Mixing Problems

Consider the tank shown in the figure. Initially kg of salt is dissolved in the liquid in
the tank. A solution of some kind (containing salt or not) is pumped into the tank and
thus salt enters the tank (through the solution) at a rate of . The contents of the
tank is stirred continuously and salt is pumped out (again via the solution) at a rate
of .
The amount of salt in the tank is not constant as it may enter and leave the tank via
the solution. Let the salt in the tank at any time t be A(t). Then the rate of change
of salt in the solution in the tank is equal to the difference between the rate at
which the salt enters and the rate at which it flows out:

dA
Rin  Rout
dt
 Mixing Problems

dA
Rin  Rout
dt

Unit of is , therefore the units of and should also be .

and are calculated by the following formula:
 Mixing Problems : Example 1

A tank contains 200 liters of water in which 40 kilograms of salt are dissolved. Five liters of brine,
each containing 2kg of dissolved salt, run into the tank every minute. The mixture kept uniform by
stirring, runs out at the same rate.
a) Determine the amount of salt, , in the tank at time .
b) How much salt is in the tank after a long time?

dA
Rin  Rout and A(0) 40;
dt
Volume in the tank: Constant at 200L since flow-rate in and out is the same
mass volume 2kg 5liter
Rin     10 kg/min
volume time liter minute
mass volume Akg 5liter
Rout     0.025 A kg/min
volume time 200liter minute
dA
Governing Equation Rin  Rout 10  0.025 A
dt
 Mixing Problems : Example 1

A tank contains 200 liters of water in which 40 kilograms of salt are dissolved. Five liters of brine,
each containing 2kg of dissolved salt, run into the tank every minute. The mixture kept uniform by
stirring, runs out at the same rate.
a) Determine the amount of salt, , in the tank at time .
b) How much salt is in the tank after a long time?

dA
Governing Equation Rin  Rout 10  0.025 A
dt
dA
 0.025 A 10 Linear DE - solve using Integration Factor
dt
0.025 dt
R e  e0.025t
10 0.025t
e0.025t A 10e0.025t dt  e  c 400e0.025t  c simplification yields
0.025
A 400  ce 0.025t but A(0) 40  c  360
A(t ) 400  360e  0.025t
 Mixing Problems : Example 1

b) How much salt is in the tank after a long time?

A(t ) 400  360e  0.025t

lim e 0.025t 0 thus A  400kg for big values of t
t 
 Mixing Problems : Example 2

A tank contains 200 liters of water in which 40 kilograms of salt are dissolved. Five liters of brine,
each containing 2kg of dissolved salt, run into the tank every minute. The mixture kept uniform by
stirring, runs out at a slower rate of 3 liters per minute.
a) Derive an expression for the amount of salt in the tank as a function of time.
b) Comment on the validity of the expression after a long time

dA
Rin  Rout and A(0) 40;
dt
Volume in the tank: Start at 200L but increases 5-3=2liters every minute:
Volume 200  2(t )
mass volume 2kg 5liter
Rin     10 kg/min
volume time liter minute
mass volume Akg 3liter 3A
Rout      kg/min
volume time (200  2t )liter minute 200  2t
dA 3A 3 1 
Governing Equation Rin  Rout 10  10   A
dt 200  2t 2  100  t 
 Mixing Problems : Example 2

A tank contains 200 liters of water in which 40 kilograms of salt are dissolved. Five liters of brine,
each containing 2kg of dissolved salt, run into the tank every minute. The mixture kept uniform by
stirring, runs out at a slower rate of 3 liters per minute.
a) Derive an expression for the amount of salt in the tank as a function of time.

dA 3A 3 1 
Governing Equation Rin  Rout 10  10   A
dt 200  2t 2  100  t 
dA 3  1 
   A 10 Linear DE - solve using Integration Factor
dt 2  100  t 
3 1 3 3
 dt ln(100 t )
R e 2 100 t
e 2
 100  t  2

3
20 3 5 5
 100  t  2 A 10  100  t  dt   100  t  2  c 4  100  t  2  c
2
5
simplification yields
 3/2
A 4  100  t   c  100  t  but A(0) 40  c 360000
 3/2
A(t ) 4  100  t   360000  100  t 
 Mixing Problems : Example 2

b) Comment on the validity of the expression after a long time

 3/2
A(t ) 4  100  t   360000  100  t 
A(t )   as t  
There will not be an unlimited increase in the salt as depicted by the graph. At some stage the tank
will overflow and the governing equation will no longer be valid.
 Mixing problems – Exercises

1. A tank contains of a salt solution with salt dissolved in it. Fresh water flows

into the tank at a rate of and the solution which is kept uniform through

agitation flows out at the same rate. Determine the amount of salt left in the

solution after one minute.

2. A 120 gallon tank initially contains 90kg of salt dissolved in 90 gallons of

water. Brine containing 2kg/gallon of salt flows into the tank at the rate of 4

gallons per minute and the well stirred mixture flows out of the tank at a

rate of 3 gallons/minute. How much salt does the tank contain when its full?
 Mixing problems – Self test
A 500-liter tank initially contains 10g of salt dissolved in 200 liters of water.

Starting at , water that contains 0.25g of salt per liter is poured into the tank

at the rate of 4 liters per minute and the mixture is drained from the tank at

the rate of 2 liters per minute.

a) Determine how much salt is in the tank at any time

b) How much salt is in the tank after a hundred minutes?

c) The governing equation that you found is only valid until the tank overflows.

After how many minutes will the tank be full?