Overall mass transfer coefficients

Lecture [ 8 ]

This section concerns mass transfer systems in which one fluid is flowing.
cAi = surface (interface)
concentration

A local mass transfer coefficient , kc is defined as follows:

N A k c c Ai c A
(8.1)

mol
m mol


2
3
m
.
s

s m

cA = bulk concentration
NA = mass flux

Values for kc in different geometries can be predicted using a combination of several

approaches:
dimensionless analysis (theoretical - macro)
boundary layer analysis (theoretical - macro)
relationships between mass, momentum and heat transfer (experimental-macro)
First define various diffusivities (all with dimensions m 2/s):

momentum:

thermal:

k

c p

mass:

DAB

m2

s
m

Ns m 2

Ns m 2


3
2
3

kg m
Ns m.m

W m.K

3
(
kg
m
).
(
J
kg
.
K
)

m2

= density

k = thermal conductivity

then define dimensionless numbers that describe the ratios of these diffusivities:

momentum diffusivit y

Sc

mass diffusivit y
D AB
heat diffusivit y
k
Le

mass diffusivit y c p D AB
Pr

= viscosity

momentum diffusivit y c p

thermal diffusivit y
k

Schmidt number

cp = specific heat capacity

DAB = molecular diffusivity

Lewis number
Prandtl number

Mass transfer coefficient for flow over a flat plate

Lecture [ 8 ]

The concept of an overall mass transfer coefficient can be visualised by considering the
flow of a fluid over a flat plate. The diagram below shows a laminar fluid stream
approaching a thin flat plate:

parabolic
velocity profile

momentum
boundary
layer location

v()

v=0

laminar
sub-layer
buffer layer

transition

laminar region

turbulent region

thin flat
plate
x=L

Many experimental results are reported in terms of cf, the friction coefficient, which is
defined in terms of the shear stress at the wall, W :, and the free-stream velocity, v() :

w cf

2
v

(8.2)

Measurements of the pressure drop in the fluid, P, as a function of fluid velocity are an
experimentally convenient method to characterise the flow, since for a plate (of
dimension W into the page on the above diagram), P = L.W.W . Hence:
2
P
v
cf
L.W
2

cf

2 P
2
v
L.W

Mass transfer coefficient for flow over a flat plate

Lecture [ 8 ]

The Schmidt number (Sc) is related to the ratio of momentum to mass laminar
boundary layer thicknesses:
momentum
boundary layer
Vx(x1,y)

mass
boundary layer

cA(x1,y)

flat plate
x1

Dimensional analysis techniques (Buckingham method) suggest that for laminar

boundary layers:
Forced convection: Sh = f( Re , Sc )

vL
k cL
f
,

D AB
D AB

Natural convection: Sh = f( Gr , Sc )

L3 g
k cL
f
,
2
D AB
D AB

Where Sh is the Sherwood number which relates convective to diffusive mass

transfer.
The proposed relationships have been shown (experimentally) to give reasonable
predictions of the relationship between mass and momentum transfer for various
geometries with laminar boundary layers.

Sh = Sherwood number
Re = Reynolds number
Sc = Schmidt number
Gr= Grashof number
kc = mass transfer coefficient
(m/s)
= viscosity (N/sm2)
= density (kg/m3)
k = thermal conductivity
(W/mK)
cp = specific heat capacity
(J/kgK)
DAB = molecular diffusivity
(m2/s)
g = 9.81 (m/s2)
L = characteristic dimension
(m)

For gases: Sh ~1 , for liquids Sh ~ 100 - 1000

Mass transfer coefficient for flow over a flat plate

Lecture [ 8 ]

Further theoretical analysis combined with experimental results suggest:

for laminar flow of gases (Sc~1) across a flat plate with low mass transfer rates:

Sh ( x ) 0.332 Re

k c(x) x

0.5
x

vx

0.332

0.5

vx

0.332

0.5

(8.3)
for laminar flow of liquids (Sc1) across a flat plate with low mass transfer rates:

Sh ( x ) 0.332 Re Sc
0. 5
x

D AB

k c(x) x

0.333

D AB

D AB

0.333

(8.4)

The relationship in equation 8.3 can be integrated along the length of the plate, to give
an average mass transfer coefficient for the whole plate.
cA()

mass
boundary layer
cA(x1,y)

y
cA(s)
x

flat plate
x1

For a plate of unit width (into the page on the above diagram):

k c L c A ( s ) c A ( )

k c
c(x)

A (s )

c A ( ) x

kc
(8.5)

average mass transfer

coefficient

x 0

Analogies for relationship between mass, energy and momentum transport

Lecture [ 8 ]

All of the models that follow make the following assumptions:

no energy or mass production within the system

No thermal radiation within the system

No viscous dissipation

Momentum ( i.e. velocity) profile is unaffected by heat or mass transfer

Fluid physical properties are constant throughout the system

Prandtl analogy
This uses a theoretical approach to incorporate the influence of the laminar sub-layer
into the prediction of the mass transfer coefficient:

1
C f . Re .Sc
2
Sh
1
1 5
C f . Sc 1
2

(8.8)

Von Krmn analogy

This uses a theoretical approach to incorporate the influence of the laminar sub-layer
and the buffer layer into the prediction of the mass transfer coefficient:

Sh

1
1 5
Cf
2

1
C f . Re .Sc
2
Sc 1 ln 1 5 Sc 1
6

(8.9)

Analogies for relationship between mass, energy and momentum transport

Lecture [ 8 ]

Chilton-Colburn analogy
This is the most useful, since it is based on experimental data. In this analogy, it is
customary to define j-factors for heat and mass transfer:
mass

heat

: momentum

jD jH

1
Cf
2

kc 2/3
h
1
Sc
Pr 2 / 3 C f
v
v c p
2

0.6 < Sc < 2500

0.6 < Pr < 100

(8.10)

w
v2

example of experimental data: Cf for fluid flow in a pipe:

Mass transfer correlations examples for various geometries

Lecture [8]

Thin flat plate

boundary layer

laminar flow:

Sh L 0.644 Re 1L/ 2 Sc1/ 3

ReL < 2 x 105

(8.11)

ReL > 2 x 105

(8.12)

turbulent flow:

Sh L 0.0365 Re 4L/ 5 Sc1/ 3

Single cylinder

P = total system pressure (Pa)

GM = superficial molar gas velocity
(kmol/m2s)

for air flow across the pipe (normal to its centreline):

kG .P.Sc 0.56
0.281 Re D0.4
GM

400 < ReD < 2.5 x 104

0.6 <Sc < 2.7

(8.13)

Mass transfer correlations examples for various geometries

Lecture [ 8 ]

Sphere

forced convection, mass transfer into a liquid stream:

Sh 4 1.21 Re .Sc
Sh 1.01 Re .Sc

2 / 3 1/ 2

1/ 3

Re Sc < 1 x 104
Re >0.4Gr1/4Sc-1/6

(8.14)

Re Sc > 1 x 104
Re >0.4Gr1/4Sc-1/6

(8.15)

Re.Sc = Pe (Peclet number)

forced convection, mass transfer into a gas stream:

2 < Re < 800
0.6 <Sc < 2.7
Re >0.4Gr1/4Sc-1/6

Sh 2 0.552 Re 1/ 2 .Sc1/ 3

(8.16)

natural convection:

Sh Sh 0 0.347 Re .Sc1/ 2

0.62

2 <Re < 3 x 104

(8.17)
0.6 <Sc < 3200
Gr.Sc < 108 : Sh0 = 2 + 0.569(Gr.Sc)0.25
Gr.Sc > 108 : Sh0 = 2 + 0.0254(Gr.Sc)1/3Sc0.244

Mass transfer correlations examples for various geometries

Lecture [ 8 ]

Spherical bubble swarms

Sh 0.31Gr 1/ 3Sc1/ 3

db < 2.5 mm

(8.18)

Sh 0.42Gr 1/ 3Sc1/ 2

db > 2.5 mm

(8.19)

d 3b L g L G
Gr
L2

The literature contains correlations for many more geometries and flow conditions.