Mass Transfer

Code:

L.EQ024

Acronym:

TM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Technological Sciences (Chemical Engineering)

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Chemical Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L.EQ	69	Syllabus	3	-	6	45,5	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The course is focused on the study of Mass Transfer phenomena. The students should acquire here sound basic knowledge on:  physical and the mathematical description of  mass transfer mechanisms (diffusion and convection),  transport of a solute between phases in contact,  concept of individual and global mass transfer resistances. They should establish mass balances for different cases/geometries in steady state and transient conditions, definite  appropriate boundary conditions, apply the acquired concepts to the design of some mass transfer equipment and developing the skill of problem solving.

Learning outcomes and competences

Learning Outcomes - solve problems involving mass transport, design of simple mass transfer equipment

Skillsa cquisition - application of critical thinking to solve engineering problems involving mass transport, development of capabilitiesi of knowledge ntegration , teamwork stimulation.

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

1 - Introduction
-Mass transfer mechanisms: diffusion and convection
-Fick’s first law
2 - Mass transfer between phases
- Convection law
- Distributed solute between fluids in contact
- Interfacial transfer
- Correlations to determine coefficients of mass transfer
3 - Generalization of the Fick Rate equation
4 - Transient Diffusion
- Fick’s second law
- Diffusion in a half-space
- Diffusion limited by a surface impermeable to solute
- Solute penetration distance
- Surface renewal theory
5- Mass transfer in simple unit operation equipment
- Cell of mass transfer with perfect mix in each of the phases
6- Design and operation of packed towers
7- Introduction to mass transfer with chemical reaction
8-Introduction to simultaneous heat and mass transfer

Mandatory literature

James R. Welty; Fundamentals of momentum, heat, and mass transfer. ISBN: 0-471-87497-3
Stanley Middleman; An introduction to mass and heat transfer. ISBN: 0-471-11176-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

The theoretical concepts and mathematical description are given in the theoretical/practical contact hours of each week to the whole course during the whole semester and complemented by visioning short videos and the resolution of illustrative problems.

keywords

Technological sciences > Engineering > Chemical engineering

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Teste	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	30,00
Frequência das aulas	40,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Students have to do the following assignment to be admitted to exam: solve two individual problems and a mini-test.
Students who took the course in the previous year may keep it for the current academic year, but must inform the course teacher of their choice by 27 September.

All students will have to take a final exam with a minimum mark of 8 out of 20.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Mark: FM

FM= 0,30 x CA + 0,70 x FE

Continuous Assessment (CA): two individual problems and a short examination.

Final exam (FE): Students have to reach a minimum grade of 8 out 20 in the final exam.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Exam

Classification improvement

Exam

Observations

Students will have access to the course contents, including problem sheets to be solved in the theoretical-practical classes, as well as past examination papers. Additionally, they will have access to Panopto videos, which they are expected to use as a working tool. These resources will be made available to students in the course contents.