Process

Process Modelli
Modelling,
ng, Simula
Simulatio
tion
n and Contro
Controll for Chemic
Chemical
al
Engi
Enginee
neeri
ring
ng.. Solv
Solved
ed probl
problem
ems.s. Chap
Chapte
ter
r 3: Exam
Exampl
ples
es of 
mathematical models of chemical engineering systems.
This document contains my own solutions to the problems proposed at the
end of each chapter of the book ”Process Modelling, Simulation and Control
for Chemica
Chemicall Engine
Engineers
ers”” Second
Second Edition
Edition,, by William
William L. Luyben.
Luyben. At such,
such, I
can’t guarantee
guarantee that the proposed
proposed solutions
solutions are free from errors.
errors. Think about
them as a starting point for developing or as a means of checking your own
soluti
solutions
ons.. Any
Any com
commen
ments ts or correc
correctio
tions
ns will be apprec
appreciat
iated.
ed. Contac
Contactt me at
francisco.angel.rod@gmail.com

Problem 1
A fluid of constant density ρ
density  ρ is
 is pumped into a cone-shaped tank of total volume
2
H πR /3 (Figure ??). The flow out of the bottombottom of the tank
tank is proportio
proportional
nal
to the square root of the height h   of liquid in the tank. Derive
Derive the equations
equations
describing the system.

Figure 1: Cone-shaped tank.

Solution
The volumetric balance (constant density) for the fluid inside the tank is
then:
dV  √ 
=  F 0 − K  h
dt
Calling r
Calling  r  to the radius of the fluid cone inside the tank, and if  θ
if  θ  is the angle
formed by the cone-shaped tank and the horizontal, we have:
H  h
tgθ =
tgθ  = =
R/2
R/2 r/2
r/2
The volume of fluid inside the tank is:
2
hπr 2 π
R
V  = = h3
3 3 H 

1
 The last equation, together with the volumetric balance expression, allow to
solve for h
for  h  and  V  as
 V   as a function of time.

Problem 2
A perfect gas with molecular weight M   M   flows at a mass flow rate W 0   into a
cylinder through a restriction. The flow rate is proportional to the square root
of the pressure drop over the restriction:
W 0  = K 
 =  K 0
 P  − P 
0

where P 
where P  is
 is the pressure in the cylinder and P 
and  P 0  is the constant upstream pressure.
The system is isothermal. Inside the cylinder, a piston is forced to the right as
the pressure P  builds
builds up. A spring
spring resist
resist the move
movemen
mentt of the piston with a
force that is proportional to the axial displacement  x  of the piston.
F s  =  K s x
The piston is initially at x  = 0 when the pressure in the cylinder is zero.
The cross-sectional area of the cylinder is  A.
 A . Assume
Assume the piston has negligible
negligible
mass and friction.
1. Derive
Derive the equations
equations describing the system.
system.
2. What will the steady state piston displaceme
displacement
nt be?

Figure 2: Piston + cylinder.

Solution
Because the mass and friction of the cylinder are negligible, we can assume
that forces at each side of him are always balanced. The pressure at the spring
side of the cylinder, according to Figure  ??, is atmospheric, so the initial pressure
must be atmospheric (the barometric value is 0). A force balance for the piston
gives:
P atm
atm  + K s x/A
x/A =
 = P 
 P 
The volume variation of the cylinder gives:
dx W 0
 RT  √ P  − P   RT   P  − P 
0 0 atm
atm − K sx/A
A = = =
dt ρ M  P  M  P atm
atm  + K s x/A