Somaiya Vidyavihar University

K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77

(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Heat and Mass Transfer Lab Jan – May 2021

Name: Om Raval

Batch: A3 Roll No.: 1915046 Experiment No.: 8

Marks:

Signature of Lab Teacher with date:

Diffusion Coefficient of Mass Transfer

CO5: After successful completion of the course students should be able to evaluate mass
transfer and apply to engineering systems.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the diffusion co-efficient (diffusivity) of organic vapour in air.

THEORY
Molecular diffusion is concerned with movement of individual molecules through a substance
by virtue of its thermal energy. The phenomenon of molecular diffusion ultimately leads to
completely uniform concentration of substance throughout a solution, which may, initially have
been non-uniform. The rate at which a substance (solute) moves in a solution at any point in
any direction depends on the (its) concentration gradient at that point and in that direction. In
order to express quantitatively, an approximate rate is needed. The rates are described in terms
of molar flux, moles/(area) (time). The area is measured normal to the direction of diffusion.
Two types of fluxes are often used to describe the molecular diffusion.

J & N TYPES
J is defined as flux of a constituent relative to the molar velocities of all other constituents.
While, N is be defined as the flux of a constituent relative to a fixed point or location in space.
For example, consider a fish swimming in a stream of water. The fisherman is most interested
in the rate at which a fish swims against the flowing current towards the bait, a fixed position.
This is analogous to N while J, the flux, is analogous to the velocity of fish relative to the

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Jan – May 2021
 Somaiya Vidyavihar University
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77
(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Heat and Mass Transfer Lab Jan – May 2021
velocity of up stream. If the diffusion is purely by molecular motion requiring large time then J
may be given by the equation J= - DAB ðCA / ðZ
Or, J = - CDAB ðxA/ ðZ

DAB is the diffusivity or diffusion co-efficient of constituent A in solution B. This equation is

known as Fick’s (first) law of diffusion which is analogous to Newton’s law of viscosity
(momentum transfer) and Fourier law of conduction (heat transfer). Two types of situations are,
often encountered in mass transfer operations: 1) constituent A diffusing in stagnant non
diffusing constituent B ex: Gas absorption where a solute gas like say NH 3 in liquid water
(solvent) with no diffusion of water vapour in to the stream gaseous mixture of Air-
NH3 or Humidification operation where water diffuses in to the air stream with no air diffusion
in to the water stream. The second situation involves diffusion of both A and B in counter-
current direction (equimolal) example - Distillation operation where say Benzene and Toulene
diffuses across the interface ie Benzene (A) diffuses from vapour phase to liquid phase while
Toulene (B) diffuses from liquid to vapour phase. However, all these diffusions are not
molecular but instead, eddy diffusions (analogous to turbulent flow of momentum transfer and
connective heat transfer). The diffusion of constituents within a phase of a solution or gas
mixture is also important for the concentration to be uniform, ultimately. Let us focus the
molecular diffusion of two cases of diffusion within a phase. For the case of ‘A’ diffusing in
stagnant non diffusing ‘B’ the diffusivity DAB may be found by the equation, molar flux,

NA = DABPt (pA1- pA2) / RT z pB,M kgmol/m2s (1)

Where pB,M is log mean difference of partial pressure of B at point 1 and point 2.
pB,M =[ (pB2- pB1) / ln (pB2/ pB1)]

also, pB2 = pt - pA2 ; pB1 = pt - pA1

z = (z1 + z2)/2

The flux NA can also be calculated from the quantity of liquid evaporated.

NA/A = ((z1- z2) . ρA ) /MAθ Kgmol / m2 Sec (2)

Equating (1) and (2), we get for DAB as,
DAB = [RT( z1 2 – z2 2 ) ρl / Pt(ln pB2/ pB1) 2θ M]

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Jan – May 2021
 Somaiya Vidyavihar University
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77
(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Heat and Mass Transfer Lab Jan – May 2021

AIR AIR

1
z1
Organic liquid
z2

Searl’s Cell, constant temperature bath with stirrer, heater, temperature controller / indicator,
vacuum pump (50 lpm) and stop watch.

PROCEDURE
Fill the constant temperature water bath with water up to the level marked. Switch on the
stirrer and the heater. Fill the cell with the given organic liquid such that it is about the half of
the cell. Maintain a steady constant temperature by setting the controller. Note the level of
organic liquid from the datum line marking on the tube. Let this be z 1. Start the stopwatch and
note the time taken for the change in level by a known distance as seen on the Searl’s tube. Read
this distance from datum line as z2. Repeat the experiment at different constant temperatures.

OBSERVATION & CALCULATION

T, Absolute Temperature : 27 (° C )
PT, Total Pressure : 760 (mm Hg)
P A1, equilibrium partial pressure(vapor pressure)at 1
*
: 480 (mm Hg)
P*A2, equilibrium partial pressure (vapour pressure) at 2 : 0 (mm Hg)
p*B1, partial pressure of air at 1 = PT - P*A1 = 280 (mm Hg)
p*B2, partial pressure (air)at 2 = PT = 760 (mm Hg)
ρ, Density of the organic liquid, A : 1312 (kg/m3 ) (at 27 °C)
M, Molecular Weight = 85

T, Absolute Temperature : 36 (° C )
PT, Total Pressure : 760 (mm Hg)
P*A1, equilibrium partial pressure(vapor pressure)at 1 : 600 (mm Hg)
P*A2, equilibrium partial pressure (vapour pressure) at 2 : 0 (mm Hg)
p*B1, partial pressure of air at 1 = PT - P*A1 = 160 (mm Hg)
p*B2, partial pressure (air)at 2 = PT = 760 (mm Hg)
ρ, Density of the organic liquid, A : 1295 (kg/m3 ) (at 36 °C)

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Jan – May 2021
 Somaiya Vidyavihar University
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77
(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Heat and Mass Transfer Lab Jan – May 2021
M, Molecular Weight = 85 :
:
z1 Initial p*A1
Sl Temp. z2 Final Time p*B1 DAB
Height(c (mm
No (° C ) Height(cm) (sec) (mm Hg) (m2/s)
m) Hg)
Room 5.1640 × 10-9
1 2.8 2.7 2100 480 280
temp = 27
2 36 2.9 2.7 2100 600 160 5.32 × 10-9

Calculation:
Reading no 1 (27 °C):
NA/A = ((z1- z2) ρA ) /MAθ = 7.3501 × 10-9 Kmol / m2 Sec
DAB = [ (NA/A ) RT (( z1 + z2) /2 ) PBM ] / PT (PA1 – PA2) = 5.1640 × 10-6 m2 /sec
PBM = (PB1 – PB2) / ln (PB2/PB1) = 480.707 mm of Hg

Reading no 2 (36 °C):

NA/A = ((z1- z2) ρA ) /MAθ = 1.451 × 10-5 Kmol / m2 Sec
DAB = [ (NA/A ) RT (( z1 + z2) /2 ) PBM ] / PT (PA1 – PA2) = 5.32 × 10-9 m2 /sec
PBM = (PB1 – PB2) / ln (PB2/PB1) = 385.073 mm of Hg

RESULTS

Sl no Temperature The diffusion coefficient

T (o C) DAB ( m2 /s)

1 Room temperature = 27 o
C 5.1640 × 10-9

2 36 5.32 × 10-9

SPECIMEN CALCULATION:

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Jan – May 2021
 Somaiya Vidyavihar University
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77
(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Heat and Mass Transfer Lab Jan – May 2021

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Jan – May 2021
 Somaiya Vidyavihar University
K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai -77
(A Constituent College of Somaiya Vidyavihar University)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Heat and Mass Transfer Lab Jan – May 2021

CONCLUSIONS:

Thus we can obtain the diffusion coefficient for Dichloromethane at different temperatures and
compare it with the theoretical data.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Jan – May 2021