Diffusion and mass transfer
Summary
This course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of diffusion and mass transfer, an essential tool for the chemical engineers.
Content
- Fundamentals of diffusion
- Diffusion in dilute solutions
- Diffusion in concentrated solutions
- Diffusion coefficients in gases, liquids and solids
- Diffusion in nanoporous materials
- Multicomponent diffusion
- Dispersion
- Theories in mass transfer
- Diffusion in chemical reactions
- Modeling diffusion in membranes
Keywords
Diffusion, mass transfer coefficient, convection, dispersion, multicomponent diffusion, mass transfer with reaction
Learning Prerequisites
Important concepts to start the course
Mass, and energy balance
Basics of diffusion and mass transfer
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Carry out calculations to extract concentration profile for a given system
- Carry out calculations to extract mass transfer rate for a given system
- Formalize mathematical models that describe complex mass transport cases.
- Apply various diffusion and mass transfer models to analyze and solve a wide-range of problems dealing with mass transport.
Teaching methods
- Projector slides would be used to deliver the course content to the students in class.
- Exercise will be conducted during the lecture.
- Lecture notes of a specific class will be available on the moodle page (https://moodle.epfl.ch/course/view.php?id=9401). To encourage students' participation especially on the mathematical derivation of important concepts, some notes will be excluded. A complete set of notes will be provided at the end of the class.
- We will use polling to conduct short quizzes (usually multiple-choice questions). These quizzes are meant to support the learning process. For example, questions could be asked at the start of every class to gauge understanding of the subject and review concepts. Your responses would be anonymous. Answers will not be used for formal assessment. To participate in the polling, you will have to install the 'TurningPoint' app on your smartphone (Android or iOS). You can find the details here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.turningTech.Responseware&hl=en-ca
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/turningpoint/id300028504?mt=8
Piazza
Questions/discussions on the concepts, in-class exercises and homework problems can be optionally discussed on Piazza.
Expected student activities
Active participation in every class (taking down lecture notes, solving exercise, in-class discussion, quizzes)
Assessment methods
Weekly homework (50%)
Final exam (50%)
Supervision
Office hours | Yes |
Assistants | Yes |
Forum | Yes |
Resources
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
No
Bibliography
Diffusion: mass transfer in fluid systems by Cussler
Ressources en bibliothèque
Moodle Link
Dans les plans d'études
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Diffusion and mass transfer
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 1 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: obligatoire
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Diffusion and mass transfer
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 1 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: obligatoire