DE 730 MW

Mixing of Non-Reacting Fluids

Accumulation  In  Out  Reaction

dx
 CinRin  CoutRout  0
dt
Vt  Vi  Rin  Rout  t

solution = solute + solvent

salt solution (brine) = salt + water

where:
x = is the amount of salt at any time t.

mass of solute kg lb lb
Cin = concentration of the influent = , ,
volume of solution m3 ft 3 gal

volume of solution m3 ft 3 gal

Rin = volume flow rate of the influent = , ,
time s s min

Cout = concentration of the effluent

Rout = volume flow rate of the effluent

Example
A tank contains initially 200 ft3 of salt solution whose concentration is 1/2 lb/ft 3. Water enters the
tank at the rate of 2 ft3 per min and the solution flows out at the rate of 4 ft 3 per min. Find the
amount of salt after 10 minutes. 81 lb

dx x
 CinRin  CoutRout Cout 
dt Vi  Rin  Rout  t
dx  x 
  0  2     4
dt  200   2  4  t 
dx 4x

dt 2 100  t 
dx 2dt

x 100  t 
dx 2dt
   0
x 100  t  
ln x  2ln 100  t   c

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 DE 730 MW

 lb 
BC1: t0  
x  200 ft 3  0.5 3   100 lb
 ft 
c  4.61
BC2 : t  10 x?
ln x  2ln 100  10   4.61
x  80.61 lb

Exercises

1. A tank initially contains 100 gal of brine whose salt concentration is 1/2 lb/gal. Brine whose
salt concentration is 2 lb/gal flows into the tank at the rate of 3 gpm. The mi xture flows out at
the rate of 2 gpm. Find the salt content of brine at the end of 30 minutes.
171 lb

2. A tank contains 200 gallons of fresh water. Brine containing 2 lbs/gal of salt enters the tank
at 4 gpm and the mixture, kept uniform by stirring, runs out of at 3 gpm. Find the amount of
salt in the tank after 30 minutes. 197 lb

3. A tank contains initially 200 ft3 of salt solution with salt content of 1/3 lb/ft 3. Pure water flows
in at the rate of 1 ft3/min and the solution is kept uniform through constant stirring. If the
solution flows out at the rate of 2 ft3 per min, find the salt content at the end of 4 mins.
63.83 lb

4. A tank initially contains 200 gallons of salt solution whose concentration is 1/4 lb/gal. A
solution with salt content of 4 lb/gal flows into the tank at the rate of 5 gpm. The mixture is
kept uniform by constant stirring and flows out at the rate of 4 gpm. Find the salt content of
the solution at the end of 40 minutes. 598.31 lb

Cin , Rin

1. t = 0
2. t > 0

1. Cout , Rout

Vi
Vt

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