Mass Transfer

Lecture Series
Fall 2016/2017
Slides _ 8

Unsteady-state diffusion in
semi-infinite medium

Definition
Semi-infinite solid means mathematically a region that has a
single boundary surface and extend to infinity in one
direction.
In practice, it refers to a plate that is sufficiently thick that any
concentration distribution applied to one of its surfaces has
negligible effect, for all practical purposes, on the other
surface during the period of observation of concentration
transient.
In short: If the wall is thick enough, there will be no
measurable change in the concentration of the outer surface
for a considerable time.

Transient concentration distributions in a semi-infinite

solid for two surface conditions: negligible surface
resistance, and surface convection.

Unsteady-state diffusion in semi-infinite

medium (negligible surface resistance)

(1)
(2)

(3)
(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

Called
Gauss error integral
or probability
integral

OR

(10)

(11)

Example 1
Determine how long it will take for the
concentration change (Y) to reach 0.01 at a
depth 1 m in a semi-infinite medium. Assume
DAB = 0.1 cm2/s.

Solution

Determine the flux!

(12)

(13)

A little bit about error function:

- Error function table is provided (take a look).
- Table shows the error function values for x values up to 3.29.
- For x > 3.23, error function is unity up to five decimal places.
- For x > 4, the following approximation could be used:
erf(x) = 1

exp(-x2)
x

Gaussian Error Function

Note
For convection outside the surface of the
plate, two methods to solve the problem:
Chart method as given in the next slid.
Equation as given in heat transfer

Semi-infinite slab _ Chart method

Example 2