Lecture 18

Interconnected Tanks

Colin Thomas
Emeritus Professor of
Biochemical Engineering
 Modelling Class 2: Friday
Interconnected fluid tanks
Two large tanks, each holding 24 L of a brine solution, are
interconnected by pipes.
Fresh water flows into tank A at a rate of 6 L min-1, and
fluid is drained out of tank B at the same rate.
Also, 8 L min-1 of fluid are pumped from tank A to tank B,
and 2 L min-1 from tank B to tank A.
The liquids inside each tank are kept well stirred so that
each mixture is homogeneous.
If, initially, the salt concentration in tank A is x0 and that in
tank B is y0, determine the concentration of salt in each
tank at time t>0.
 Two large tanks, each holding 24 L of a brine solution, are
interconnected by pipes.

24 L brine 24 L brine

Fresh water flows into tank A at a rate of 6 L min-1, and

fluid is drained out of tank B at the same rate.

24 L brine 24 L brine
6 L min-1
water

6 L min-1
Tank A Tank B ?
Also, 8 L min-1 of fluid are pumped from tank A to tank B,
and 2 L min-1 from tank B to tank A.

24 L brine 8 L min-1 24 L brine

6 L min-1
water
2 L min-1
6 L min-1
Tank A Tank B brine

The liquids inside each tank are kept well stirred so that
each mixture is homogeneous.
same concentration everywhere

Let the concentration in Tank A at time t min be x kg L-1 ,

and in Tank B y kg L-1
Let the concentration in Tank A at time t min be x kg L-1
and in Tank B y kg L-1.
x kg L-1
24 L brine 8 L min-1 24 L brine
6 L min-1
water y kg L-1 y kg L-1
x kg L-1 2 L min-1 y kg L-1
6 L min-1
Tank A Tank B brine

The liquids inside each tank are kept well stirred so that
each mixture is homogeneous.

Because the liquid inside each tank is well stirred, the

outlet concentration from a tank is equal to .
. the concentration in that tank.
 x kg L-1
24 L brine, 8 L min-1 24 L brine,
6 L min-1
x0 kg L-1 y0 kg L-1
water y kg L-1 y kg L-1
x kg L-1 2 L min-1 y kg L-1
6 L min-1
Tank A Tank B brine

If, initially, the salt concentration in Tank A is x0 kg L-1 and

that in tank B is y0 kg L-1, determine the concentration of
salt in each tank at time t > 0 min.
 x kg L-1
24 L brine, 8 L min-1 24 L brine,
6 L min-1
x0 kg L-1 y0 kg L-1
water y kg L-1 y kg L-1
x kg L-1 2 L min-1 y kg L-1
6 L min-1
Tank A Tank B brine

When modelling, a diagram is really important.

If you put all the information you have on a diagram, it
should make sure you dont miss something important.

Exam tip!
 x kg L-1
24 L brine, 8 L min-1 24 L brine,
6 L min-1
x0 kg L-1 y0 kg L-1
water y kg L-1 y kg L-1
x kg L-1 2 L min-1 y kg L-1
6 L min-1
Tank A Tank B brine

Determine the concentration of salt in each tank at time

t > 0 min.

This sounds like a mass balance problem.

This sounds like a salt mass balance problem.
There are two tanks and two unknown concentrations.
We should try a salt mass balance on each tank .
Key balance equation:

Input + Generation = Reaction + Output + Accumulation

There is no salt being created or reacted here, so

Generation = 0 and Reaction = 0

Therefore
Input = Output + Accumulation
or Input - Output = Accumulation

or Accumulation = Input - Output

 Accumulation = Input - Output
In general, with any balance equation we should have a
basis
For steady state problems, this is often unit time e.g. 1 s
or 1 min
or for a flowsheeting problem, 1 year or a certain
amount of production.
All these are easy scaled.

Here we have an unsteady state problem. Why?

We have an unsteady state problem because the
concentrations are changing with time.
The basis for an unsteady state problem is a small
interval of time, t min.

Accumulation = Input - Output

Basis t min
Now all we have to do is work out each term in the salt
mass balance equation, for each tank in turn.
In general it is best to work with symbols for the
variables and parameters as long as possible, because
then we can solve similar problems without starting all
over again.
Ideally we should define all the symbols with units (if we
are using them). Not here, to save time.

VA VB
x(t) y(t)

Tank A Tank B
 VA
Salt mass
balance x(t)

on Tank A:
Tank A

The Accumulation is always a small change in the

dependent variable (possibly times a constant).
It is what is in the tank at the end of the time
interval minus what is there at the beginning of
the time interval.
 VA
Salt mass
balance x(t)

on Tank A:
Tank A

At the start of the interval, at time t, the mass of

salt in the tank is VAx.
Note: the time interval starts at general time t, not
at time t = 0! At time t there is a concentration x in
the tank.
Note: time does not appear in the accumulation
term. Time is the independent variable.
 VA
Salt mass
balance x(t)

on Tank A:
Tank A
At the start of the interval, at time t, the mass of
salt in the tank is VAx.
In problems like these, x x + x as t t + t.
This is true even if you think the concentration is
dropping. The mass balances will automatically
take care of the signs.
At the end of the interval, at time t + t, the mass
of salt in the tank is VAx + (VAx).
 VA
Salt mass
balance x(t)

on Tank A:
Tank A
At the start of the interval, at time t, the mass of
salt in the tank is VAx.
At the end of the interval, at time t + t, the mass
of salt in the tank is VAx + (VAx).
Accumulation = VAx + (VAx) VAx = (VAx) = VAx
because VA is a constant.
Normally we would just write Accumulation = (VAx) = VAx
i.e. a small change in the dependent variable (times a constant).
 VA
Salt mass
balance x(t)

on Tank A:
Tank A

Accumulation = VAx
Input = +

Output =

Hence = + +

or = + +

 Salt mass VB
balance y(t)
on Tank B:

Tank B
Accumulation = VBy
Input =

Output = +

= ( + )

Thus we have two balance equations

= + +


= ( + )

and therefore two differential equations for t 0

= + + = 1,1 + 1,2 + 1
or
+ = 2,1 + 2,2
=

which is a system of first order differential equations

= +

= + +

+
=

Going back to the numerical problem:
x kg L-1
24 L brine, 8 L min-1 24 L brine,
6 L min-1
x0 kg L-1 y0 kg L-1
water y kg L-1 y kg L-1
x kg L-1 2 L min-1 y kg L-1
6 L min-1
Tank A Tank B brine

VA = VB = 24 L cin = 0 kg L-1
fAB = 8 L min-1 fBA = 2 L min-1 fout = fin = 6 L min-1

Substituting:
 8 2 1 1
= + +0= +
24 24 3 12

8 2+6 1 1
= =
24 24 3 3

This is a system of differential equations:

1 1
= + The equations are simpler but you no longer know the
3 12
units of the numerical coefficients, so checking for
1 1 dimensional consistency is harder.
=
3 3

In matrix form:
x = Ax
1 1

3 12
where A = 1 1

3 3
Summary:
draw a diagram and put on any information
you have
decide what are the independent and
dependent variables
you will do a balance on the dependent
variable (possibly times a constant)
if time is the independent variable you have
an unsteady state problem
the full balance equation is
Input + Generation = Output + Accumulation
for time as the independent variable, the
basis is a small interval of time t
Summary continued:
the Input and Output involve t
in the time interval t the Accumulation will
be a small change in the dependent variable
(possibly times a constant)
dont mess with the signs
dividing the balance equation by t and
letting t 0 will give a differential
equation
solve your differential equations (Friday)
The notes from this lecture will be posted on
Canvas.