝑑𝑍 𝛥𝑉 𝛥𝑉

−𝑑𝑛̇ 𝑧 𝛥𝑍 2 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 𝑅 ∗ 𝛥𝑧
− 𝑁𝑒 ∗ =0
𝑑𝑍 𝛥𝑉 𝛥𝑉

−𝑑𝑣0 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 𝑅 2 ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ 𝛥𝑍 −6
2 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 𝑅 ∗ 𝛥𝑧
− 9.422 ∗ (1 ∗ 10 ) ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ ∗ =0
𝑑𝑍 𝜋 ∗ 𝑅 2 ∗ 𝛥𝑧 𝜋 ∗ 𝑅 2 ∗ 𝛥𝑧

−𝑑𝑣0 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ 2
− 9.422 ∗ (1 ∗ 10−6 ) ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ ∗ = 0
𝑑𝑍 𝑅

𝑑𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ 2
𝑣0 = −9.422 ∗ (1 ∗ 10−6 ) ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ ∗
𝑑𝑍 0.05

𝑑𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ 3.77 ∗ 10−4 ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ

= −
𝑑𝑍 𝑣0

f) Identify appropriate boundary condition/s to solve the differential

equation.

At z = 0, 𝐶0 = 17 mol/m3

g) Solve the obtained differential equation using appropriate methods (this

involves determining the integration constant/s as well)

𝑑 ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ − 3.77 ∗ 10−4 𝑑𝑧

∫ =
𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ 𝑣0

𝑑 ∗ 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ − 3.77 ∗ 10−4

∫ = 𝑑𝑧
𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ 𝑣0

− 3.77 ∗ 10−4
ln 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ = ∗ 𝑧 + 𝐶1
𝑣0
At z = 0, 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ = 0
 − 3.77 ∗ 10−4
ln(17) = ∗ 0 + 𝐶1
𝑣0

𝐶1 = ln(17)

− 3.77 ∗ 10−4
ln 𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ = ∗ 𝑧 + ln(17)
𝑣0

(
− 3.77 ∗ 10−4
𝐶𝑒𝑡ℎ = 17 ∗ 𝑒 ∗ 𝑧)
𝑣0

h) Using a suitable software and the table of parameters given below, plot the
values of ethanol concentration along the axial direction of the pipe for
different values of velocity, ,1 (10-4, 10-3 and 10-2 m/s) and discuss how
velocity affects the concentration profile.
 Length (m) V0 = 0.00001 ms-1 V0 = 0.001 ms-1 V0 = 0.01 ms-1
0 17.0 17.0 17.0
0.1 11.7 16.4 16.9
0.2 8.00 15.8 16.9
0.3 5.49 15.2 16.8
0.4 3.76 14.6 16.7
0.5 2.58 14.1 16.7
0.6 1.77 13.6 16.6
0.7 1.21 13.1 16.6
0.8 0.833 12.6 16.5
0.9 0.571 12.1 16.4
1 0.392 11.7 16.4

As seen from the graph, at lower velocities (10-4 m/s), the concentration will decrease
more rapidly along the pipe, resulting in a steeper concentration gradient. This occurs
because the denominator in the exponent becomes larger, making the value of the
exponent closer to zero, which in turn makes the exponential term approach 1.

At higher velocities, the concentration will be more uniform along the length of the pipe
because the ethanol is transported more quickly through the pipe, reducing its residence
time - the time ethanol stays in the pipe and diffuse out of the membrane. The shorter
residence time means there is less opportunity for the ethanol to diffuse (and thus, more
unreacted ethanol leaves the pipe).

Overall, the effect is that higher velocities tend to maintain a higher ethanol
concentration over a longer pipe length, while lower velocities result in a lower
concentration as ethanol move further along the pipe.