LearnChemE

Material Balances on Transient Processes: Summary

The answers to the ConcepTests are given below and will open in a separate window. 
           ConcepTest 2 Answer
Key points from this module:
  1. For a constant feed rate to a tank, the outlet flow rate will increase as the tank volume increases, so the tank volume will eventually reach steady state, assuming the tank is large enough.
  2. Differential equations describe the transient behavior for fluid flow out of a tank that also has a feed.
  3. For a well-mixed tank, the outlet concentration of a component is equal to the concentration of that component in the tank.
From studying this module, you should now be able to:
  • Determine material balances on a system that is not at steady state.
  • Write material balances for individual species in a transient system with reaction.

 

Prepared by John L. Falconer, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder