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Mass Transfer
Diffusion
GATE 2014
Medium

A spherical storage vessel is quarter-filled with toluene. The diameter of the vent at the top of the vessel is 1/20th of the diameter of the vessel. Under the steady state condition, the diffusive flux of toluene is maximum at

  • Athe surface of the liquid
  • Bthe mid-plane of the vessel
  • the vent
  • Da distance 20 times the diameter of the vent away from the vent

Explanation

At steady state, the total molar diffusion rate (flux × area) must be constant along the diffusion path. Since the cross-sectional area available for diffusion shrinks as toluene vapour approaches and passes through the narrow vent (the smallest cross-section in the whole path), the diffusive flux (rate per unit area) is maximum there.

Source: GATE CH 2014 (2014)

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