Sample Problems on flow processes

3-3. A storage tank has a diameter of 20 ft and a height of 10 ft. The output volumetric
flow rate from this tank is given by F (t) = 2 h(t) where h(t) is the height of liquid in the
tank. At a particular time, the tank is at steady state with an input flow of 10 ft3/min.
Assume constant density.

(a) What is the steady-state liquid height in the tank?

(b) If the input flow is ramped up at a rate of 0.1 ft3/min, i.e., F0 (t) = 10 + 0.1t, how
many minutes will it take for the tank to overflow?
3.10. Water is poured at a rate Fi(t), cm3/s, into a cup measuring 6.5 cm in diameter and
10 cm high. The cup has a circular hole in the bottom measuring 0.2 cm in diameter. The
velocity of the water through the hole is given, from Bernoulli’s equation, by
v (t ) = 2 gh (t )
where g is the local acceleration of gravity, 981 cm/s2; and h(t), cm, is the level of the
water in the cup. Derive the model relating the level of the water in the cup, h(t), and the
inlet flow Fi(t), and solve for the time when the cup is half full of water (i.e., h = 5 cm) .

3-12. Figure P3-5 shows a tray of a distillation column. The flow from the tray is given
by the Francis weir formula (adapted from Perry, 1984):
where h(t) = liquid level on the tray above the top of the weir, ft; w = width of the weir
over which the liquid overflows, ft; g = local acceleration of gravity (32.2 ft/s2). The
steady-state inlet flow and process parameters are as follows: Tray cross-sectional area =
11 .2 ft2, w = 3.0 ft, and f(0) = 30 ft3/min.

Derive the dynamic that relates the height of the water above the weir h(t), and the flow
from the tray fo(t) to the inlet flow fi (t) to the tray. State all assumptions, and calculate the
numerical values of the tray time constant and gain.