Topic 3

Mass Transfer Theories and

Coefficients (II)

AECH 4210 Mass Transfer & Separation Processes

 Mass Transfer Coefficients
• The Whitman two-film theory assumes the resistance to mass transfer lie in two films on each side of
interface.
• The concentration profiles in these films are linear - it is easy to express the flux as a linear function of
concentration gradients on each side of the interface.

• The proportionality constant, ‘mass transfer coefficient’ can be determined by measuring the flux and
concentration gradient in a model system.
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 Case (b): A diffusing through stagnant B (NB = 0)

= CDAB
N A = k x (x Ai − x AL ) ; kx
xBlm L
DAB
N A = kL (cAi −cAL ) ; kL = or kL = kx / C
x Blm L
kx and kL are mass transfer coefficients for case(b)

k x = kx / xBlm ; kL = kL /xBlm

For dilute solutions there is no difference between k’L and kL
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 Gas film mass transfer coefficient
Similar to liquid side:

Case (a): Equimolar counter diffusion (NA = -NB)

NA = ky (y AG −y Ai ) ; (units of k y = kgmole / m2s)

= CDAB
k'y
G
or

N A = kG(PAG − PAi ) ; (units of kG = kgmole / N.s)

kG = ky / P

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 Case (b): A diffusing through stagnant B (NB = 0)

= CDAB
NA = ky (y AG − y Ai ) ; ky
yBlm G

or

NA = kG (PAG − PAi ) kG = ky / P

kx and kL are mass transfer coefficients for case (b)

k y = ky / yBlm ; kG = kG / yBlm

For dilute solutions there is no difference between k’G and kG

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Example 1:

Solution:

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Example 2: The level of a lake drops throughout the summer due to water evaporation.

a) How much volume will the lake lose per day during evaporation?
b) How long will it take for the water level to drop 1m?

conc. of water at the water surface = 1.0 ×10-3 kgmol / m3

conc. of water in the wind = 0.4 × 10-3 kgmol / m3
area of the lake = 500 m2
mass transfer coefficient = 0.012 m/s
density of the lake water = 1000 kg / m3

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 conc. of water at the water surface = 1.0×10 -3 kgmol / m3
Solution:
conc. of water in the wind = 0.4× 10 -3 kgmol / m3
a) 𝑁𝐴 = 𝑘𝑐 × (𝐶𝑠 − 𝐶𝑏 )
area of the lake = 1600 m2
𝑁𝐴 = 0.012 (𝑚/𝑠) × (1 − 0.4) × 10−3(𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙/𝑚3) mass transfer coefficient = 0.012 m/s
density of the lake water = 1000 kg/m3
𝑁𝐴 = 7.2 × 10−6 (𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙/𝑚2 ∙𝑠)

𝑊𝐴 = 𝑁𝐴 × 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = (7.2 × 10−6)(𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙/𝑚2 ∙ 𝑠 ) × (1600)(𝑚2)

𝑊𝐴 = 1.15 × 10−2 (𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙/𝑠 ) Convert to mass Total mass evaporated per 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 1.15 × 10−2 (𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙/𝑠 ) × 18(𝑘𝑔/𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑜𝑙 )

= 0.207 (𝑘𝑔/𝑠)

Convert to volume
Total volume evaporated per 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 0.207(𝑘𝑔/𝑠) ÷ 1000(𝑘𝑔/𝑚3)

= 2.07 × 10−4 (𝑚3/𝑠)

Convert to 𝑚3/𝑑𝑎𝑦
= 2.07 × 10−4 (𝑚3/𝑠) × (3600𝑠/ℎ) × (24ℎ/𝑑𝑎𝑦)

= 17.9 (𝑚3/𝑑𝑎𝑦)

b) 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 1600 𝑚2 × 1 𝑚 = 1600𝑚3 1600 𝑚3 = 17.9 (𝑚3/𝑑𝑎𝑦) × 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = 89.4 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠

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Example 3:

Solution: We first find the interfacial concentration of CO 2

= 9.3*10-4 mol/cm3

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 Resistance in series

Flux through gas film = flux through liquid film

NA = ky (y AG − y Ai ) = kx (xAi − xAL )

NA = kG (PAG − PAi ) = kL (CAi − CAL )

k x y AG − y Ai
= ; kL PAG − PAi
=
ky xAi − xAL kG cAi − cAL

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Summary

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 Overall Driving Force and Overall Mass Transfer Coefficient

Interface
overall driving force based on gas-side:
PAG, yAG cA*, xA*
Gas Liquid
(PAG - PA*) cAi (cA* - cAL)
overall driving pAi overall driving
force force

cAL, xAL
PA*, yA* overall driving force based on liquid-side:

cA* and xA* = molar concentration and fraction of A in equilibrium with pAG
i.e. pAG = H’cA* ; yAG = mxA*

pA* and yA* = partial pressure and mole fraction of A in equilibrium with cAL
i.e. pA* =H’cAL ; yA* =mxAL

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The relations between overall coefficients and individual coefficients
are summarized below:

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 Case (iii) – Absorption of gases with intermediate solubility

• System - Gas phase: SO2 – Air; Liquid phase: Water

In such systems, the resistance to mass transfer resides in both films with varying degrees depending
also on concentration e.g.

System Controlling film

  Liquid film controlled due

SO2 − Air  − water to presence of high amount
 50% 50%  of SO2 (i.e. KL = kL)
  More or less equal in both
SO2 − Air  − water films
 20% 80% 
Entirely gas film controlled
  because it is difficult for SO2
SO2 − Air  − water molecules to diffuse through
 5% 95%  air.
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Example 4:

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1.5949 y=1.5949x

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 1.5949 0.1066

(0.1066 - 0.05556)

0.00893

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Example 4:

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Example 6:

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Example 5:

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