Mass by diffusion

It is important to realize that there cannot be a net transport of mass by diffusive action within a homogeneous multicomponent fluid. The transport of some species in one direction must be balanced by transport of other species in the other direction. The reasons for this behavior will be discussed later. For now we simply note that... 

For the aerosol scientist the main point to remember about the medium from a kinetic theory point of view is that mass, energy, and momentum can be transferred within the gas—mass by diffusion, energy by heat conduction, and momentum by viscosity. 

In the mid-1800s. Pick [3,4] introduced two differential equations that provide a mathematical framework to describe the otherwise random phenomenon of molecular diffusion. The flow of mass by diffusion across a plane was proportional to the concentration gradient of the diffnsant across it. The components in a mixture are transported by a driving force dnring diffusion. The molecnlar motion is Brownian. The ability of... 

The one-dimensional steady-state transport of mass by diffusion is given by Fick s first law [Eq. (3.1.54)], and for a liquid or gaseous slab of constant density with thickness d we obtain ... 

As velocity continues to rise, the thicknesses of the laminar sublayer and buffer layers decrease, almost in inverse proportion to the velocity. The shear stress becomes almost proportional to the momentum flux (pk ) and is only a modest function of fluid viscosity. Heat and mass transfer (qv) to the wall, which formerly were limited by diffusion throughout the pipe, now are limited mostly by the thin layers at the wall. Both the heat- and mass-transfer rates are increased by the onset of turbulence and continue to rise almost in proportion to the velocity. 

Water-soluble initiator is added to the reaction mass, and radicals are generated which enter the micelles. Polymerization starts in the micelle, making it a growing polymer particle. As monomer within the particle converts to polymer, it is replenished by diffusion from the monomer droplets. The concentration of monomer in the particle remains as high as 5—7 molar. The growing polymer particles require more surfactant to remain stable, getting this from the uninitiated micelles. Stage I is complete once the micelles have disappeared, usually at or before 10% monomer conversion. 

Analysis of a method of maximizing the usefiilness of smaH pilot units in achieving similitude is described in Reference 67. The pilot unit should be designed to produce fully developed large bubbles or slugs as rapidly as possible above the inlet. UsuaHy, the basic reaction conditions of feed composition, temperature, pressure, and catalyst activity are kept constant. Constant catalyst activity usuaHy requires use of the same particle size distribution and therefore constant minimum fluidization velocity which is usuaHy much less than the superficial gas velocity. Mass transport from the bubble by diffusion may be less than by convective exchange between the bubble and the surrounding emulsion phase. 

An analogy exists between mass transfer by diffusion and heat transfer by conduction. Each involves coHisions between molecules and a gradient as the driving force which causes flow. Eor diffusion, this is a concentration gradient for conduction, the driving force is an energy gradient. Eourier s... 

Eddy diffusion as a transport mechanism dominates turbulent flow at a planar electrode ia a duct. Close to the electrode, however, transport is by diffusion across a laminar sublayer. Because this sublayer is much thinner than the layer under laminar flow, higher mass-transfer rates under turbulent conditions result. Assuming an essentially constant reactant concentration, the limiting current under turbulent flow is expected to be iadependent of distance ia the direction of electrolyte flow. 

Mass flux of A by diffusion with respect to the mean mass velocity kmoP(m -s) or moP(cm -s) lbmol/(fF-h)... 

Mass-Transfer Coefficient Denoted by /c, K, and so on, the mass-transfer coefficient is the ratio of the flux to a concentration (or composition) difference. These coefficients generally represent rates of transfer that are much greater than those that occur by diffusion alone, as a result of convection or turbulence at the interface where mass transfer occurs. There exist several principles that relate that coefficient to the diffusivity and other fluid properties and to the intensity of motion and geometry. Examples that are outlined later are the film theoiy, the surface renewal theoiy, and the penetration the-oiy, all of which pertain to ideahzed cases. For many situations of practical interest like investigating the flow inside tubes and over flat surfaces as well as measuring external flowthrough banks of tubes, in fixed beds of particles, and the like, correlations have been developed that follow the same forms as the above theories. Examples of these are provided in the subsequent section on mass-transfer coefficient correlations. 

Controlled by diffusive mass transfer Controlled by chemical factors A major distinction is between reactions that are ... 

Sohd Catalysts Processes with solid catalysts are affected by diffusion of heat and mass (1) within the pores of the pellet, (2) between the fluid and the particle, and (3) axially and radially within the packed bed. Criteria in terms of various dimensionless groups have been developed to tell when these effects are appreciable. They are discussed by Mears (Ind. Eng. Chem. Proc. Des. Devel., 10, 541-547 [1971] Jnd. Eng. Chem. Fund., 15, 20-23 [1976]) and Satterfield (Heterogeneous Cataly.sls in Practice, McGraw-Hill, 1991, p. 491). 

An industrial chemical reacdor is a complex device in which heat transfer, mass transfer, diffusion, and friction may occur along with chemical reaction, and it must be safe and controllable. In large vessels, questions of mixing of reactants, flow distribution, residence time distribution, and efficient utilization of the surface of porous catalysts also arise. A particular process can be dominated by one of these factors or by several of them for example, a reactor may on occasion be predominantly a heat exchanger or a mass-transfer device. A successful commercial unit is an economic balance of all these factors. 

In addition to this convective cross flow of gas from the bubble into the emulsion phase of the cloud, mass transfer also occurs by diffusion into the emulsion. 

Axial diffusion Mass transfer by diffusion along streamlines that occurs at... 

The problems that arise when experiments are carried out in a greatly reduced scale can be overcome if the Reynolds number is high and the flow pattern is governed mainly by fully developed turbulence. It is possible to ignore the Reynolds number, the Schmidt number, and the Prandtl number because the structure of the turbulence and the flow pattern at a sufficiently high level of velocity will be similar at different supply velocities and therefore independent of the Reynolds number. The transport of thermal energy and mass by turbulent eddies will likewise dominate the molecular diffusion and will therefore also be independent of the Prandtl number and the Schmidt number. 

The inverse of the time eonstant tmicro (mieromixing) ean be interpreted as a transfer eoeffieient for mass transfer by diffusion. 

Mass transport from the solution to the erystal surfaee by diffusion, eon-veetion, or a eombination of both meehanisms. 

The relaxation time in Eq. (15) and the scaling law Z — 2v+ for the dynamic critical exponent Z are then understood by the condition that the coil is relaxed when its center of mass has diffused over its own size... 

The cooling tower cools hot water tvith cool air by countercurrent (or cross-current) fiow of the tw o fluids past each other in a tower filled with packing. This involves both mass and heat transfer. The water surface that exists on the tower packing is covered with an air film assumed to be saturated at the water temperature. The heat is transferred between this film and the main body of air by diffusion and convection. Detailed presentations of the development of cooling tower theory are given in References 39 and 46. 

Under certain conditions, it will be impossible for the metal and the melt to come to equilibrium and continuous corrosion will occur (case 2) this is often the case when metals are in contact with molten salts in practice. There are two main possibilities first, the redox potential of the melt may be prevented from falling, either because it is in contact with an external oxidising environment (such as an air atmosphere) or because the conditions cause the products of its reduction to be continually removed (e.g. distillation of metallic sodium and condensation on to a colder part of the system) second, the electrode potential of the metal may be prevented from rising (for instance, if the corrosion product of the metal is volatile). In addition, equilibrium may not be possible when there is a temperature gradient in the system or when alloys are involved, but these cases will be considered in detail later. Rates of corrosion under conditions where equilibrium cannot be reached are controlled by diffusion and interphase mass transfer of oxidising species and/or corrosion products geometry of the system will be a determining factor. 

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