Molecular Transport

Equations

Outline
1.Molecular Transport
Equations
2.Viscosity of Fluids
3.Fluid Flow

Molecular Transport
Each molecule of a system has a
certain quantity of mass, thermal
energy, and momentum associated with
it. Foust
1. What happens when a difference in the
concentration of these properties occur
from one region to another?
2. How is transport different in a solid, gas,
and a liquid?

Molecular Transport
We need a simple physical model to
describe molecular transport - one
that does not take into account the
structural differences of the three
states.

driving force
rate of transport =
resistance

Molecular Transport
driving force
rate of transport =
resistance

A driving force is needed to

overcome resistance in order
to transport a property.
Recall: Ohms Law from Physics 72

Molecular Transport

Flux
Define: FLUX
: amount of property being
transferred per unit time through a
cross-sectional area
Mathematically,

d
Z flux
dz

Is the equation
dimensionally
consistent?
What are the units of:
z?
?
?

Flux

d
Z
dz
Flux in the z-direction: amount of property
transferred per unit time per cross-sectional area
perpendicular to the z-direction of flow
: diffusivity, proportionality constant

Flux

d
Z
dz
If the transport process is at steady
state, what happens to the flux?

General Property
Balance

rate of

property
in

rate of

property
out

0
rate of generation

of
property

If the
transport
process is at
steady state,
what happens
to the flux?

0
rate of accumulation

of
property

Flux at Steady State

d
Z
dz
z2

z1

Z dz d

Z z2 z1 2 1
1 2
Z
z2 z1

At steadystate:

1 2
Z
z2 z1

Flux

d
Z
dz
What happens when you have an
unsteady-state transport process?

General Property
Balance

rate of

property
in

rate of

property
out

rate of generation

of
property

Assume:
1. Transport occurs in
the z-direction
only.
2. Volume element has
a unit crosssectional area.
3. R = rate of
generation of
property
(concentration per
unit time)

rate of accumulation

of
property

General Property
Balance
Assume:
1. Transport occurs in
the z-direction
only.
2. Volume element has
a unit crosssectional area.
3. R = rate of
generation of
property (amount
rate of property in z| z (area) per unit time per unit
volume)

rate of property out z| zz (area)

WHY?

General Property
Balance

rate of generation of property

Assume:
1. Transport occurs in
the z-direction
only.
2. Volume element has
a unit crosssectional area.
3. R = rate of
generation of
property (amount
R per
z unit
time per unit
volume)

WHY?

General Property
Balance
Assume:
1. Transport occurs in
the z-direction
only.
2. Volume element has
a unit crosssectional area.
3. R = rate of
generation of
rate of accumulation of property property (amount
per unit time per unit
volume)
d

dt

WHY?

General Property
Balance
rate of

property
in

z|z

rate of

property
out

rate of generation

of
property

z|zz

rate of accumulation

of
property

R z dt

Dividing by z :

z|z z|zz
d
R
z
dt

General Property
Balance
z|z z|zz
d
R
z
dt
Taking the limit as z 0 :

d z
d

R
dz
dt

d
But: z
dz

d
d
2 R
dz
dt
2

General equation for

momentum, energy, and
mass conservation
(molecular transport
mechanism only)

Momentum Transport
Imagine two
parallel plates,
with area A,
separated by a
distance Y, with a
fluid in between.
Imagine the fluid
made up of many
layers like a
stack of cards.

Momentum Transport
Driving Force
change in
velocity

d
Z
dz

Momentum Transport

d
Z
dz
d(vx )
yx
dy
Flux of xdirected
momentum in
the ydirection

Momentum Transport

d(vx )
yx
dy
but since:

dvx
yx
dy

Heat Transport
Imagine two
parallel plates,
with area A,
separated by a
distance Y, with
a slab of solid in
between.
What will happen
if it was a fluid
instead of a solid
slab?

Heat Transport
Driving Force
change in
temperature

d
Z
dz

Heat Transport

d
Z
dz
qy
A

d( cpT)

Heat flux in the

y-direction

dy

Heat Transport
qy
A

d( cp T)
dy

but since: k cp

qy

dT
k
A
dy

Mass Transport
Imagine a slab
of fused silica,
with thickness
Y and area A.
Imagine the
slab is
covered with
pure air on
both surfaces.

Mass Transport
Driving Force
change in
concentration

d
Z
dz

Mass Transport

d
Z
dz
J

*
Ay

dcA
DAB
dy

Mass flux in the

y-direction

Analogy

d(vx )
yx
dy
MOMENTUM

qy
A

d( cpT)
dy

HEAT

*
Ay

dcA
DAB
dy
MASS

Assignment
Compute the steady-state
momentum flux yx
in lbf/ft2 when the lower plate velocity
V is 1 ft/s in the positive x- direction,
the plate separation Y is 0.001 ft, and
the fluid viscosity is 0.7 cp.

Assignment
Compute the steady-state
momentum flux yx
in lbf/ft2 when the lower plate velocity
V is 1 ft/s in the positive x- direction,
the plate separation Y is 0.001 ft, and
the fluid viscosity is 0.7 cp.
ANS: 1.46 x 10-2 lbf/ft2

Assignment
A plastic panel of area A = 1 ft2 and
thickness Y = 0.252 in. was found to
conduct heat at a rate of 3.0 W at
steady state with temperatures To =
24.00C and T1 = 26.00C imposed
on the two main surfaces. What is
the thermal conductivity of the
plastic in cal/cm-s-K at 25C?

Assignment
A plastic panel of area A = 1 ft2 and
thickness Y = 0.252 in. was found to
conduct heat at a rate of 3.0 W at steady
state with temperatures To = 24.00C and
T1 = 26.00C imposed on the two main
surfaces. What is the thermal conductivity
of the plastic in cal/cm-s-K at 25C?
ANS: 2.47 x 10-4 cal/cm-s-K

Assignment
Calculate the steady-state mass flux j Ay of
helium for the system at 500C. The
partial pressure of helium is 1 atm at y =
0 and zero at the upper surface of the
plate. The thickness Y of the Pyrex plate is
10-2 mm, and its density (B) is 2.6 g/cm3.
The solubility and diffusivity of helium in
pyrex are reported as 0.0084 volumes of
gaseous helium per volume of glass, and
DAB = 0.2 10-7 cm2/s, respectively.

Assignment

ANS: 1.05 x 10-11 g/cm2-s