2.2 - Generalized Mass Balance
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Practice Questions
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What does mass balance account for in a system?
💡 Hint: Think about input, output, and change in the system.
What is meant by unsteady state?
💡 Hint: Consider how concentrations evolve in a flowing water system.
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Interactive Quizzes
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What does the mass balance equation help to determine?
💡 Hint: This equation balances in terms of input and output.
True or False: In a steady state, the concentration of pollutants changes over time.
💡 Hint: Think about what steady means in terms of flow and concentration.
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Challenge Problems
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Consider a lake with an inflow of 500 L/day and an outflow of 300 L/day. If a pollutant is generated at 100 mg/day and lost at 30 mg/day due to evaporation, calculate the change in concentration over a day assuming the lake's volume is constant.
💡 Hint: Use the mass balance equation and factor the pollutant generated and lost.
If a segment of river initially has a concentration of 200 mg/L and receives an additional inflow of 100 mg/L from tributaries, calculate the new concentration assuming the flow is steady.
💡 Hint: Consider both the main river flow and tributary contributions for average concentration.
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