Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Faculty Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and

Science
Department: Department of Mechanical and Material
Engineering
Unit Code and Name UEME 3213 Heat and Mass Transfer
Experiment No.: 2/2
Title of Experiment: Gaseous Diffusion Coefficient
Laboratory Room No. and Name: KB731
Experiment Duration (hour) 3 hours
Number of Student per Group 5 students x 4 groups
Number of Student per Session 20

Objective:
In this experiment, students shall learn how to determine gas diffusion coefficient of acetone.

Introduction:
The knowledge of physical and chemical properties of certain materials is important because
very often process engineering deal with the transformation and distribution of these
materials in bulk. One such property is diffusivity.

Theory:

When a concentration gradient exists within a fluid consisting of two or more components,
there is a tendency for each constituent to flow in such a direction as to reduce the
concentration gradient. This is called mass transfer.

Description:

The experiment to determine the diffusivity of gaseous is based on the Winkelmann’s

method. In this method, the volatile liquid is allowed to evaporate in a vertical glass tube
over the top of which a stream of vapour-free gas is passed. A water bath is provided for
maintaining a steady temperature so that there is no eddy current in the vertical tube and mass
transfer takes place from the surface by molecular diffusion alone. By monitoring the
evaporation rate, which is the rate of fall of liquid surface, and with the knowledge of
concentration gradient, the diffusivity can be calculated

1 Latest updated: 15th Dec 2016 (DLMSA)

The rate of mass transfer is given by:

 C  C 
N A  D A  T  (1)
 L  C Bm 

Where, D = diffusivity [m2/s]

CA = saturation concentration at interface [kmol/m3]
L = effective distance of mass transfer [m]
CT = total molar concentration [kmol/m3]
CBm = logarithmic mean value of CB [kmol/m3]

Considering the evaporation of the liquid:

   dL
NA   L  (2)
 M  dt

Where, ρL = density of liquid [kg/m3]

M = molecular weight [kg/kmol]

From Equation (1) and (2), the diffusivity of acetone, D can be calculated as:

 L C Bm
D
2 MC A CT s

t
Where, s is the slope of the plot against ( L  Lo )
L  Lo

2 Latest updated: 15th Dec 2016 (DLMSA)

Equipment and Materials

Quantity estimation
Item Description *Item category (e.g. per set/group of
student)
Control panel E 1
Water bath E 1
Telescope E 1
Air pump E 1
Acetone CH 1
Dropper W 1
Beaker W 1

*Item category
SP Sample or specimen
C Consumable
CH Chemical
W Labware, glassware, tool, and
components
E Equipment
S Software

Experimental Procedures:

1. Fill the water bath with distilled water to approximately 20 mm from the top.
2. Switch on the main power on the control panel.
3. Adjust the set-point value on the temperature controller to 50oC (Warning!! Do not
set the temperature controller beyond 70 °C).
4. Switch on the heater. Observe the water temperature heats up to 50 °C and remains
constant.
5. Partially fill the capillary tube with acetone to a depth of about 15 mm.
6. Carefully insert the capillary tube through the fitting on top of the water bath cover.
7. Observe the initial level of acetone through the telescope. Record the level of acetone.
8. Connect the flexible tubing from the air pump line to one end of the capillary tube.
Switch on the air pump. Observe and record the level of acetone for every 15 minutes
in the following table.

3 Latest updated: 15th Dec 2016 (DLMSA)

 Level of acetone, L - Lo, dL L + Lo t / (L + Lo)
Time, t (s)
L (mm) (mm) (mm) (s/mm)
900
1800
2700
3600
4500
5400
6300
7200
8100

Results and Discussion:

t
1. Plot against ( L  Lo ) . Determine gas diffusivity, from the obtained slope, s.
L  Lo

2. Compare the experimental value with the theoretical value that can be predicted from
empirical equations.

3. What will be the diffusivity if you increase the heating temperature? Explain.

4 Latest updated: 15th Dec 2016 (DLMSA)