St.

Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering

Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
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Unit V Mass Transfer

5.1 Introduction

In a system of one or more components whose concentrations vary from point to point, there is a natural
tendency for transport of different species from the region of higher concentration to lower concentration. This
process of transfer of mass as a result of species concentration difference in a system or mixture is called mass
transfer.

Example:
• Refrigeration systems: Evaporation of ammonia in the atmosphere of hydrogen in Electrolux [Three fluid
single pressure] refrigerator.
• Humidification of air in cooling tower
• Evaporation of petrol in a carburetor
• Diffusion of neutron in nuclear reactor
• Penetration of carbon in metal surface during carburizing process
• Dissolution of sugar in coffee
• Diffusion of smoke through large chimney into atmosphere
• Separation of components by distillation
• Transfer of water vapour into atmosphere

5.2 Modes of Mass Transfer

• Mass transfer by diffusion

• Mass transfer by convection
• Mass transfer by phase change

5.2.1 Mass transfer by diffusion [ molecular and eddy diffusion]

The transport of water on a microscopic level as a result of diffusion from a region of high concentration
to a region of low concentration in a system of liquids or gases is called molecular diffusion. It occurs when a
substance diffuses through a stagnant fluid due to concentration, temperature or pressure gradients.

When one of the diffusing fluids is in turbulent motion the diffusion is called eddy diffusion. Mass
transfer is more rapid In eddy diffusion than in molecular diffusion. Eg. Dissipation of smoke from a smoke
stack.

5.2.2 Mass transfer by Convection

Mass transfer by Convection involves transfer between a moving fluid and a surface or between two
relatively immiscible moving fluids. The convective mass transfer depends on the transport properties like
viscosity, surface tension, specific heat and dynamic characteristics of the flowing fluid. Eg. The evaporation
of ether.

5.2.2 Mass transfer by change of phase

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only
 St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Mass transfer occurs whenever a change from one phase to another takes place. This mass transfer in
such case occurs due to simultaneous action of convection and diffusion. Eg. Mixing of water with air during
evaporation of water from the lake surface (partly by convection and partly by diffusion)

5.3 Terminology

• Mass concentration

Mass concentration of a species A in a multi-component system is defined as the mass of A per unit
volume of the mixture. Also known as mass density; Symbol: ρA; Unit: kg/m3.

• Molar concentration

Molar concentration of a species A in a multi-component system is defined as the number of moles of

species A per unit volume of the mixture. Also known as molar density; Symbol: CA; Unit: kg moles/m3.



 


The mass concentration and molar concentration are related by the expression,

ρ

 

Where, MA is molecular weight of component A.

• Mass fraction

Mass fraction of a species A in a multi-component system is defined as the ratio of mass concentration of
species A to the total mass density of the mixture. Symbol: A; Unit: No unit.

ρ
 
ρ
• Mole fraction

Mole fraction of a species A in a multi-component system is defined as the ratio of molar concentration
of species A to the total molar concentration of the mixture. Symbol: A; Unit: No unit.


 

In a binary mixture of A and B, the following summation rules hold good:

ρ
ρ  ρ;


 
; 
   
  

• Relation between partial pressures and molar and mass fractions in gaseous phase

According to Dalton’s law, for a binary mixture,


  

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© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only
 St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
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Assuming perfect gas behaviour,

     

Therefore,
 

 
  

    
   
   

5.4 Fick’s law of diffusion

For one dimensional mass transfer,

 
 
 

 
Where, 
is the mass flux in kg mole/s m2; 
is the molar concentration gradient in the direction of
mass transfer;  is the proportionality constant called diffusion coefficient, m2/s

5.5 Similarity between Momentum, Energy and Mass transfer

Momentum Transfer Energy Transfer Mass Transfer

Rate Equation !  "
 $ . $

 (  )  
$ / $'

Or Or
$%ρ&
!  # $+ρ, -
$' (  *
$
Flux (Effect) ! ( .
/
Force (Cause) Momentum Thermal concentration Molar concentration
concentration gradient gradient gradient
$%ρ& $+ρ, - $

$' $ $'
Proportionality Momentum diffusivity Thermal diffusivity Mass diffusivity
Constant # * 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only
 St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
____________________________________________________________________________________________

5.6 Dimensionless numbers

The ratio of any two proportionality constants mentioned in the above section, represents the
interaction of the two relevant fields.

  , Prandtl number – relates velocity field with temperature field



  , Schmidt number – relates velocity field with concentration field



 , Prandtl number – relates velocity field with temperature field


5.7 Equimolar Counter Diffusion

Equimolar counter diffusion between species ‘A’ and ‘B’ of a binary gas mixture is defined as an
isothermal diffusion process in which each molecule of species ‘A’ is replaced by each molecule of species
‘B’ and vice versa.

Consider two large chambers A and B connected by a passage in such a way that each molecule of gas A
is replaced by a molecule of gas B and vice versa. The total pressure p = pA + PB is uniform throughout and
the species concentrations are maintained constant in each of the chambers.

Chamber A Chamber B
NA NB
pA, CA pB, CB
x

x1 X2

p = pA+ pB

PB2
pA1 pA
p

pB
PB1 PA2

Using Fick’s law the molar diffusion rates of species A and B are given by

   
   
    
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only
 St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
____________________________________________________________________________________________


  
      
     

    
 
     
Where, pA1 is partial pressure at x1 of species A and pA2 is partial pressure at x2 of species A

The rates of diffusion are equal but in opposite direction. i.e. NA = - NB

     !     !

Therefore
 !

 

!  "  "
 
     

5.8 Isothermal Evaporation of water into air from a surface

Let us consider isothermal evaporation of water from a surface and its subsequent diffusion through the
stagnant layer of air over it as shown in figure.

• The following assumptions are made to analyse the diffusion process:

1. The system is under steady state and isothermal conditions

2. The total pressure within the system remains constant
3. Air as well as water vapour behave as an ideal gas
4. There is a slight air movement over the top of the tank to remove the water vapour which
diffuses to that point; however this movement does not disturb the concentration profile of air in
the tank.
5. The water concentration at the surface of water is more compared to that at the top of the tank.
(i.e. Cw1 > Cw2 or Ca2 > Ca1)
air
2
pw pa

1
p = pw+pa
wate

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only
 St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Under steady state conditions upward movement of water must be balanced by a downward movement
diffusion of air so that concentration at any distance from the water surface remain constant. Mass
diffusion of air in the downward direction is given by

$  
# %&
'()*
  
  

+,% -  +,%
#
'()*
&   
  
since,   
.%

- 
/0, 1'()*    
  
(A)

Since there is no mass movement of air downward at the surface of water, there will be a bulk
mass movement of air upward with a velocity just large enough to compensate for the mass
diffusion of the air downward.

Bulk mass transfer of air upward

3% -
/0, 123   ρ      (B)
 
where u = bulk velocity upward

equating (A) and (B)

 .% '3% 3% -
 =  

45 6 '7

 '3%
  
ρ% '7

The total transport of water vapour

/0,) 18(89
= upward mass diffusion of water /0,) 1':;;2<:(* +
water vapour carried along with bulk movement of air, /0,) 1=29>

-? ?
/0,) 18(89 =  
  
+ρ) 

 .@ '3@ 3@ -?
=   +  

45 6 '7

 .@ '3@ 3@ -?  
=   +   ρ 

45 6 '7

According to Dalton’s law of partial pressures,

   )

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© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only
 St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
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Differentiating we get,

'3 '3% '3@

 =
'7 '7 '7

'3
Since the total pressure in the tank in the tank remains constant, '7  A

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© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only
 St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Differentiating we get,

  

= 
  


Since the total pressure in the tank in the tank remains constant,  



 




Therefore,






  

  = 




- 
 ρ


 
= 




   !



  
= 




  !



 
  = 




 !


This is known as Stefan’s law for diffusion of an ideal gaseous component through a practically
stagnant and ideal constituent of the binary system.

Integrating the above,




 

  " #
= 


 " % 

$  

  
  & '  ( )= 


 *+  % !

 

 
  & '  ( )= 


 *+  % !



_________________________________________________________________________________________________
© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only
 St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Problem 5.1 A 30 mm deep pan is filled with water to a level of 15 mm and is exposed to dry air
at 40°C. Assuming mass diffusivity as 0.25 × 10-4m2/s, calculate the time required for all the
water to evaporate.
air
Given: x2-x1 = 0.015 m, T = 313 K, D = 0.25 × 10-4m2/s, 2

pw1 = ps at 40°C = 0.07384 bar

30mm
1
pw2 = 0 [since, at 15 mm from water surface dry air is present] 15mm
Water

   

  =   
  


 

2
taking A =1m

!"#$
%
&!'( %
&
%
&)

&"!**#$
%
&!
, &"!&*#$

×   
)*&+
%*&* !"!&$ &"!&*#$-"!.*)+

= 8.838 × 10-5 kg/m2s

Time required to evaporate all the water per m2,

/0

1/
/20/3
/0
4
=

455
0/657/0
7
/0
/0
4

!"!&$
%
&
%
&!!! &
= % = 47.14 hours
)")*)
%
&!', *8!!

Problem 5.2 An open pan 20 cm in diameter and 8 cm deep contains water at 25°C and is
exposed to dry atmospheric air. If the rate of diffusion of water vapour is 8.54×10-4 kg/hr,
estimate the diffusion coefficient of water in air.

Given: x2-x1 = 0.08 m, T = 298 K,
  = 8.54 × 10-4 kg/hr = 2.37 × 10-7 kg/s

pw1 = ps at 25°C = 0.03165 bar, pa1 = p - pw1 = 1.031325 – 0.03165 = 0.9816 bar

pw2 = 0 , pa2 = p - pw2 = 1.031325 bar

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only
 St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
____________________________________________________________________________________________

   

  =   
  


 

9%
π
%!"&
%
&)

&"!**#$
%
&!
, &"!&*#$
2.37 × 10-7
×   
)*&+
%#:) !"!) !":)&8

D = 0.259×10-4 m2/s

5.9 Convective Mass Transfer

Convective mass transfer is analogous to convective heat transfer. Mass transfer by

convection occurs when bulk velocities are appreciable. Such mass transfer can be of free
convection type [eg. Evaporation of alcohol] or forced convection type [eg. Evaporation of sea
water]. The flow of fluid is either laminar or turbulent.

The mass flux and convective mass transfer coefficient are related as follows:

;<
= >? ∆ @ <
<

Sherwood number is defined as

=>? B
A=
C
5.9.1 Correlations in convective mass transfer

Case (i) Flow over a flat plate

=>? B
A=B D" EEFGHD"I A?D"EE For Laminar flow
C

=>? B
A=B D" DFIIGHD"I A?D"EE For Turbulent flow
C

A=JK FA=L

For mixed boundary layer conditions,

MMMM
A= D" DENGHL D"I  INDA?D"EE

Case (ii) Flow in tubes

MMMM
A= D" DFEGHD"I A?D"OO
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only
 St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600119 :: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecture notes ME 1351 Heat and Mass Transfer
____________________________________________________________________________________________

2000 < Re < 35 ×103 and 0.6 < Sc < 2.5

Mass transfer coefficient based on pressure difference is given by

=>?
=>P
GQ

Where R is characteristic gas constant.

Problem 5.3 Air at 20°C (ρ=1.205 kg/m3 ; R=15.06×10-6m2/s ; D= 4.166×10-5m2/s ) flows over a
tray (length 320 mm width 420 mm) full of water with a velocity of 2.8 m/s. The total pressure of
moving air is 1 atm. and partial pressure of water present in the air is 0.0068 bar. If the
temperature of water on the surface is 15°C, calculate the rate of evaporation of water.

Given: Ta = 20°C , Tw = 15°C, u = 2.8m/s, L = 320 mm = 0.32 m, R=15.06×10-6m2/s,

D= 4.166×10-5m2/s, S# 0.0068 bar

VW "Y%Z"[
TU

= 0.558×105 … Laminar
X &$"!8%&!'\

X _"Z`%Z`
]^

= 0.3615
 +"&88%&!',

]aW Z"``bTU !") ]^ !"**

= 112.11

&&#"&&%b"``%Z_
a4c !"*#
= 0.0146 m/s
!"!&+8
a4d = 1.766×10-7
!"#).%#))

 aS eSf  Sf 

S& partial pressure of water at the surface of water = ps at 15°C = 0.017 bar
S# 0.0068 bar

_
Therefore,  "g`` % Zg
Z"[ % Z"bZ"Zg  Z"ZZ`Y % Z
= 2.412×10-5kg/s.

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© Dr S Arivazhagan, Prof / Mech Engg., St.Joseph’s College of Engg For private circulation only