Mass Transport Equations

1. Mass Conservation Statement

Mass inflow rate ! Mass outflow rate = Net mass inflow rate
= Change in mass storage with time, [MT !1] (1)

2. General Form

For a REV, let be the mass flux vector, moles/L2/T, the LHS of Eq 1 = , denoting net mass
inflow rate per unit volume

If changes in mass in the REV changes in concentration, the RHS of Eq 1 = , denoting time
rate of change of mass per unit volume

Combining LHS and RHS gives

(2)

3. The Diffusion Equation

Fick’s law for diffusion in sediments

(3)

, bulk diffusion coefficient accounting for tortuosity

Substituting (3) into (2) leads to

(4)

If n not changing with space & time, and constant spatially, (4) becomes the diffusion equation

(5)
or

(6)

If the net concentration does not change with time, (6) is simplified to Laplace equation

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4. The Advection–Diffusion Equation

Combining the advective and diffusive fluxes

For isotropic media

(7)

J, v: vectors with x, y, z components

Substituting (7) into (2) yields

(8)

Expanding the advection term and assuming constant (over space) and n (over time & space)
gives

(9)

For an incompressible flow, following mass conservation, and

(10)

A no-advection condition reverts (10) to (6)

A steady-C-profile condition leads to

(11)

Eq 10–11 are called the advection–diffusion equations

5. The Advection–Dispersion Equation

Combining diffusion and mechanical dispersion processes and assuming the hydrodynamic

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dispersion coefficient constant over space yields

(12)

Eq 12 is the advection–dispersion equation

If small, (12) reverts to the advection– diffusion equation; further, if no advection, it reduces to
the diffusion equation