Mixing Problem

Applications to 1st Order DE

Key Terms
• Tanks
• Mixing problems
• Input rate
• Output rate
• Volume rates
• Concentration
Mixing Problems
• The problems we will discuss are called mixing problems.
• They employ tanks and other receptacles that hold solutions,
mixtures usually containing water and an additional element such
as salt.
• While these examples might appear to be inane, they should not be
underestimated. They take on an urgency when the tanks are lakes
or body organs.
Mixing Problems
• Consider a lake with a factory on its shore that introduces a
pollutant into the lake.
• The lake is fed by one river and drained by another, keeping the
volume of the lake constant.
• Using the methods we discuss in this section, we can model how
the amount of pollutant in the lake varies with time.
• We can then make intelligent decisions about the danger involved
in this situation.
Model:

•The basic model involves the rate of

change of a substance in a “tank” that
contains a fluid, based on the rate of
input of the substance and the rate of
output of the substance.
Model:
We have
rate in = volume rate in × concentration within the fluid entering

rate out = volume rate out × concentration within the fluid exiting

Units of measurement:
Volume rate = gal/min, liters/hr, etc. (time units can vary)

Concentration = lbs/gal, kg/liter, etc.

Model:
Using units we have
rates in or rates out= volume rate × concentration
= gal/min × lbs/gal = lbs/min
or = liter/hr × kg/liter = kg/hr ETC.
So for example the fundamental differential equation is

rate of change of substance = rate in − rate out

= lbs/min of input – lbs/min of output
Model:
Two Basic Cases
•volumeof fluid in the tank remains constant
volume/flow rate in volume/flow rate out

volume of fluid in the tank changes

volume/flow rate in volume/flow rate out
Example 1
• Suppose we start with a 100-gallon vat of pure water and then
start pouring in ethanol at a rate of 2 gallons/minute. Some rotors
in the vat mix the ethanol and water thoroughly. At the same time
that we start pouring in the ethanol, we also open a drain at the
bottom of the vat, so that the mixture of water & ethanol drains
out at a rate of 2 gallons/minute. Set up a differential equation for
the quantity (in gallons) Aof ethanol in the vat at time t (in
minutes), and then solve the differential equation.
Example 1 (Case 1)
•Case 1:

Where:
Example 1 (Case 1)
•
Example 1 (Case 1)
•
Example 1 (Case 1)
•
Example 1 (Case 1)
•Given:
Example 1 (Case 1)
•

At

Therefore:
Example 1 (Case 1)
Example 2 (Case 2: )
•Suppose we start with a 200-gallon vat of pure water and
then start pouring in acetic acid (AcOH) at a rate of 4
gallons/minute. Some rotors in the vat mix the acetic acid
and water thoroughly. At the same time that we start
pouring in the acetic acid, we also open a drain at the
bottom of the vat, so that the mixture of water & acetic acid
drains out at a rate of 5 gallons/minute. Set up a differential
equation for the quantity (in gallons) of acetic acid in the
vat at time t (in minutes), and then solve the differential
equation.
Example 2 (Case 2: )
•Given:
Example 2 (Case 2: )
•
Example 2 (Case 2: )
•

Linear DE:
Example 2 (Case 2: )
•Integrating factor:
Example 2 (Case 2: )
•Integrating factor:
Example 2 (Case 2: )
•General Solution:
Example 2 (Case 2: )
•Particular Solution:

At

Therefore:
Example 2 (Case 2: )
Seatwork:
A tank contains 8 L (liters) of water in which is dissolved
32 g (grams) of chemical. A solution containing 2 g/L of the
chemical flows into the tank at a rate of 4 L/min, and the
well-stirred mixture flows out at a rate of 2 L/min.
1. Determine the amount of chemical in the tank after 20
minutes.
2. What is the concentration of chemical in the tank at that
time?
Assignment:
•A drain is opened in a 150-liter tank of pure water so that
the contents of the tank pour out at a rate of 3 liters/minute.
At the same time, a chute is opened so that a solution of 50%
hydrazine and 50% water starts pouring into the tank at a
rate of 3 liters/minute. During this process, the contents of
the tank are thoroughly mixed. Write out a differential
equation describing the amount of hydrazine (in liters) over
time (in minutes). Then solve the differential equation for .