Mass balance for diffusion and analogy to heat conduction

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the application of mass balance principles in mass transfer, drawing analogies from heat conduction. The user derives equations for one-dimensional mass transfer, paralleling the energy balance used in heat transfer. Key equations include the mass transfer equation derived from the general mass balance and the steady-state assumption leading to the integration of the diffusion equation. The discussion highlights the need for proper boundary conditions in solving these equations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mass transfer concepts, specifically Fick's laws of diffusion.
  • Familiarity with heat transfer principles, particularly Fourier's law.
  • Basic calculus skills for differentiation and integration.
  • Knowledge of boundary condition applications in differential equations.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Fick's laws of diffusion in detail to understand mass transfer mechanisms.
  • Learn about boundary conditions and their applications in solving differential equations.
  • Explore the derivation of mass transfer equations from first principles.
  • Investigate numerical methods for solving diffusion equations in mass transfer problems.
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in chemical engineering, particularly those focusing on mass transfer operations, as well as researchers interested in the theoretical foundations of diffusion processes.

gfd43tg
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Hello,
I just began learning mass transfer, and I am trying to use analogies from heat transfer to help me solve problems. For example, if you have one dimensional heat transfer through a plane wall, I would start with a general energy balance.

$$\frac {dE}{dt} = \dot Q_{x} - \dot Q_{x + \Delta x} + \dot e_{gen}A \Delta x$$
$$ \rho A \Delta x \hat c_{p} \frac {dT}{dt} = \dot Q_{x} - \dot Q_{x + \Delta x} + \dot e_{gen}A \Delta x$$
dividing through and taking the limit as x approaches 0,
$$\rho \hat c_{p} \frac {dT}{dt} = - \frac {1}{A} \frac {d \dot Q}{dx} + \dot e_{gen}$$

Then using Fourier's law ##\dot Q = -kA \frac {dT}{dx}## I substitute and get
$$ \rho \hat c_{p} \frac {dT}{dt} = \frac {d}{dx} (k \frac {dT}{dx}) + \dot e_{gen}$$

Now I want to extend this to mass transfer, and I find my textbook to be sorely lacking in even properly showing a derivation from the beginning, so I try myself
$$ \frac {dm}{dt} = \dot m_{x} - \dot m_{x + \Delta x} + \dot m_{gen} A \Delta x$$
$$ A \Delta x \frac {d \rho}{dt} = \dot m_{x} - \dot m_{x + \Delta x} + \dot m_{gen} A \Delta x$$
Diving through and the limit as delta x approaches 0
$$ \frac {d \rho}{dt} = - \frac {1}{A} \frac {d}{dx} (-D_{AB}A \frac {d \rho}{dx}) + \dot m_{gen} $$
Now I can remove the generation term to get
$$ \frac {d \rho}{dt} = \frac {d}{dx} (D_{AB} \frac {d \rho}{dx})$$
Assume steady state, so then I integrate once
$$ D_{AB} \frac {d \rho}{dx} = C_{1} $$
$$ D_{AB} \rho = C_{1}x + C_{2} $$
Now what boundary conditions are appropriate to use?
 
Last edited:
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ρ=ρ(0) at x = 0
ρ=ρ(L) at x = L
 

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