UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology

Bachelor of Engineering (HONS) Petrochemical Engineering

UGPA2153 HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER

Experiment

EXPERIMENT 3: GAS DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT

Student(s) detail(s):
Name ID. No. Year /
Trimester

LIEW KAH JIANN 1401406 Y2S3

TAN JIN HAN 1403782 Y2S3

LOO JUN YE 1402150 Y2S3

KELVIN LIEW 1403152 Y2S1

TAN JIN JYE 1403412 Y2S2

EDDY LIAW 1403531 Y2S3

Lecturers name: DR. GOBI

Date of Submission: 30 JUNE 2017

Introduction

Gaseous diffusion coefficient apparatus involves diffusion with bulk flow is

designed to allow measurement of molecular diffusivities and also to understand the
basic notions of mass transfer theory. In this method , the acetone is allowed to
evaporate in T-glass tube over the top of which a stream of vapor-free gas is passed. A
water bath is provided for maintaining a steady temperature so that there is no eddy
current in the vertical tube and mass transfer takes place from the surface by
molecular diffusion alone. The rate of evaporation can be followed by the rate of fall
of the liquid surface. A traveling microscope is provided for determining the acetone
level in the T-tube . With the plotting of the concentration gradient, the diffusivity of
the vapor of the volatile liquid can then be calculated.

Objectives

1. To measure mass transfer rates

2. Ficks Law measurement of diffusion coefficients

3. Studies of temperature effect on diffusion coefficients

Theory

When a concentration gradient exists within a fluid consisting of two or more

components, there is a tendency for each constituent to flow in such a direction as to
reduce the concentration gradient. This is called mass transfer. Mass transfer takes
place in either a gas phase or a liquid phase or in both simultaneously. When a liquid
is allowed to evaporate in a narrow vertical tube and a steady temperature is
maintained, mass transfer takes place from the surface by molecular diffusion alone.
This is the technique developed by Winkelmann to determine the diffusivity of the
vapor of a volatile liquid. By monitoring the evaporation rate, which is the rate of fall
of liquid surface, and with the knowledge of concentration gradient, the diffusion
coefficients may be calculated.
The rate of mass of mass transfer is expressed as below

Where,
D is the diffusivity for the system, m2/s
CA is the saturation concentration at interface, kmol/m3
L is the effective distance of mass transfer, m
CT is the total molar concentration, kmol/m3
CBM is the logarithmic mean value of CB, kmol/m3
And the evaporation rate is :-

Where,
L is the density of liquid, kg/m3
M is the molecular weight of liquid, kg/kmol
Solve the equation above:-
D can be calculated using equation below:-

Where,

Find CT using formula:

Materials and Apparatus

1. LS-32136-A Gas diffusion coefficient apaaratus

2. Acetone ( test fluid )

3. Small syringe

4. T - glass tube

5. Water

Procedure
1) The tap water was poured into the water bath tank then water was filled till
water level of 8000mL.
2) The test liquid was filled into the capillary of T-tube by using syringe to level
of -60-80mm.
3) The T-tube was connected to the air blower by using flexible tubing.
4) The T-tube was inserted into the T-tube holder and water bath tank cover was
closed.
5) The level of the test liquid was set to be lower than the water level or the T-
tube holder (K). The air inlet connection of the T-tube was ensured -10mm
above the water level.
6) The telescope was adjusted until it focused the test liquid level at the T-tube.
7) The main switch on the panel was switch on.
8) The heater was turned on and expected temperature of water bath was set, and
the water was let to heat up to the setting temperature of 40 C.
9) Wait till the water reached the setting temperature, the blower was switch on
to high air flow and then the initial effective distance of mass transfer was
measured and Lo was stated.
10) The stopwatch was started and the reading of the digital Vernier scale was tare
zero. At the same time, keep an eye on the liquid level.
11) For every 20 minutes elapsed, the new test liquid level in the T-tube was read
by adjusting the telescope level. The value was recorded. The readings would
be in negative reading, the negative sign can be ignored.
12) Step 11 in order to get 4 sets of data was repeated.
13) Steps 2 to steps 12 was repeat by using temperature 50C and 60C.
 Figure 1 : Gas Diffusion Coefficient Apparatus

Setup and diagram of apparatus

The Gas Diffusion Coefficient Apparatus consists of water bath tank, capillary
tube, air pump and travelling telescope. In water bath tank, there are some additional
parts that help this experiment works such as heater, temperature sensor, temperature
controller and level switch. The purpose of heater is to heat up the water in the water
bath to the temperature desired. Temperature sensor is to measure the temperature by
correlating the resistance of the element with the temperature. Temperature controller
is about controlling the temperature following the experimental temperature and water
bath itself can maintain a steady temperature so that there is no eddy current in the
vertical tube and mass transfer takes place from the surface by molecular diffusion
alone. Next, the T-shape vertical capillary tube is used with the air pump which has
been attached to the one end of the T-Tube. The purpose is to allow the maintenance
of a partial pressure difference within the capillary tube between the evaporating
liquid surface and the flowing air stream. The travelling telescope equipped with a
Vernier scale is used to measure the level of the acetone meniscus within the capillary
in intervals.
Discussion:

The objectives of the experiment are to determine the gas diffusion coefficient
of acetone by using Ficks Law and to study the effect of temperature on the diffusion
coefficients which based on the mass transfer theory of the molecular diffusion in
gases. To archive the objectives of this experiment, the gas diffusion coefficient
apparatus is used. The apparatus is combined with digital Vernier scale holder and
telescope, which is used to measure and read the level of meniscus in the capillary
tube which contains acetone. The diffusion coefficient of acetone (volatile liquid) into
another gas can be studied by confining a small sample of the liquid in a narrow
vertical tube, and observing its rate of evaporation into a stream of gas passed across
the top of the tube.

The experiment is divided into three parts which differ in terms of

temperature. For the first part, the experiment is run by using temperature of 40C and
the diffusivity of the vapor of acetone obtained is 2.584x10-4 m2/s. For the second part,
the experiment is repeated by using temperature of 50C and the diffusivity of the
vapor of acetone obtained is 4.680x10-4 m2/s. The last part which is the third part, the
experiment is repeated by using temperature of 60C and the diffusivity of the vapor
of acetone obtained is 0.015 m2/s.

Based on the result obtained, the graph of t/(L Lo) against (L Lo) was
plotted. From the graph, it can be observed that the graph plotted for the temperature
of 40C is steeper than the graph plotted for the temperature of 50C. Other than that,
the value of slope can be obtained easily and the calculation of diffusivity of the vapor
can be proceeding from the graph plotted.
 From the calculation that has been done, it shows that the value of diffusivity
is affected by the temperature. The higher the temperature, the higher the diffusivity
of the vapor or the diffusion coefficient of acetone. Diffusion is the movement of
molecules from a high concentration area to a lower concentration area. Therefore, the
increased of temperature will also means that when the temperature increase, the
diffusion will speed up. Thus, if the temperature is higher, it would increase the rate of
diffusion by increasing the kinetic activity of the solution. The molecules of the
solution would be moving more randomly and vigorously, so naturally the chances of
them moving through pores in a membrane would be much better. So the molecules
spread from high to low concentration more rapidly.

The highest temperature used in this experiment is 60C. According to the

book named Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials (Wiley-interscience, 2004),
the boiling point of acetone is 56.24C. If the temperature is exceeding the boiling
point temperature, the diffusivity will not be feasible. This is caused by the
characteristics of the acetone solution which is volatile. An increase in pressure has a
significant effect on the relative volatility of the component in a liquid mixture. The
increase in the pressure as the same time will cause the increase in the temperature.
Then, an increase in temperature also effects the relative volatility. Therefore, the
temperature conducted in this experiment must not exceed the boiling point of the
acetone because it will increase the rate of volatility of acetone. Thus, it will be harder
to read the level of meniscus of the third part (60 C) on the sliding digital Vernier
scale since the solution is volatile rapidly.

In addition, there are several safety precautions need to be considered when

conducting this experiment. First of all, the syringe and capillary tube should be
cleaned and washed with distilled water before using them in the experiment. Not
only that, we need to make sure the bubble is not formed when acetone is confining
into the capillary tube. Besides, gloves should be wear while handling acetone.

However, there are few ways to increase the accuracy and consistency of this
experiment. First, the eye position need to be parallel to the meniscus when taking the
reading. In addition, meniscus should be located nearest to horizontal line before
taking the reading rom Vernier scale. Furthermore, the experiment should be carried
in longer time interval.