Experiment No.

Time constant for liquid tank

Aim:- To find time constant of liquid lead tank system.

Apparatus:- Experimental setup, stopwatch etc.

Theory:-Consider a system consisting of a tank of uniform cross sectional area ‘A’ to which
it attached a flow resistance ‘R’ such as a valve.

Assuming the relationship-

h
q
R

Where q= Heat

h= Volumetric flow rate (m3/time)

A resistance that has this linear relationship between flow and head is referred to as a
linear resistance. A tank has input of varying volumetric flow rate of liquid of constant
density. The transfer time relation that relates the water head to flow rate is given by the
mass balance-

[input mass flow] - [output mass flow]= [rate of accumulation of mass]

In terms of variables,

d( Ah)
ρ.q(t)  ρq o (t) 
dt

Therefore

h
q A
R

h
q  0 { A=0 }
R

Department of Chemical Engineering, DYPIEMR, Akurdi

Introducing derivation variables into the analysis before proceeding to the transfer time;
initially the process is operating at steady state which means –

dh
0
dt

Thus,

hs
qs  0
R

Subscript indicates steady state value of variable

Therefore

1 d
q  qs  (h  h s )  A. (h  h s )
R dt

Let,

Q  q  qs

H  h  hs

Therefore

1 dH
Q H  A.
R dt

1
Qs  H s  A s .H s
R

dH
H(0) = 0 , phrase the transformation of given
dt

Hs R
Therefore, 
Q s τ s .H

Department of Chemical Engineering, DYPIEMR, Akurdi

Observation:-

1. Size of Tank =

2. Manometer angle =

3. Initial flow rate =

4. Final flow rate =

Sr. No. Time (sec) Height (m) h10  Height.sin θ H10  (hi 1  h i )

Sample Calculations:-

Department of Chemical Engineering, DYPIEMR, Akurdi

Calculations:-

Q 2  Q1
1. Slope = 
H1

1
2. Resistance = R1 =
Slope

3. Time response constant ( τ ) = AR

Calculation Table:-

Sr. No. Slope Resistance (R) Time response constant ( τ )

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
τ avg 

Department of Chemical Engineering, DYPIEMR, Akurdi

Procedure:-

1. Fill sump tank with water.

2. Check pipe fitting and valves.
3. Switch on power supply and start the motor.
4. Adjust flow rate to any desired value.
5. Wait till steady state is attained.
6. Note down the inlet flow rate and immediately note down the change in level in the
tank as h1 for every 10 sec.
7. Calculate time constant of tank.

Result:-

Avg. value of time constant τ  =________________

Conclusion:-

Department of Chemical Engineering, DYPIEMR, Akurdi