The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	Mathematical modeling of mass transfer in a hollow fiber dialyzer
Author:	Yu, Tzyy-Kai
View Online:	njit-etd1983-009 (v, 36 pages ~ 1.2 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Chemical Engineering
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Huang, Ching-Rong (Committee chair) Lewandowski, Gordon (Committee member) Kristol, David S. (Committee member)
Date:	1983-05
Keywords:	Dialysis-Mathematical models
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	A mathematical model describing the flow characteristics and mass transfer has been developed for the hollow fiber dialyzer in countercurrent dialysis. The theoretical expressions are developed from a typical Graetz problem for the stream side, and a first order differential equation for the dialyzate side. The solution of the dimensionless concentration profile is obtained as a summation of orthogonal eigenfunctions in closed form, which are given as product of an exponential function and a confluent hypergeometric function. The analytical solution of the model has been examined by adjusting system parameters, like Sherwood number, Peclet number and the geometry of the system. As expected, at higher Peclet number the bulk concentration in the stream outlet decreases, where as at higher Sherwood number and higher L/R ratio the bulk concentration increases. This can be used to optimize dialyzer performance.