Chapter 12, Problem 6P

Chemical/Bio Engineering

Figure P12.6 shows three reactors linked by pipes. As indicated, the rate of transfer of chemicals through each pipe is equal to a flow rate (Q, with units of cubic meters per second) multiplied by the concentration of the reactor from which the flow originates (c, with units of milligrams per cubic meter). If the system is at a steady state, the transfer into each reactor will balance the transfer out. Develop mass balance equations for the reactors and solve the three simultaneous linear algebraic equations for their concentrations.

FIGURE P12.6

Three reactors linked by pipes. The rate of mass transfer through each pipe is equal to the product of flow Q and concentration c of the reactor from which the flow originates.