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CL203, Fall 2007

CL203: Introduction to Transport Phenomenon

End-semester Exam (Total 50 marks)
Date: 28/11/2007 Time: 2:30 PM
INSTRUCTIONS: No queries will be answered during the exam. In case of doubt, make appropriate assumptions.
1. The steady-state, one-dimensonal temperature distribution in a composite wall, made of slabs of three dierent
solid materials, is shown in figure 1. Each material has a constant, but dierent, thermal conductivity k. The
heat fluxes q within each material are also indicated in the figure. [10 marks]
(a) What is the relative magnitude of qB and qC ?
(b) What is the relative magnitude of qA and qB at position 2 ?
(c) What is the relative magnitude of kB and kC ?
(d) What is the relative magnitude of kA and kB ?
(e) Sketch a plot of q versus x labeling the positions 1,2,3, and 4 and showing qA , qB and qC .
(f) What is likely to be the left of position x ? What else might be there ?
(g) The region to the right of slab c is a fluid with heat transfer coecient h and temperature far from position
4 of T . Write an expression relating surface temperature T4 , T , kc , and dT
dx in slab c.
(Source: From MIT website)
2. An open circular tank 8 m in diameter contains benzene at 22 o C exposed to the atmosphere in such a manner
that the liquid is covered with a stagnant air film estimated to be 5 mm thick. The concentration of benzene
beyond the stagnant film is negligible. The vapor pressure of benzene at 22 o C is 100 mm Hg. If benzene is
worth Rs 20/Kg, what is the value of the loss of benzene from this tank in rupees per day ? The specific gravity
of benzene is 0.88 and the diusivity of benzene in air is 0.096 cm2 s1 [10 marks] (Source: From Cusslers book
on Diusion)
3. Consider a layer of bacteria contained between two semipermeable membranes that allow the passage of a
chemical solute S, but do not allow the passage of bacteria. The movement of the bacteria B is described with
a flux equation roughly parallel to a diusion equation,
jB = Do

dB
dS
+ B
dz
dz

where Do and are constant transport coecients. In other words, the bacterial flux is aected by S, although
the bacteria neither produce or consume S. If the concentrations of S are maintanied at So and 0 at the upper
(z = h) and lower (z = 0) surfaces of the bacterial suspensions, determine S(z) and B(z). Since the bacteria are
h
contained, we have h1 0 B(z)dz = N , where N is a constant. Neglect convective eects. [10 marks] (Source:
From Cusslers book on Diusion)
4. A thin sheet of fused-silica (glass) of thickness h separates helium gas at temperature T1 from the outside air
which is at an higher temperature To and carries negligible helium. The mole fraction of helium on the inside
is xA1 . It is well known that helium diuses through the silica where the coecient of diusivity, DAB is
known. In this situation both mass and energy transfer occur simultaneously across the sheet of silica. But
your friend tells you that you have to stop the heat transfer across the helium. Further, she recommends that
you change the inside temperature so as to match the outside temperature to achieve this objective. Do you
agree with her ? If not, can this objective be achieved by some other means. If so, determine that particular
value of T1 at which the energy transfer is completely eliminated. Assume the over-all thermal conductivity of

CL203, Fall 2007

silica-helium system, k to be a constant. Further, assume ideal gas behaviour and uniform pressure. Also, the
= Cp (T Tref ). [10
physical properties are assummed constant. The partial molar enthalpy is given as H
marks]. (Source: Self)
5. A liquid is in the annular space between two vertical cylinders of radii R and R, and the liquid is open to the
atmosphere at the top. Show that when the inner cylinder rotates with an angular velocity , and the outer
cylinder is held fixed, the free liquid surface has the shape
1
zR z =
2g

2 R
1 2

( 2 + 4 ln 2 ))

in which zR is the height of the liquid at the outer-cylinder wall, and = r/R. The Navier Stokes equation in
the cylindrical coordinates is as follows:

ur
ur
u ur
ur
u2

+ ur
+
+ uz

t
r
r
z
r

u
u
u u
u
ur u

+ ur
+
+ uz
+
t
r
r
z
r

uz
uz
u uz
uz

+ ur
+
+ uz
t
r
r
z

p
1
ur
1 2 ur
2 ur
ur
2 u
+
r
+ 2
+

+ gr
r
r r
r
r 2
z 2
r2
r2

1 p
1
u
1 2 u
2 u
2 ur
u
=
+
r
+ 2
+
+

+ g
r
r r
r
r 2
z 2
r2
r2

p
1
uz
1 2 uz
2 uz
=
+
r
+ 2
+
+ gz
z
r r
r
r 2
z 2
=

while the continuity equation for a constant density fluid is given by,
1 1 u
uz
rur +
+
= 0.
r r
r
z

[10 marks](Source: From BSL)

2
A

qB

qC

qA

x=0

Figure 1: For Problem 1

CL203, Fall 2008

CL203: Introduction to Transport Phenomenon

End-semester exam (Total 50 marks)
Date: 17/11/2008

INSTRUCTIONS: State all assumptions clearly.

1. A wire of constant density moves downward with uniform speed v into a liquid metal bath at
temperature T0 . It is desired to find the temperature profile T (z) in the metal wire. Assume
that T = T at z = , and that resistance to radial heat conduction is negligible. Assume
further that the wire temperature is T = T0 at z = 0. Solve the problem for constant physical
properties Cp and k. The equation of change for temperature is given in the vectorial form
as:

ln
Dp
DT

Cp
= q : v
Dt
lnT p Dt
[8 marks]

2. A cold liquid film flowing down a vertical wall, as shown in figure (a), has a considerable
cooling eect on the solid surface. Estimate the rate of heat transfer from the wall to the
fluid for such short contact times that the fluid temperature changes appreciably only in the
immediate vicinity of the wall. [18 marks]
(a) Determine the velocity distribution in the falling film at steady state. Note that velocity
variation is only in the y direction.

Dv
= p + 2 v + b
Dt

(b) Deduce the energy equation for this situation by neglecting the conduction in the z
direction and any viscous heating eects. Your partial dierential equation will be with
respect to z and y.
(c) Write the temperature boundary condition valid for short contact times only. Note that
the z coordinate here is similar to the time coordinate in one dimensional time dependent
problem solved in the class. Further, the boundary condition at y = is replaced by
that at .

(d) Next, use dimensionless variables, () = (T T0 )/(T1 T0 ) and = y/ 3 9z, where

= k/2 Cp g, and rewrite the dierential equation in terms of and only.
(e) Write the corresponding boundary conditions.

(f) Solve the above equation. Use the fact that ( 34 ) = 0 e d

(g) Determine the average heat flux over length, L of the plate and show that, qavg|y=0 =
he (T1 T0 ).
3

3. Figure (b) shows a system in which a liquid, B, moves slowly upward through a slightly soluble
porous plug of A. Then A slowly disappears by first order reaction after it has dissolved. Find
the steady state concentration profile cA (z), where z is the coordinate upward from the plug.
Assume that the velocity profile is approximately flat across the tube. Assume further that
cA0 is the solubility of unreacted A in B. Neglect temperature eects associated with the heat
of reaction and all variations in x and y directions. You are given [8 marks],

cA
+ v .cA = DAB 2 cA + RA
t

Here, v = v0 ez , is a constant and assumed given.

(1)

CL203, Fall 2008

(a) Write down the reduced form of the governing equation for A.
(b) What are the boundary conditions ?
(c) Derive the expression of cA in terms of the known constants.
4. Suppose helium gas is contained in a pyrex tube of inner radius, R1 and outer radius, R2 .
Obtain an expression for the rate at which helium will leak out of the tube at steady state.
You are given the diusivity of helium through pyrex, DHe , the concentration of helium at
R1 , c1 and that at R2 being c2 . Assume that x1 , x2 << 1 and therefore neglect the convection
terms. [8 marks]
(a) Use shell balance to obtain the dierential equation governing the mass transport of
helium.
(b) Write the boundary conditions
(c) Solve to obtain the concentration distribution and the rate at which helium is lost over
a length L of the tube.
5. An open circular tank 8 m in diameter contains benzene at 22 o C exposed to the atmosphere in
such a manner that the liquid is covered with a stagnant air film estimated to be 5 mm thick.
The concentration of benzene beyond the stagnant film is negligible. The vapor pressure of
benzene at 22 o C is 100 mm Hg. If benzene is worth Rs 20/Kg, what is the value of the loss
of benzene from this tank in rupees per day ? The specific gravity of benzene is 0.88 and the
diusivity of benzene in air is 0.096 cm2 /s [8 marks]

(a) Figure for problem 2

(b) Figure for problem 3

CL203, Fall 2009

CL203: Introduction to Transport Phenomenon

End-semester exam (Total 50 marks)
Date: 19/11/2009
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This is a CLOSED BOOK exam. In case of doubt, state the appropriate assumptions clearly and proceed. No
clarification will be provided during the exam.
2. Results must be entered in the SUMMARY SHEET to obtain credit.

1. To evaluate the performance of an atomizing nozzle, it is proposed to atomize a nonvolatile liquid wax into a
stream of cool air. The atomized spherical wax particles are expected to solidify in the air, from which they
may later be collected and examined. The wax droplets leave the atomizer only slightly above their melting
point. Estimate the time tf required for a drop of radius R to freeze completely, if the drop is initially at its
melting point To and the surrounding air is at T . Heat is lost from the drop to the surrounding air according
to Newtons law of cooling, with a constant heat-transfer coecient h. Assume that there is no volume change
in the solidification process. See Fig (a).
(a) Using shell balance, first solve the steady-state heat conduction problem in the solid phase in the region
between r = Rf (the liquid-solid interface) and r = R (the solid-air interface). Let k be the thermal
conductivity of the solid phase. Then find the radial heat flow Q across the spherical surface at r = R.
(b) Next, write an unsteady-state energy balance, by equating the heat liberation at r = Rf (t) resulting from
the freezing of the solid to the heat flow Q across the spherical surafce at r = R. Integrate the resulting
separable, first-order dierential equation between the limits 0 and R, to obtain the time that it takes for
f be the latent heat of freezing (per unit mass).
the drop to solidify. Let H
2. A fluid of constant viscosity, with density given by, (T ) = (1 (T T), is confined in a rectangular slot.
The slot has vertical walls at x = B, y = W , and a top and bottom at z = H, with H >> W >> B. The
walls are nonisothermal, with temperature distribution Tw = T + Ay, so that the fluid circulates by purely free
convention. The velocity profiles are to be predicted, for steady laminar flow conditions and small deviations
from the mean density, . We make the Boussinesq approximation in the momentum equation while neglecting
the viscous dissipation and the term containing ( ln / ln T )p in the energy equation.
(a) Simplify the equations of continuity, motion, and energy according to the postulates:v = vz (x, y)
ez ,
2 vz /y 2 << 2 vz /x2 , and T = T (y). These postulates are reasonable for slow flows except near the
edges y = W and z = H. List the boundary conditions to be used with the problem as simplified in
(a).
(b) Solve for the temperature, pressure, and velocity profiles.
3. Imagine that we are studying a polymer film that is permeable to olefins like ethylene but much less permeable
to aliphatic hydrocarbons. Such a film could be used to selectively separate the ethylene reduced by dehydrogenation reactions. As part of this study, a diaphragm cell shown in Fig (b) is used. This cell consists of two
compartments separated by the polymer film of interest. The top compartment is initially evacuated, but the
lower one is filled with ethylene. We measure the ethylene concentration in the upper compartment as a function of time. The data obtained for ethylene transport are exemplified by those shown in the figure. Initially,
the pressure in the upper compartment varies in a complex way, but it will eventually approach that in the
lower compartment. At the moderate times of most of our experiment, the pressure in the upper compartment
is proportional to time, with a known slope and a definite intercept. How are the the slope and intercept
related to diusion in the polymer film ?
(a) First solve the unsteady state diusion problem in the polymer film of thickness L. Assume the molar
concentrations at the boundaries of the film to be constant while determining the concentration distribution
in the film. The bottom boundary concentration is taken as cA (z = L, t) = cA0 while cA (z = 0, t) = 0,
where L is the thickness of the film (Note that z is in downward direction for the polymer film shown

CL203, Fall 2009

in figure (b)). You are given the diusivity of gas in the polymer film, D. Assume that the solubility
of gas A is very small in the film. Hint: You will need to first determine the steady state solution and
then introduce a dierence concentration variable so as to obtain homogeneous boundary conditions. Use
separation of variables technique to obtain the variation of cA with z and t
(b) Next, performance a total mole balance of component A in the top compartment and use the ideal gas
law to relate the flux of component A into the chamber with the pressure in the chamber. You are given
the volume V of the top chamber, and the surface area A of the film. Next, integrate the above equation
to determine the variation of p in the top chamber as a function of time subject to the condition that the
pressure in the top chamber is zero at t = 0. Show that this variation is linear in time at large times and
determine the slope and intercept of that line.
4. Consider the following heterogeneous reaction, 2A B, occurring at the surface of a catalyst where gas A
diuses through a thin stagnant film of thickness next to the surface of the catalyst. The reaction occurs at
the surface of the catalyst and B diuses back through the film into the bulk. The reaction is not instantaneous.
Instead, the rate at which A disappears at the catalyst surface is proportional to the concentration of A at

the catalyst surface, NA,z |z= = k1 cxA |z= . The mole fraction of A at the edge of the gas film is given. We
consider a steady state situation where the gas film is isothermal and, A and B together form a binary gas
mixture.
(a) Determine the concentration profile of A in the gas film.
(b) Next, determine the flux of A at z = . This would be a transcendental equation for NA,z as a function

of xA0 , k1 , cDAB and .

(c) For large k1 >> 1, obtain an explicit expression for NA,z using ln(1 + y) y when y << 1.

+ v .v
t

Cp
+ v .T
t

+ g + 2v g (T T)
= p

ln
Dp
2
v
= k T
:
ln T p Dt

(1)
(2)

cA
JA + RA
+ .(cA v ) = .
t

(3)

T
To
z=0

Liquid
zone

Edge of hypothetical
stagnant gas film

xA0,xB0

r
Rf

z=!

Solid
zone

(a) Figure for problem 1

(b) Figure for problem 3

(c) Figure for problem 4

Catalyst
surface