Convective diffusion layer characteristics

Originally, the concept of the Prandtl boundary layer was developed for hydraulically even bodies. It is assumed that any characteristic length L on the particle surface is much greater than the thickness (<5hl) of the boundary layer itself (L > Ojil) Provided this assumption is fulfilled, the concept can be adapted to curved bodies and spheres, including real drug particles. Furthermore, the classical ( macroscopic ) concept of the hydrodynamic boundary layer is valid solely for high Reynolds numbers of Re>104 (14,15). This constraint was overcome for the microscopic hydrodynamics of dissolving particles by the convective diffusion theory (9). 

A reciprocal proportionality exists between the square root of the characteristic flow rate, t/A, and the thickness of the effective hydrodynamic boundary layer, <5Hl- Moreover, f)HL depends on the diffusion coefficient D, characteristic length L, and kinematic viscosity v of the fluid. Based on Levich s convective diffusion theory the combination model ( Kombi-nations-Modell ) was derived to describe the dissolution of particles and solid formulations exposed to agitated systems [(10), Chapter 5.2]. In contrast to the rotating disc method, the combination model is intended to serve as an approximation describing the dissolution in hydrodynamic systems where the solid solvendum is not necessarily fixed but is likely to move within the dissolution medium. Introducing the term... 

Diffusion time (diffusion time constant) — This parameter appears in numerous problems of - diffusion, diffusion-migration, or convective diffusion (- diffusion, subentry -> convective diffusion) of an electroactive species inside solution or a solid phase and means a characteristic time interval for the process to approach an equilibrium or a steady state after a perturbation, e.g., a stepwise change of the electrode potential. For onedimensional transport across a uniform layer of thickness L the diffusion time constant, iq, is of the order of L2/D (D, -> diffusion coefficient of the rate-determining species). For spherical diffusion (inside a spherical volume or in the solution to the surface of a spherical electrode) r spherical diffusion). The same expression is valid for hemispherical diffusion in a half-space (occupied by a solution or another conducting medium) to the surface of a disk electrode, R being the disk radius (-> diffusion, subentry -> hemispherical diffusion). For the relaxation of the concentration profile after an electrical perturbation (e.g., a potential step) Tj = L /D LD being - diffusion layer thickness in steady-state conditions. All these expressions can be derived from the qualitative estimate of the thickness of the nonstationary layer... 

The effect of retardation of the transport of adsorbing ions passing the diffuse part of the double layer becomes clearer when considering a steady transport in one dimension. It is difficult to realise a strictly one-dimensional steady transport in an experiment. But the conditions of a one dimensional steady transport are approximately realised under the conditions of convective diffusion when the thickness of the diffusion layer 5q is much less than the characteristic geometric dimension of the system L... 

If adsoiption processes proceed under conditions of convective diffusion, an important characteristic parameter, the diffusion layer thickness, 5d enters the discussion (cf Section... 

Since D plays the same role as the kinematic viscosity v, we may expect for large Schmidt numbers (v>D) that the viscous boundary layer thickness should be considerably larger than the diffusion boundary layer thickness. A consequence of this is that the velocity seen by the concentration layer at its edge is not the free stream velocity U but something much less, which is more characteristic of the velocity close to the wall (Fig. 4.2.1). We note also that since c is understood to be c, then in a multicomponent solution there may be as many distinct boundary layers as there are species, with the thickness of each defined by the appropriate diffusion coefficient. With this caveat in mind, we may write the convective diffusion equation for a two-dimensional diffusion boundary layer and estimate the diffusion layer thickness. 

The ignition/extinction results and responses to changes in load provide information about the time scales for the response of the fuel cell. The time constant for transitioning to steady state during startup is 100 s. Five of the key time constants associated with PEM fuel cells are listed in Table 3.1.They include the characteristic reaction time of the PEM fuel cell (ti), the time for gas phase transport across the diffusion layer to the membrane electrode interface (T2), the characteristic time for water to diffuse across the membrane from the cathode to the anode (ts), the characteristic time for water produced to be absorbed by the membrane (T4), and the characteristic time for water vapor to be convected out of the fuel cell (T5). Approximate values for the physical parameters have been used to obtain order of magnitude estimates of these time constants. 

In a convection-free system, and for a limited observation time (when compared to the characteristic time of the system, which itself depends on the diffusion coefficients and the inter-electrode distance) the electrolyte can be separated into three zones two diffusion layers close to the two reactive interfaces and an intermediate homogeneous zone within the electrolyte. The diffusion layers thicknesses increase with time, but they are both considered as small when compared to the inter-electrode distance. Here one refers to a transient state and each interface is defined as being in a semi-infinite mass transport condition. Both electrodes are independent, in spite of the fact that they are crossed by the same current. 

Scaling arguments are used to establish the circumstances where the boundary-layer behavior is valid. These arguments, which are usually made for external flows over surfaces, may be found in many texts on fluid mechanics (e.g., [350]). The essential feature of the boundary-layer approximation is that there is a principal flow direction in which the convective effects significantly dominate the diffusive behavior. As a result the flow-wise diffusion may be neglected, while the cross-flow diffusion and convection are retained. Mathematically this reduction causes the boundary-layer equations to have essentially parabolic characteristics, whereas the Navier-Stokes equations have essentially elliptic characteristics. As a result the computational simulation of the boundary-layer equations is much simpler and more efficient. 

We may note that the thermal boundary layer in this case is asymptotically thin relative to the boundary layer for a solid body. This is a consequence of the fact that the tangential velocity near the surface is larger, and hence convection is relatively more efficient. From a simplistic point of view, the larger velocity means that convection parallel to the surface is more efficient, and hence the time available for conduction (or diffusion) normal to the surface is reduced. Thus, the dimension of the fluid region that is heated (or within which solute resides) is also reduced. Indeed, if we define Pe by using a characteristic length scale lc and a characteristic velocity scale uc, heat can be conducted a distance... 

---