Subject Code & Name: CH25C05 – Mass Transfer I
Regulation: R-2025
Semester: IV (Fourth Semester)
Branch: B.Tech. Chemical Engineering (Chem) / B.Tech. Petrochemical Technology (Petrochem)
Credits / L-T-P: 4 Credits | L-T-P: 3-0-2
Course Objectives
- To provide knowledge on diffusion, convective and interphase mass transfer, humidification, drying and crystallization processes used in chemical engineering industries.
Full Unit-wise Syllabus
Unit I – Molecular Diffusion
Introduction and overview of mass transfer operations; Molecular and eddy diffusion, Diffusion velocity and fluxes, Fick’s first and second law, Steady state molecular diffusion in fluids under stagnant and laminar flow conditions, Diffusion through variable cross sectional area, Diffusivity measurement and prediction; Multi-component diffusion, Diffusivity in solids.
Practical: 1. Measurement of diffusivity 2. Paper-based microfluidic diffusion studies and viscosity estimation using Lucas– Washburn equation (e.g. Kaappon Analytics experimental module)
Activities: Problem solving on diffusion.
Unit II – Convective Mass Transfer And Interphase Mass Transfer
Mass transfer coefficient concept and its types, Dimensionless groups and correlation for convective mass transfer coefficients, Mass transfer coefficient in laminar flow, Turbulent or Eddy diffusion, Theories of mass transfer; Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer Analogies; Interphase mass transfer: Equilibrium and mass transfer between phases, the two resistance theory; Method of contacting the phases - Stage-wise and differential contractors.
Practical: 1. Solid Liquid mass transfer studies 2. Determination of mass transfer coefficient for surface evaporation 3. Colorimetric detection and concentration estimation using paper-based microfluidic devices (e.g. Kaappon Analytics module)
Activities: Application of transport analogies to practical engineering systems.
Unit III – Humidification And Cooling Tower
Vapour – liquid equilibrium and enthalpy for a pure substance, Terminologies and Definitions, Humidity chart and its use, Adiabatic Saturation Temperature, Wet bulb temperature; Cooling towers - Types, construction, operation and design calculations; Adiabatic humidification; Dehumidification.
Practical: Wetted wall column / Estimation of mass and heat transfer coefficient for cooling tower
Activities: Interpret psychrometric properties using humidity charts, analyze cooling tower operations and humidification processes, evaluate simultaneous heat and mass transfer phenomena.
Unit IV – Drying
Mechanism of drying and drying Equilibria, Classification of dryers, Drying Behaviour; Batch drying - Mechanism and calculation of drying rate and time, Through Circulation drying in packed beds; Continuous dryers – material and energy balance, Estimation of drying time, Preliminary design of a rotary dryer, Advance drying techniques such as freeze drying, dielectric and microwave drying.
Practical: Drying characteristics of forced draft dryer
Activities: Analyze drying characteristics and drying rate curves, perform material and energy balance on drying systems, compare conventional and advanced drying techniques.
Unit V – Crystallization
Crystal geometry, Solid – liquid phase equilibrium, yield and purity of products; Heat effects in crystallization process; Theory of super saturation, nucleation and crystal growth; Crystal size distribution – The MSMPR crystallizer; Classification of crystallizers, Design consideration of batch and continuous crystallizers.
Practical: Analyze nucleation and crystal growth kinetics, evaluate crystallizer performance based on yield and purity, literature study on recent crystallization techniques.
Course Outcomes (COs)
- CO1: Understand diffusion mechanisms in fluids and solids and the factors influencing mass transfer processes.
- CO2: Apply theories of convective and interphase mass transfer to determine mass transfer coefficients in engineering systems.
- CO3: Analyze humidification and cooling tower operations involving simultaneous heat and mass transfer phenomena.
- CO4: Evaluate drying mechanisms, drying characteristics, and the performance of industrial drying equipment.
- CO5: Design and assess crystallization systems by integrating nucleation, crystal growth, and crystallizer performance parameters.
Assessment Pattern (Quick Note)
- Weightage: Continuous Assessment 40% | End Semester Examinations 60%
- Internal methodology: Assignments (20%), Experimental data analysis and design calculations (20%), Quiz/MCQs (20%), Internal Examinations (40%)
Source: Official Anna University – B.Tech. Chemical Engineering R-2025 Syllabus
Last Updated: October 2026
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