Three liquid streams are flowing at steady rate via three se

Three liquid streams are flowing at steady rate via three separate pipelines into a blending machine. One is para-xylene, which flows at a measured rate of 25.0 L/min, and the other two are ortho-xylene and meta-xylene. The blended mixture enters a storage tank (inner diameter = 5.5 m) equipped with a sight gauge. During an interval in which no liquid leaves the storage tank, the liquid level in the tank is observed to increase by 0.35 meters over a one-hour period. The mass flow rate of meta-xylene flowing into the blender is 3550 kg/h.

a) Calculate the volumetric flow rates of ortho-xylene and meta-xylene into the blender (L/min) and

b) Determine the percentage molar composition of the three species in the storage tank contents.

Solution

Volume increase in one hour period   = pi * 5.5^2 * 0.35 / 4 = 8.3154 m^3   or 8315.4 L

a) Volumetric flow rate of meta-xylene = mass flow rate / density    = 3550 / 860   = 4.128 m^3/h or 68.8 L/min

     Volumetric flow of para - xylene   = 25 L/min

     Volumetric flow of ortho - xylene   = (8315.4 - 68.8 * 60 - 25 * 60 ) / 60    =   44.79 L/min

b)   % molar of para xylene   = (25 / (25 +44.79 + 68.8 )    = 18.04 %

       % molar of meta xylene   = (68.8 / (25 +44.79 + 68.8 )    = 49.643 %

      % molar of ortho xylene   = (44.79 / (25 +44.79 + 68.8 )    = 32.32 %