Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.

Thin-Layer Diffusion
Introduction
The following example shows how to link two separate geometries into a 3D thin-layer
diffusion model using identity boundary conditions. It uses mapped hexahedral
meshes, which reduces the number of degrees of freedom (DOFs) for this thin
geometry.

Model Definition
The physics in this model is single-species diffusion. The dependent variable is the
concentration, c. All boundaries are insulated except the inlet and the outlet. At the
inlet boundary the concentration is c0. At the outflow boundary (the bottom surface)
there is an outward flux of rsurf c/c0 (COMSOL Multiphysics defines the inward flux
as positive), where rsurf is the reaction rate at the surface. The diffusion coefficient in
the top layer is 5105 m2/s. An effective diffusion coefficient of 1106 m2/s takes
the porous material in the thin bottom plate into account.

Results and Discussion

You can take advantage of the geometry shape and reduce the number of DOFsand
thus the solution timeby using two mapped hexahedral meshes instead of an
unstructured tetrahedral mesh. The model has about 2000 DOFs using this approach.

2012 COMSOL

1 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

Figure 1: Resulting concentration distribution in the full geometry.

Notes About the COMSOL Implementation

Build the geometry as an assembly of the bottom plate and the top layer to make it
possible to mesh the parts independently. Use a continuity condition at the connection
between the top and bottom parts to set the concentration c equal on both sides.

Model Library path: COMSOL_Multiphysics/Diffusion/

thin_layer_diffusion

Modeling Instructions
MODEL WIZARD

1 Go to the Model Wizard window.

2 Click Next.

2 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

2012 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

3 In the Add physics tree, select Chemical Species Transport>Transport of Diluted Species
(chds).
4 Click Next.
5 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Preset Studies>Stationary.
6 Click Finish.
GLOBAL DEFINITIONS

Parameters
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Global Definitions and choose Parameters.
2 In the Parameters settings window, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
NAME

EXPRESSION

DESCRIPTION

r_surf

0.005[mol/(m^2*s)]

Reaction rate, outlet

c0

7[mol/m^3]

Concentration, inlet

D1

5e-5[m^2/s]

Diffusion coefficient, top layer

D1_eff

1e-6[m^2/s]

Effective diffusion coefficient,

base block

GEOMETRY 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 click Geometry 1.

2 In the Geometry settings window, locate the Units section.
3 From the Length unit list, choose m.

Plane Geometry
Right-click Model 1>Geometry 1 and choose Work Plane.

Rectangle 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1>Work Plane 1 right-click
Plane Geometry and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section.
3 In the Width edit field, type 11.
4 In the Height edit field, type 6.
5 Click the Build Selected button.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.

2012 COMSOL

3 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

Rectangle 2
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1>Work Plane 1 right-click
Plane Geometry and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section.
3 In the Width edit field, type 8.
4 In the Height edit field, type 1.
5 Locate the Position section. In the xw edit field, type 3.
6 In the yw edit field, type 1.
7 Click the Build Selected button.

Rectangle 3
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1>Work Plane 1 right-click
Plane Geometry and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section.
3 In the Width edit field, type 8.
4 In the Height edit field, type 1.
5 Locate the Position section. In the xw edit field, type 3.
6 In the yw edit field, type 4.
7 Click the Build Selected button.

4 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

2012 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

Circle 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1>Work Plane 1 right-click
Plane Geometry and choose Circle.
2 In the Circle settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type 2.
4 Locate the Position section. In the xw edit field, type 3.
5 In the yw edit field, type 3.
6 Click the Build Selected button.

Circle 2
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1>Work Plane 1 right-click
Plane Geometry and choose Circle.
2 In the Circle settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type 1.
4 Locate the Position section. In the xw edit field, type 3.
5 In the yw edit field, type 3.
6 Click the Build Selected button.

Difference 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1>Work Plane 1 right-click
Plane Geometry and choose Boolean Operations>Difference.
2 Select the object c1 only to add it to the Objects to add list.
3 In the Difference settings window, locate the Difference section.
4 Under Objects to subtract, click Activate Selection.
5 Select the object c2 only.

2012 COMSOL

5 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

6 Click the Build Selected button.

Rectangle 4
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1>Work Plane 1 right-click
Plane Geometry and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section.
3 In the Width edit field, type 2.
4 In the Height edit field, type 4.
5 Locate the Position section. In the xw edit field, type 1.
6 In the yw edit field, type 1.
7 Click the Build Selected button.

Intersection 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1>Work Plane 1 right-click
Plane Geometry and choose Boolean Operations>Intersection.
2 Select the objects dif1 and r4 only.

6 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

2012 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

3 Click the Build Selected button.

Extrude 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1 right-click Work Plane 1 and

choose Extrude.
2 Select the object wp1.r1 only.
3 In the Extrude settings window, locate the Distances from Plane section.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:
DISTANCES (m)

-0.4

5 Click the Build Selected button.

Extrude 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Extrude.
2 In the Extrude settings window, locate the Distances from Plane section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
DISTANCES (m)

0.2

4 Click the Build Selected button.

2012 COMSOL

7 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

Form Union
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Geometry 1 click Form Union.
2 In the Finalize settings window, locate the Finalize section.
3 From the Finalization method list, choose Form an assembly.
4 Clear the Create pairs check box.
5 Click the Build Selected button.
6 Click the Go to Default 3D View button on the Graphics toolbar.

DEFINITIONS

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Definitions and choose
Pairs>Identity Boundary Pair.
2 Select Boundary 4 only.
3 In the Pair settings window, click Activate Selection in the upper-right corner of the
Destination Boundaries section. Select Boundaries 9, 17, and 23 only.
TR A N S P O R T O F D I L U T E D S P E C I E S

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 click Transport of Diluted Species.
2 In the Transport of Diluted Species settings window, locate the Transport Mechanisms

section.
3 Clear the Convection check box.

8 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

2012 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

Diffusion
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Transport of Diluted Species node, then click
Diffusion.
2 In the Diffusion settings window, locate the Diffusion section.
3 In the Dc edit field, type D1.

Diffusion 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Transport of Diluted Species and choose the

domain setting Convection and Diffusion.

2 Select Domain 1 only.
3 In the Diffusion settings window, locate the Diffusion section.
4 In the Dc edit field, type D1_eff.

Flux 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Transport of Diluted Species and choose the

boundary condition Flux.

2 In the Flux settings window, locate the Inward Flux section.
3 Select the Species c check box.
4 Select Boundary 3 only.
5 In the N0,c edit field, type -r_surf*c/c0.

Concentration 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Transport of Diluted Species and choose the

boundary condition Concentration.

2 In the Concentration settings window, locate the Concentration section.
3 Select the Species c check box.
4 In the c0,c edit field, type c0.
5 Select Boundary 26 only.

Continuity 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Transport of Diluted Species and choose the

boundary condition Pairs>Continuity.

2 In the Continuity settings window, locate the Pair Selection section.
3 In the Pairs list, select Identity Pair 1.

2012 COMSOL

9 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

MESH 1

Mapped 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Mesh 1 and choose More
Operations>Mapped.
2 Select Boundary 4 only.

Mapped 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Mesh 1 and choose More
Operations>Mapped.
2 Select Boundaries 9, 17, and 23 only.
3 In the Model Builder window, right-click Mesh 1 and choose Swept.

Size
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Mesh 1 click Size.
2 In the Size settings window, locate the Element Size section.
3 From the Predefined list, choose Extra fine.
4 Click the Build All button.

STUDY 1

1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Compute.

10 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

2012 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

RESULTS

The default plot groups show the concentration as slice and surface (see Figure 1)
plots. Note that the solution is continuous between the two parts.

2012 COMSOL

11 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

12 |

THIN-LAYER DIFFUSION

2012 COMSOL