ADVANCED TRANSPORT

PROCESSES
Mass Transport
Introduction

Molar
& Mass
The mass
concentration
isFlux
defined as the mass of
species per unit volume of solution
m

V
The mass fraction is defined as the mass of species
per unit volume of the solution divided by the total
mass of all species per unit volume of solution.

The mass flux

j Ay DAB

d A
dy
2

Molar & Mass Flux

The molar concentration c is defined as the number of
moles of species per unit volume of solution.

M molecular weight

The molar fraction x is defined as the number of moles of

species per unit volume of solution divided by the total
number of moles of all species per unit volume of solution.

c
x
c

c c

The molar flux

J Ay cD AB

dx A
dy

Molar & Mass Flux

Comparison of mass flux and molar flux formula

The mass flux

j Ay DAB

The molar flux

d A
dy

J Ay cD AB

The previously discussed Ficks Law of diffusion was given in terms of

mass units, in general:

when chemical reactions are involved, molar units are preferred

When the diffusion equations are solved together with the equation
of motion, mass units are usually preferred.

Therefore it is necessary to be familiar with both

4

dx A
dy

Mass Transport Equation Ficks Law

How a steady state concentration profile
for the diffusion of helium (A) through
fused silica (B) builds. The symbol A
stands for the mass fraction of helium,
and A0 is the solubility of helium in
fused silica.

Mass Transport Equation

At steady state Ficks Law
wAy
A

D AB

A0 0
Y

d A
j Ay D AB
dy
j A D AB A

Ficks first law of diffusion

wAy The mass flow of A in positive y direction

A Mass fraction of helium, A0 Solubility of helium

in fused silica, Mass concentration
jAy The molecular mass flux of helium in positive y
direction

system
DAB The diffusivity of silica-helium
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Divergence, div

x y z

Ficks law of diffusion for binary mixtures

The basic equation for Ficks law for an isobaric and
isothermal system is :

j Ay DAB

d A
dy

A = the mass fraction of A

jAy [=] kg/m2s Molecular (diffusive) mass flux in y
direction
DAB[=] m2/s.. Diffusivity
7

The convective mass flux

Convective mass flux of component A A v **

A

A v A B v B

A
A v A B v B

A n A nB

Convective Molar Flux of Component A A n A nB

v** Mass average velocity

The convective molar flux

Convective molar flux of component A c Av*

cA

c Av A cB vB
c

cA
c Av A cB vB
c

x A N A N B
Convective Molar Flux of Component A x A N A N B

Combined Mass Flux

Combined Mass Flux of species A in z-direction is given by :

n Az j Az A n Az nBz

n Az DAB

A
A n Az nBz
z

Molecular flux
Resulting from
concentration
gradient

Convective flux

Resulting from the bulk

motion of the fluid

Similarly for species B:

B
nBz DBA
B n Az nBz
z
10

Combined Molar Flux

Combined Molar Flux of species A in z-direction is given by :

N Az J Az xA N Az N Bz

N Az cDAB

x A
x A N Az N Bz
z

Molecular flux
Resulting from
concentration
gradient

Convective flux

Resulting from the bulk

motion of the fluid

Similarly for species B:

N Bz cDBA

xB
xB N Az N Bz
z
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