UNIT – II/ Mass Transfer Coefficient

1. What is mass transfer coefficient?

Mass transfer coefficient is a diffusion rate constant that relates the mass
transfer rate, mass transfer area, and concentration change as driving force: Where: kc is
the mass transfer coefficient [mol/(s. · m2)/(mol/m3)], or m/s.

2. What are the theories of mass Transfer?

Number of mass transfer theories proposed in mass transfer. The most accepted theory
is the colburn’s analogy. No other theory could explain the phenomenon of mass transfer.

3. What is Lewis number?

A dimensionless number formed by dividing thermal diffusivity by mass diffusivity.
LE = SC / PR = α / D

4. What is Sherwood Number?

It may be defined as the ratio of total mass transfer to molecular mass transfer.
NSH = TOTAL MASS TRANSFER / MOLECULAR MASS TRANSFER
It is the mass transfer analogy of Nusselt’s number.
SH = F*L / C*DAB

5. What are film coefficients?

Both heat & mass transfer coefficient are called as film co-efficient...

6. What is penetration theory?

The liquid- gas interface is then a mosaic of surface elements & different exposure
time& since the rate of solute penetration depends upon exposure time, the average rate for a
unit surface and must be determined by summing the individual values.

7. What is Surface renewal theory?

This theory assumes that the surface elements to be essentially infinitely deep, the different
solute never reaches the region of constant concentration. The observed dependence
KL α DABn
 With n dependent upon circumstances, might be explained by allowing for a finite depth
of the surface elements or eddies.

8. What is stage?
Any device or a combination of devices in which intimate two insoluble phases are
brought into contact, where mass transfer occurs between the phases tending to bring them to
equilibrium & where the phases are then mechanically separable. A process carried out in this
manner is a single stage operation.

9. What is stage efficiency?

It is defined as the fractional approach to equilibrium which is real stage produce or the
rate of the actual solute transfer to that if equilibrium where attained.

10. Define Absorption factor.

This can be represented by the expression
A = RS / m * ES
Where, RS is the rate of flow of non-diffusing solvent in phase R
ES is the rate of flow of non-diffusing solvent in phase E
m equilibrium curve slope.

11. When the mass transfer in gas phase controlled?

When m’ is small (equilibrium distribution curve is flat).Thus the major resistance is
offered by 1 / ky, Therefore the rate of mass transfer is gas phase controlled.
1 / KY = 1 / ky + m’ / kx
1 / KY = 1 / ky

12. What is the dimensionless number for heat transfer?

The dimensionless group in mass transfer identical to that of Prandtl number in heat
transfer is Schmidt number

13. What is the unit of mass transfer coefficient?

Pressure -mass transfer coefficient KY, the unit is KGMOLE / M2 SEC. ATM
14. When do the Lewis number is unity?
For air- water vapour mixture the value of Lewis number is unity

15. When do the rate of mass transfer is liquid phase controlled?

When m” is very large then the rate of mass transfer is liquid phase controlled. The
major resistance to mass transfer lies within the liquid.
1 / KX = 1 / kx +1 / m’’ ky

16. What is ideal stage?

An equilibrium, ideal or theoretical stage is defined as one where the effluent phases
are in equilibrium, so that a longer time of contact will bring about no additional change to
composition.

17. What is the expression of Schmidt number?

It is the ratio of molecular momentum transfer to molecular mass transfer.
NSC = µ / ℓ * DAB

18. What is the relation between stripping factor and absorption factor?
Stripping factor is the inverse of absorption factor. It is denoted by S.
S = m * ES / R S

19. What is Peclet number?

Peclet number
It is the product of reynold’s & prandtl number.
NPE = total momentum transfer / molecular heat transfer.

20. What is wet bulb depression?

The quantity tg – tw is called wet bulb depression. Covering the thermometer with a
wick and noting down the temperature is known as wet bulb temperature.
 Part-B
1. Give an account for estimating NTU and HTU.
2. List out the various analogies between mass, heat and momentum transfer. Explain
Reynolds analogy in detail
3. Write short notes on: Higbie’s and Danckwert’s theories of mass transfer.
4. Derive a relation for the overall mass transfer coefficient in terms of the individual film
coefficients and explain the limiting conditions.
5. Explain the following theories involved in mass Transfer
6. Explain how the height of packing for an absorber can be calculated.
7. An absorption tower operating at 20OC and 1atm. pressure was used to absorb SO2 from an
air mixture into water. At one point in the equipment, the partial pressure of SO2 was 30
mm. Hg. and concentration of the contacting liquid film was 1.2148 Kmol/m3 of solution.
The individual film mass transfer coefficients at 20OC and 1 atm. were KL = 6.347 kg.
moles per (hr.m2) per (Kg. mole/m3) and KG = 1.44 Kg. moles/hr. m2. atm. The equilibrium
data at 20OC are as follows:
Partial Pressure of SO2 0.5 3.2 8.5 2.6 5.9
(mm. Hg.)
Conc. of SO2 (Kmol/m3) 0.306 1.459 2.784 6.2151 10.909
(i) Evaluate the interfacial comp. CAi and PAi
(ii) Find KG and KL.
(iii) What percentage of overall resistance to mass transfer lies in the gas phase?
8. In a certain apparatus used for absorption of SO2 from air by means of water, at one point
in the tower the gas contains 10% SO2, and it was in contact with a liquid containing
0.4% SO2 (density 990 kg/m3), the temp. was 50OC and the total pressure atmospheric.
Overall mass transfer coefficient based on gas phase conc. KG = 7.36 x 10-10 kg moles /
m2. sec. Of the total diffusional resistance 47% was in the gas phase and 53% in the liquid
phase. The equilibrium data at 50OC is as follows:
Kg. SO2 / 100Kg. water: 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.7
Partial Pressure of SO2 (mm. Hg.) 29 46 83 119
Calculate:
(i) The overall mass transfer coefficient based on liquid phase conc. KL.
(ii) The interfacial comp. of both the phases.
(iii) ka, ky, kc, kx and kL.