Unit 2

UNIT 2
Mass transfer coefficient

Definition of convective mass transfer: The transport of material between a boundary surface
and a moving fluid or between two immiscible moving fluids separated by a mobile interface
mass transfer coefficient is to develop a simple and practically helpful approach to

convective mass transfer problems
Mass transfer rate (WA) is proportional to: (i) concentration driving force (CA) (ii)
area of the contact between phases (a)
where kc is proportionality constant, called mass transfer coefficient. Mass transfer

rate, WA can also be expressed in terms of molar flux, NA as
Types of mass transfer coefficients
Diffusion of A through non-diffusion B (NB=0)
Compare equation 4 and 6
Compare equation 5 and 8
Equimolar countercurrent Diffusion of A and B (NA=-NB
𝑌𝐵2 = 1- 𝑌𝐴2 = 1-0= 1
𝑘𝑦 = 𝑘𝐺 × 𝑃𝐵𝑀
𝑘𝑌 = 2 × 10−5 × 96.213
𝑘𝑦 = 1.83 × 10−3
CORRELATION FOR CONVECTIVE MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT
In this section various correlations that are used to estimate the convective mass
transfer coefficients for various cases are presented. The various correlations are
generally formed in terms of different dimensionless groups associated with the
mass transfer.
THEORIES OF MASS TRANSFER
Many theories are available to explain the behavior of mass transfer coefficient
such as the film, penetration, surface renewal and others. The theories are based
on both molecular and turbulent diffusion. The theories are explained in details in
the following sections.
Film theory
• In case of one dimensional convective mass transfer, the concentration distribution is
linear.
• The coefficient of mass transfer in this special case is proportional to the diffusion
coefficient and inversely proportional to the film.
• This phenomenon is commonly known as the film theory.
• The schematic diagram of concentration profile with stagnant film is shown in Figure 1.
Film theory is based on the following assumptions:
a) Mass transfer occurs by molecular diffusion through a fluid layer at phase boundary
(solid wall). Beyond this film, concentration is homogeneous and is CAb.
b) Mass transfer through the film occurs at steady state.
c) Flux is low and mass transfer occurs at low concentration.
Figure 1
(1)
(2)
(3)
Integrating Equation (3) for the following boundary conditions
(4)
(5)
Now comparing Equation (5) and

• Film theory is useful in the analysis of mass transfer with chemical reaction. For
turbulent flow, the mass transfer coefficient has much smaller dependency
compared to laminar flow. In the turbulent flow, the mass transfer coefficient is
proportional to where n may be zero to 0.9, depending upon the operating
conditions.
• Although the film theory offers some explanation of the mechanism of mass
transfer in fluid media, it does not explain the estimation thickness of the film.
• Due to this disadvantage, application of the model is restricted to mass transfer in
a diffusion cell.
Penetration theory
• Most of the industrial processes of mass transfer is unsteady state process. In

• such cases, the contact time between phases is too short to achieve a stationary
state. This non stationary phenomenon is not generally taken into account by the
film model.
• In the absorption of gases from bubbles or absorption by wetted-wall columns, the
mass transfer surface is formed instantaneously and transient diffusion of the
material takes place.
• Figure 2 demonstrates the schematic of penetration model.
Surface Renewal Theory
For the mass transfer in liquid phase, Danckwert (1951) modified the Higbie’s
penetration theory. He stated that a portion of the mass transfer surface is replaced
with a new surface by the motion of eddies near the surface and proposed the
following assumptions:
1) The liquid elements at the interface are being randomly swapped by fresh elements
from bulk
2) At any moment, each of the liquid elements at the surface has the same probability
of being substituted by fresh element
3) Unsteady state mass transfer takes place to an element during its stay at the
interface.
Mass transfer coefficient is directly proportional to DAB 2/3

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UNIT 2

Mass transfer coefficient

mass transfer coefficient is to develop a simple and practically helpful approach to

where kc is proportionality constant, called mass transfer coefficient. Mass transfer

Film theory is based on the following assumptions:

Now comparing Equation (5) and

• Most of the industrial processes of mass transfer is unsteady state process. In

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