# transport phenomena Definition and Topics - 18 Discussions

In engineering, physics and chemistry, the study of transport phenomena concerns the exchange of mass, energy, charge, momentum and angular momentum between observed and studied systems. While it draws from fields as diverse as continuum mechanics and thermodynamics, it places a heavy emphasis on the commonalities between the topics covered. Mass, momentum, and heat transport all share a very similar mathematical framework, and the parallels between them are exploited in the study of transport phenomena to draw deep mathematical connections that often provide very useful tools in the analysis of one field that are directly derived from the others.
The fundamental analysis in all three subfields of mass, heat, and momentum transfer are often grounded in the simple principle that the total sum of the quantities being studied must be conserved by the system and its environment. Thus, the different phenomena that lead to transport are each considered individually with the knowledge that the sum of their contributions must equal zero. This principle is useful for calculating many relevant quantities. For example, in fluid mechanics, a common use of transport analysis is to determine the velocity profile of a fluid flowing through a rigid volume.
Transport phenomena are ubiquitous throughout the engineering disciplines. Some of the most common examples of transport analysis in engineering are seen in the fields of process, chemical, biological, and mechanical engineering, but the subject is a fundamental component of the curriculum in all disciplines involved in any way with fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer. It is now considered to be a part of the engineering discipline as much as thermodynamics, mechanics, and electromagnetism.
Transport phenomena encompass all agents of physical change in the universe. Moreover, they are considered to be fundamental building blocks which developed the universe, and which is responsible for the success of all life on earth. However, the scope here is limited to the relationship of transport phenomena to artificial engineered systems.

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1. ### I Derivation of the Onsager symmetry

Derivation of the Onsager symmetry in many text books and papers is as follows: First, assume that the correlation function of two state variables,##a_i## and ##a_j## satifsies for sufficiently small time interval ##t## that \langle a_i(t) a_j(0) \rangle = \langle a_i(-t) a_j(0) \rangle =...
2. ### Why is solar radiation equal to long wavelength emission?

In my heat transfer course, I always had to do analysis of long-wavelength radiation between surfaces first, and find the heat radiated from one of the surface. Then, solar radiation is added to the problem, and suddenly it was said that solar radiation=heat radiated from this surface! Does...
3. ### A AC transport data query (using a PPMS system)

Hello and thanks for looking at this question. I have a semi-conducting sample which has been run on a PPMS system - measuring it's resistivity as a function of temperature. I switched to AC transport mode in order to measure the resistivity again while applying frequencies between 1Hz -...
4. ### Reynolds Transport Theorem Derivation Sign Enquiry

Hi, Our lecturer explained us the Reynold Transport theorem, its derivation , but I don't get where the - sign in control surface 1 comes from? He said that the Area goes in opposite direction compared with this system. I can't visualise this on our picture. Can you please help me understand...
5. ### Shell balances in cylindrical coordinates

I have a question regarding writing a shell balance for a cylindrical system with transport in one direction (in any area of transport phenomena). When we set up the conservation equation(say steady state), we multiply the flux and the area at the surfaces of our control volume and plug them...
6. ### Falling film momentum balance

Homework Statement Homework Equations 0=viscous+gravitational+pressure I saw in the solutions that pressure=0 in this case, but why? I also knew that : accumulation= flow in - flow out+generation, why not use this one? The Attempt at a Solution (their solution) We are interested in...
7. ### Classical BSL Transport Phenom. vs. BSLK Introductory Transport Phenom

I'd like to purchase one of these books for self-study. The BSLK Introductory Transport Phenomena claims: "Devoting more space to mathematical derivations and providing fuller explanations of mathematical developments—including a section of the appendix devoted to mathematical topics—allows...
8. ### Classical Book recommendations for Boltzmann equation

Im trying to learn transport processes and the Boltzmann transport equation. What books do you guys recommend for beginners? Thanks!
9. ### Heat transfer and Fluid Flow Struggling Problems

Homework Statement Hello, I am struggling with this heat transfer and fluid flow problem.I would really appreciate if someone could have a look over what I have done on it. I am not sure if what I have done is correct ,I would really appreciate if you could tell me if it is correct or wrong.And...
10. ### Fluid Flow/Heat Transfer question struggle

Homework Statement I would really appreciate if someone could help me out with this exercise in fluid flow/heat transfer ,because I really struggling with it.Below I am attaching photo of problem+table with values. Thank you in advance ! Homework Equations Question link:[/B]...
11. ### Boundary layer thickness confusion

Hi, PF! Recently, while reading chapter 6 of Incropera's Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer I got into a confusion regarding the velocity boundary layer. The book first states that, as the flow becomes more turbulent, the boundary layer gets thicker, as indicated by both figures attached at...
12. ### Burning carbon particle -- Boundary conditions

I want to model the diffusion-controlled combustion of a small carbon particle. The system I want to model is similar to this one However, I'm not going to use the stagnant gas film model as shown in the figure, since I lack data for the film thickness, and I want to evaluate the problem...
13. ### Two-bulb experiment for measuring gas diffusivity

Hi, PF! I recently solved a problem from BSL which asked to analyze the following system used for determining the diffusivity of a binary mixture of gases. The left portion of the system, from the left bulb up to the stopcock at the middle of the tube, is filled with gas A. The right portion...
14. ### Diffusion -- Tarnishing of metal surfaces

Homework Statement Problem 18B.13 from Transport Phenomena, BSL. Tarnishing of metal surfaces. In the oxidation of most metals the volume of oxide produced is greater than that of the metal consumed. This oxide thus tends to form a compact film, effectively insulating the oxygen and metal from...
15. ### Difference between Thiele modulus and Damköhler number

Hi, PF! In the study of mass transfer involving chemical reactions, I have seen the use of two different non-dimensional parameters which apparently quantify the same ratio. These are the second Damköhler number and the Thiele modulus, which are defined as \textrm{Da}^{\textrm{II}} =...
16. ### Shell balances in cylindrical coordinates

Hello, PF! I have some doubts about setting up shell balances in a cylindrical geometry. Consider a fluid flowing down a vertical pipe. In order to perform the momentum balance, we take a cylindrical (annular) shell of lenght L and width Δr. The analysis of such system can be found in chapter 2...
17. ### Transport phenomena -- Direction of shear stress

Greetings, PF! I have some questions regarding the problem I attached below. It is some sort of Couette flow variation. It's not homework, I'm just learning the basics of TP on my own. I fully solved the problem with the Navier-Stokes and continuity equations, using some assumptions in order to...
18. ### Torque due to static fluid- Transport Phenomena

1. Homework Statement Calculate the torque on the dam about the origin (Picture attached) due to the pressure force of the fluid. Homework Equations Pressure force is correct (dF) The Attempt at a Solution [/B] I have solve it; however, I am not sure if I calculated over the origin asked...