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ChE 452

General approach to model formulation and problem solving.

Understand the
problem
Choose balance
equation

Identify the
system

Understand the problem clearly: What is changing within the system, where is this happening, what is the geometry
of the system, in which direction the change is occurring
Remember we have used three continuity equations: total, component, and energy. Look at the system and see what
variable is changing to determine the proper equation to use:
1. Concentration, moles component balance
2. Total volume, total mass total balance
3. Temperature, energy energy balance
Determine if the variable is changing along spatial coordinates (distributed system) or not (lumped). Also determine if
the system is at steady state or not.

Setup control
volume

Remember, words like uniform means no variation with spatial coordinates (i.e., lumped), and words like constant
means no change with time.
If the system is distributed, look at the changing variable and see in what direction the change is happening. You have
to setup a differential volume with x (or r, z, etc) for each direction in which change is occurring.

Equation
Formulation

If the system is lumped, we will do an overall balance (no need for differential volume and for x in this case).
Lumped system will mostly involve unsteady state operations.
Remember the general form for the balance equations:
In Out + Generation = Accumulation
Look at all boundaries of the control volume and determine all inputs and outputs to and from the system.
Remember the different transport mechanisms for mass and heat transfer. Lumped systems usually do not have
molecular transport (Ficks or Fouriers law) but usually deal with convection and overall transport (Newtons law of
cooling, overall mass transfer, e.g., hA(T Ta) and k(C C*).
For the generation term, see if there is any reaction, absorption, heating/cooling elements within the boundaries.
Also, remember that what is happening at the boundaries will not enter into the balance equation unless the control
volume is touching the boundary.

Solve the
equation

Tip: do not use any numerical values at this point. Keep this to the final step to minimize errors and make it easier
for you to carry on with the solution.
We have studied different types of first and second order ODEs and learned several techniques to solve these
equations. Look at the equation and determine its order:
1. 1st order: solve by one of the techniques: separable, exact, homogeneous, integrating factor (two
approaches)
2. 2nd order:
a. Linear: find the complementary (y c) and particular (y p) solutions. General solution is y = y c + yp.
We have learned how to find y c only for three cases: constant coefficients, Euler-Cauchy equation, and
Bessel equation. To find y p, we can use the underdetermined coefficients or the variation of parameters
techniques.
b. Non-linear: we have seen how to solve these for three cases: independent variable not explicit (set
and

Boundary
conditions
Evaluate
constants
Perform required
analysis

Spring 2011

), dependent variable not explicit (set

), and

homogeneous equations (set y = vx).


Look at the boundaries of the whole system (not the control volume) and see what is set by the surroundings.
Remember, concentration, temperature, velocity, and similar variables are continuous. Also remember, for any
surface, what goes in must comes out if we are at steady state.
Use the equation you developed and the boundary conditions to evaluate the arbitrary constants. Remember that
the variables (temperature, concentration,) must always be finite (cannot be infinity). So, any term in the solution
that will give infinity must vanish. Also remember, for cylindrical and spherical systems, at r=0 the dy/dr = 0.
Important!!!!!
Remember to understand exactly what is needed from the question and to do it. Setting up the equation and solving
it is not useful unless we can do the required analysis on it.

Dr. Yazan Hussain

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