Understanding of diffusion and

convection in momentum, heat

and mass transports (including
Chapt 1,9,17)
 Some Concepts of Transport
Phenomena
1. There are 2 phenomena for momentum transfer:
diffusion and convection. Momentum convection is
driven by external forces usually pressure difference
or gravity force. Momentum diffusion of fluid is
driven by velocity gradient of fluid. The diffusion
usually occurs at the interface fluid-solid surface or
interface between immicible fluids.
Momentum diffusion occurs when fluid molecules move from high
velocity to low velocity regions heat
convection
Momentum
convection

Momentum
diffusion Heat diffusion

Solid surface

Newton’s law on viscosity

Momentum
convection
Momentum
diffusion

Solid surface
 Navier-Stokes Equations
(momentum equations)
Momentum rate due to
velocity gradient (or
friction, see Newton’s
law)

Momentum
rate due to
convection
of fluid

4
2. There are 2 phenomena in mass and heat transfer:
diffusion and convection. By diffusion, mass and
heat transfer are driven by concentration gradient
and temperature gradient, respectively. In this
case, mass and heat do not need moving fluid
(convection). Heat diffusion = heat conduction.
3. As scalars, mass and heat can move to different
locations (spatial movement) if there is convection
of fluid as vector. Fluid convection occurs usually in
a region not restricted by velocity gradient at
interface.
 When the stirrer is not rotating,
HEAT TRANSPORT only heat conduction from the
hot wall of the tank to the liquid
nearby occurs.
When the stirrer is rotating, heat
convection from the hot wall into
the whole liquid occurs. In this
case, heat diffusion (heat
conduction) as well as heat
convection occur. There is
Furnace
relative velocity between the
liquid and the hot wall to allow
momentum convection as well as
Hot wall
heat convection to occur. 6
Mass transport of
ink in water
by diffusion due
to concentration
Ink moves from the
larger concentration
to the lower
concentration in water.
If a stirrer was used to
agitate the water, then
the ink would undergo
convection to the
whole water more
quickly
 Mass
convection
in liquid
phase
Mass
convection
Mass
in gas Mass
diffusion diffusion
phase in stagnant
in stagnant
gas film liquid film

Gas and liquid are immicible

4. At the interface between solid surface-fluid or
between immicible fluid, there may be
concentration, temperature or velocity gradients
where mass, heat or momentum transfers occurs
by diffusion, while away from the interface, mass,
heat and momentum transports occur by
convection.
5. For convective heat transfer, Nu = proportional
function of Reb and Prc. Nu = a.Reb.Prc. Coefficients
of a, b and c >0.
6. Re = Reynolds number = ratio of momentum rate
by convection to momentum rate by difussion
7. Pr = Prandtl number = ratio of momentum rate by
diffusion to heat rate by diffusion,
8. Nu = Nusselt number = ratio of heat rate by
convection to heat rate by diffusion.
9. So, heat transfer by convection only occurs if there
is momentum rate by convection as implied by the
existence of Re in Nu equation. In another word,
there must be the role of moving fluid to allow heat
transfer by convection.
10. Thermal diffusivity  = k/(Cp) is the ratio of heat
conducted to heat stored.
11. For convective mass transfer, Sh = function of Reb
and Scc . Sh = a.Reb.Scc. Coefficients of a, b and c
> 0.
12. Sc = Schmidt number = ratio of momentum rate by
diffusion to mass rate by diffusion = ratio of
momentum diffusivity (kinematic viscosity) to mass
diffusivity
13. Sh = Sherwood number = ratio of mass rate by
convection to mass rate by diffusion
14. So, mass transfer by convection only occurs if
there is momentum rate by convection as implied
by the existence of Re in Sh equation. In another
word, there must be the role of moving fluid to
allow mass transfer by convection
15. By definition, Re is accounted for if there is
interaction between fluid-solid surface or between
immicible fluids. Otherwise, Re =  (infinity). The
higher the value Re, the lower is the restriction of
interface on heat or mass transfer by convection.
16. In turbulent flow Prt = 6.374 Re - 0.238 Pr - 0.161
(B.O. Hasan, 2007) where Prt is turbulent Prandtl
number. Re = 10,000 -100,000. The higher the
value of Re, the higher is Prt.
17. Sct (turbulent Schmidt number) depends on fluid
and type of turbulences, but its value mostly is less
than unity (Gualtieri et al, 2017), whereas Sc can
extend from less to more than unity.
 Implementations of momentum transfer,
heat transfer and mass transfer principles by
diffusion and convection in 3 following
Fluid mechanics
subjects Heat transfer
momentum balance, operation
flow in conduits, conduction,
pumps and
Momentum natural
compressors, boundary convection,
transfer
layer, particle forced
separation by gravity convection,
and by centrifugal radiation
forces, fixed bed,
Mass transfer
fluidised bed,
entrained bed operation
distillation,
absorption,
extraction,
humidification
 Chapter 1: Momentum transport:
Newton’s Law of Viscosity
▪ In Fig. 1.1-1 we show a pair of large parallel plates,
each one with area A, separated by a distance Y. In
the space between them is a fluid-either a gas or a
liquid.
▪ This system is initially at rest, but at time t = 0 the
lower plate is set in motion in the positive x direction
at a constant velocity V.
▪ As time proceeds, the fluid gains momentum, and
ultimately the linear steady-state velocity profile
shown in the figure is established.
This arrow
shows the
direction of
momentum
transfer
▪ When the final state of steady motion has been
attained in Fig 1.1-1, a constant force F is required
to maintain the motion of the lower plate. Common
sense suggests that this force may be expressed as
follows:
▪ F/A =  V/Y (1.1-1)
▪ The force should be proportional to the area A and
to the velocity, and inversely proportional to the
distance between the plates.
▪ The constant of proportionality  is a property of the
fluid, defined to be the viscosity.
▪ First we replace F/A by the symbol yx, which is the
force in the x direction on a unit area perpendicular
to the y direction. This is the force exerted by the
fluid of lesser y on the fluid of greater y to overcome
friction due to viscosity when fluid of lesser y moves.
▪ Furthermore, we replace V/Y by -dvx/dy. Then, in
terms of these symbols, Eq. 1.1-1 becomes
▪ yx = - dvx/dy (1.1-2)
▪ yx is a tensor (magnitude with two directions) of

shear stress
▪ This equation, which states that the shearing force
per unit area is proportional to the negative of the
velocity gradient, is often called Newton's law of
viscosity.
▪ From Newton’s law, F/A is the rate at which
momentum in the x-direction is being supplied (per
unit area) to the fluid. Microscopically, molecules in
the immediate vicinity of the plate either adhere to it
or keep bouncing against it
▪ They pick up momentum to keep moving with the
plate and also constantly lose momentum by
bouncing off other molecules a little further away
from the lower plate ending up at the top plate.
▪ Therefore, the momentum is imparted by lower layer
to upper layer and constitutes as a velocity. All this
is to keep momentum conserved.

18
 On the solid surface
Vx max = 1.8 m/sec
 Vx/y at Vx max of 1.8
m/sec > Vx/y at Vx
Vx max = 1.3
max of 1.3 m/sec, then
m/sec
shear stress or friction
by higher velocity >
that by lower velocity
y

 Vx = 1.5 m/sec
 Vx = 1 m/sec
Solid surface
▪ It has been found that the resistance to flow of all
gases and all liquids with molecular weight < about
5000 is described by Eq. 1.1-2, and such fluids are
referred to as Newtonian fluids.
▪ Polymeric liquids, suspensions, pastes, slurries, and
other complex fluids are not described by Eq. 1.1-2
and are referred to as non-Newtonian fluids.
Examples of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids
▪ Newtonian : water, air, most common fluids
▪ Shear thinning : shampoo, ketchup, paint, lava,
blood, nail polish
▪ Shear thickening (or dilatant) : corn starch in water,
silica nano-particles dispersed in polyethylene
glycol
▪ Bingham plastic : mayonaise, toothpaste, slurries,
some yogurts
 Chapter 9: Heat transport:
Fourier’s Law of Conduction
▪ Consider a slab of solid material of area A located
between two large parallel plates a distance Y apart.
We imagine that initially (for time t < 0) the solid
material is at a temperature T0 throughout.
▪ At t = 0 the lower plate is suddenly brought to a slightly
higher temperature T1 and maintained at that
temperature.
▪ As time proceeds, the temperature profile in the slab
changes, and ultimately a linear steady-state
temperature distribution is attained (as shown in Fig.
9.1-1).
This arrow
shows heat
transfer
▪ When this steady-state condition has been reached,
a constant rate of heat flow Q through the slab is
required to maintain the temperature difference ∆T =
T1 – T0.
▪ It is found then that for sufficiently small values of
∆T the following relation holds:
▪ Q/A = k ∆T/ Y (9.1-1)
▪ That is, the rate of heat flow per unit area is
proportional to the temperature decrease over the
distance Y.
▪ The constant of proportionality k is the thermal
conductivity of the slab.
▪ Equation 9.1-1 is also valid if a liquid or gas is placed
between the two plates, provided that suitable
precautions are taken to eliminate heat convection
and radiation.
▪ In subsequent chapters it is better to work with the
above equation in differential form. That is, we use
the limiting form of Eq. 9.1-1 as the slab thickness
approaches zero.
▪ The local rate of heat flow per unit area (heat flux) in
the positive y direction is designated by qy. In this
notation Eq. 9.1-1 becomes
qy = - k dT/dy (9.1-2)
▪ This equation, which serves to define k, is the one-
dimensional form of Fourier's law of heat
conduction. It states that the heat flux by conduction
is proportional to the temperature gradient.
▪ If the temperature varies in all three directions, then
we can write an equation like
▪ qx = - k dT/dx; qy = - k dT/dy; qz = - k dT/dz
(9.1-3, 4, 5)
▪ qx, qy, qz are vectors (magnitude with one direction)
of heat fluxes
▪ If each of these equations is multiplied by the
appropriate unit vector and the equations are then
added, we get
q = - k T (9.1-6)
▪ which is the three-dimensional form of Fourier's law.
Eq. 9.1-2 for each of the coordinate directions.
q = qx + qy + qz (vector summation)
 = /x i + /y j + /z k
▪ This equation describes the molecular transport
(diffusional transport) of heat in isotropic media.
▪ By "isotropic" we mean that the material has no
preferred direction, so that heat is conducted with
the same thermal conductivity k in all directions
 Chapter 17: Moleculer Mass
Transport: Fick‘s Law of Binary
Diffusion
▪ Consider a thin, horizontal, fused-silica plate of area
A and thickness Y. Suppose that initially (for time t <
0) both horizontal surfaces of the plate are in
contact with air, which we regard as completely
insoluble in silica.
▪ At time t = 0, the air below the plate is suddenly
replaced by pure helium, which is appreciably
soluble in silica.
▪ The helium slowly penetrates into the plate by virtue
of its molecular motion and ultimately appears in the
gas above.
 Fig. 17.1-1. Build-up to the
steady-state concentration
profile for the diffusion of
helium (substance A) through
This arrow
fused silica (substance B).
shows the The symbol A stands for the
direction of mass fraction of helium, and
mass transfer
A0 is the solubility of helium
in fused silica, expressed as
the mass fraction. See Figs.
1.1-1 and 9.1-1 for the
analogous momentum and
heat transport situations.
▪ In this system, we will call helium "species A" and
silica "species B"
▪ The concentrations will be given by the "mass
fractions" A and B.
▪ The mass fraction A is the mass of helium divided
by the mass of helium plus silica in a given
microscopic volume element.
▪ The mass fraction B is defined analogously.
▪ For time t < 0, the mass fraction of helium, A, is
everywhere equal to zero.
▪ For time t > 0, at the lower surface, y = 0, the mass
fraction of helium is equal to A0. This latter quantity
is the solubility of helium in silica, expressed as
mass fraction, just inside the solid.
▪ As time proceeds the mass fraction profile develops,
with A = A0 at the bottom surface of the plate and
A = 0 at the top surface of the plate.
▪ As indicated in Fig. 17.1-1, the profile tends toward
a straight line with increasing t.
▪ This molecular transport of one substance relative to
another is known as diffusion (also known as mass
diffusion, concentration diffusion, or ordinary
diffusion).
▪ We thus have the situation represented in Fig. 17.1-
1; this process is analogous to those described in
Fig. 1.1-1 and Fig. 9.1-1 where viscosity and thermal
conductivity were defined.
▪ At steady state, it is found that the mass flow Ay of
helium in the positive y direction can be described to
a very good approximation by
▪ .

▪ That is, the mass flow rate of helium per unit area (or
mass flux) is proportional to the mass fraction
difference divided by the plate thickness.
▪ Here  is the density of the silica-helium system, and
the proportionality factor DAB is the diffusivity of the
silica-helium system.
▪ We now rewrite Eq. 17.1-1 for a differential element
within the slab:
▪ .

▪ Here wAy/A has been replaced by jAy, the molecular

mass flux of helium in the positive y direction.
▪ Note that the first subscript, A, designates the
chemical species (in this case, helium), and the
second subscript indicates the direction in which
diffusive transport is taking place (in this case, the y
direction).
▪ Equation 17.1-2 is the one-dimensional form of
Fick's first law of diffusion. It is valid for any binary
solid, liquid, or gas solution, provided that jAy is
defined as the mass flux relative to the mixture
velocity vy.
▪ jAx, jAy, jAz are vectors (magnitude with one direction)
of mass flux of molecules A.
▪ For the system examined in Fig. 17.1-1, the helium
is moving rather slowly and its concentration is very
small, so that vy  0 during the diffusion process.
▪ In general, for a binary mixture
▪ .
▪ Thus v is an average in which the species velocities,
vA and vB, are weighted according to the mass
fractions. This kind of velocity is referred to as the
mass average velocity.
▪ The species velocity vA is not the local molecular
velocity of a molecule of A, but rather the arithmetic
average of the velocities of all the molecules of A
within a small volume element.
▪ The mass flux jAy is then defined, in general, as
Mass flux of A relative to
total mass flux
 y direction

Binary mixture system

▪ The mass flux of B is defined analogously.
▪ As the two chemical species interdiffuse there is,
locally, a shifting of the center of mass in the y
direction if the molecular weights of A and B differ.
▪ The mass fluxes jAy and jBy are so defined that jAy +
jBy = 0. In other words, the fluxes jAy and jBy are
measured with respect to the motion of the center of
mass (motion of total mass, vy).
▪ If we write equations similar to Eq. 17.1-2 for the x
and z directions and then combine all three
equations, we get the vector form of Fick's law:
▪ jA = jAx + jAy + jAz (vector summation)
▪  = /x i + /y j + /z k
▪ A similar relation can be written for species B:
▪ .

▪ It is shown that if jAy + jBy = 0 thenDAB = DBA.. Thus

for the pair A-B, there is just one diffusivity; in
general it will be a function of pressure, temperature,
and composition.
▪ The mass diffusivity DAB, the thermal diffusivity  =
k/(Cp), and the momentum diffusivity (kinematic
viscosity)  = / all have dimensions of (length2I
time). The ratios of these three quantities are
therefore dimensionless groups:

▪ These dimensionless groups of fluid properties play

a prominent role in dimensionless equations for
systems in which competing transport processes
occur
 Mass Diffusivity
▪ In Tables 17.1-1, 2, 3, and 4 some values of DAB in
cm2/s are given for a few gas, liquid, solid, and
polymeric systems. These values can be converted
easily to m2/s by multiplication by 10-4
▪ Diffusivities of gases at low density are almost
independent of A, increase with temperature, and
vary inversely with pressure.
▪ Diffusivity in liquid and solid phases are strongly
concentration-dependent and generally increase
with temperature.