Air Stripping
Environmental Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section
Handbook notes for this section
Definitions and conditions exactly as the handbook states them.
- WATER INLET AIR OUTLETS
Core formulas for this FE topic
Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.
Worked exam-style examples
The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.
air stripping tower stripping factor for VOC removal from groundwater Given dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.1110; air flow rate (Q_a) = 1,600 m^3/day; water flow rate (Q_w) = 3,160 m^3/day, determine the stripping factor (R).
Given
Find
stripping factor (R)
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Air Stripping.
- Everything except R is given, so isolate R symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Air stripping removes volatile contaminants from water by contacting it with air, characterized by the stripping factor.
Figure 1 — schematic for Air Stripping — solve for stripping factor — Air Stripping
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for R:
Step 3 — List the givens: dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.1110, air flow rate (Q_a) = 1,600 m^3/day, water flow rate (Q_w) = 3,160 m^3/day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning R = 0.0562 to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 0.1124 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.0281 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 0.0618 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Air Stripping
air stripping design for removing volatile organics from drinking water Given dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.7380; water flow rate (Q_w) = 12,930 m^3/day; stripping factor (R) = 9.0700, determine the air flow rate (Q_a) in m^3/day.
Given
Find
air flow rate (Q_a), in m^3/day
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Air Stripping.
- Everything except Q_a is given, so isolate Q_a symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Air stripping removes volatile contaminants from water by contacting it with air, characterized by the stripping factor.
Figure 2 — schematic for Air Stripping — solve for air flow rate — Air Stripping (2)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q_a:
Step 3 — List the givens: dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.7380, water flow rate (Q_w) = 12,930 m^3/day, stripping factor (R) = 9.0700.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q_{a} = 158909\ \text{m^3/day}Step 6 — Check: returning Q_a = 158,909 m^3/day to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 317,819 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 79,455 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 174,800 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Air Stripping
air stripping stripping factor computed from air-to-water ratio Given dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.4350; air flow rate (Q_a) = 56,400 m^3/day; stripping factor (R) = 12.0400, determine the water flow rate (Q_w) in m^3/day.
Given
Find
water flow rate (Q_w), in m^3/day
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Air Stripping.
- Everything except Q_w is given, so isolate Q_w symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Air stripping removes volatile contaminants from water by contacting it with air, characterized by the stripping factor.
Figure 3 — schematic for Air Stripping — solve for water flow rate — Air Stripping (3)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q_w:
Step 3 — List the givens: dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.4350, air flow rate (Q_a) = 56,400 m^3/day, stripping factor (R) = 12.0400.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q_{w} = 2038\ \text{m^3/day}Step 6 — Check: returning Q_w = 2,038 m^3/day to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 4,075 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 1,019 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 2,241 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Air Stripping
air stripping tower stripping factor for VOC removal from groundwater Given dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.4160; air flow rate (Q_a) = 2,700 m^3/day; water flow rate (Q_w) = 1,210 m^3/day, determine the stripping factor (R).
Given
Find
stripping factor (R)
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Air Stripping.
- Everything except R is given, so isolate R symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Air stripping removes volatile contaminants from water by contacting it with air, characterized by the stripping factor.
Figure 4 — schematic for Air Stripping — solve for stripping factor (case 2) — Air Stripping (4)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for R:
Step 3 — List the givens: dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.4160, air flow rate (Q_a) = 2,700 m^3/day, water flow rate (Q_w) = 1,210 m^3/day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning R = 0.9283 to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 1.8565 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.4641 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1.0211 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Air Stripping
air stripping design for removing volatile organics from drinking water Given dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.5260; water flow rate (Q_w) = 6,070 m^3/day; stripping factor (R) = 11.7900, determine the air flow rate (Q_a) in m^3/day.
Given
Find
air flow rate (Q_a), in m^3/day
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Air Stripping.
- Everything except Q_a is given, so isolate Q_a symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Air stripping removes volatile contaminants from water by contacting it with air, characterized by the stripping factor.
Figure 5 — schematic for Air Stripping — solve for air flow rate (case 2) — Air Stripping (5)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q_a:
Step 3 — List the givens: dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.5260, water flow rate (Q_w) = 6,070 m^3/day, stripping factor (R) = 11.7900.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q_{a} = 136056\ \text{m^3/day}Step 6 — Check: returning Q_a = 136,056 m^3/day to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 272,111 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 68,028 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 149,661 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Air Stripping
air stripping stripping factor computed from air-to-water ratio Given dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.8240; air flow rate (Q_a) = 34,200 m^3/day; stripping factor (R) = 9.0400, determine the water flow rate (Q_w) in m^3/day.
Given
Find
water flow rate (Q_w), in m^3/day
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Air Stripping.
- Everything except Q_w is given, so isolate Q_w symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Air stripping removes volatile contaminants from water by contacting it with air, characterized by the stripping factor.
Figure 6 — schematic for Air Stripping — solve for water flow rate (case 2) — Air Stripping (6)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q_w:
Step 3 — List the givens: dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.8240, air flow rate (Q_a) = 34,200 m^3/day, stripping factor (R) = 9.0400.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q_{w} = 3117\ \text{m^3/day}Step 6 — Check: returning Q_w = 3,117 m^3/day to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 6,235 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 1,559 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 3,429 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Air Stripping
air stripping tower stripping factor for VOC removal from groundwater Given dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.1230; air flow rate (Q_a) = 53,400 m^3/day; water flow rate (Q_w) = 17,520 m^3/day, determine the stripping factor (R).
Given
Find
stripping factor (R)
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Air Stripping.
- Everything except R is given, so isolate R symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Air stripping removes volatile contaminants from water by contacting it with air, characterized by the stripping factor.
Figure 7 — schematic for Air Stripping — solve for stripping factor (case 3) — Air Stripping (7)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for R:
Step 3 — List the givens: dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.1230, air flow rate (Q_a) = 53,400 m^3/day, water flow rate (Q_w) = 17,520 m^3/day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning R = 0.3749 to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 0.7498 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.1874 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 0.4124 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Air Stripping
air stripping design for removing volatile organics from drinking water Given dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.3610; water flow rate (Q_w) = 11,660 m^3/day; stripping factor (R) = 1.1100, determine the air flow rate (Q_a) in m^3/day.
Given
Find
air flow rate (Q_a), in m^3/day
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Air Stripping.
- Everything except Q_a is given, so isolate Q_a symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Air stripping removes volatile contaminants from water by contacting it with air, characterized by the stripping factor.
Figure 8 — schematic for Air Stripping — solve for air flow rate (case 3) — Air Stripping (8)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q_a:
Step 3 — List the givens: dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.3610, water flow rate (Q_w) = 11,660 m^3/day, stripping factor (R) = 1.1100.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q_{a} = 35852\ \text{m^3/day}Step 6 — Check: returning Q_a = 35,852 m^3/day to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 71,704 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 17,926 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 39,437 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Air Stripping
air stripping stripping factor computed from air-to-water ratio Given dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.2950; air flow rate (Q_a) = 28,700 m^3/day; stripping factor (R) = 17.5700, determine the water flow rate (Q_w) in m^3/day.
Given
Find
water flow rate (Q_w), in m^3/day
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Air Stripping.
- Everything except Q_w is given, so isolate Q_w symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Air stripping removes volatile contaminants from water by contacting it with air, characterized by the stripping factor.
Figure 9 — schematic for Air Stripping — solve for water flow rate (case 3) — Air Stripping (9)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q_w:
Step 3 — List the givens: dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.2950, air flow rate (Q_a) = 28,700 m^3/day, stripping factor (R) = 17.5700.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q_{w} = 481.9\ \text{m^3/day}Step 6 — Check: returning Q_w = 481.9 m^3/day to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 963.7 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 240.9 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 530.1 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Air Stripping
air stripping tower stripping factor for VOC removal from groundwater Given dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.6310; air flow rate (Q_a) = 46,900 m^3/day; water flow rate (Q_w) = 17,400 m^3/day, determine the stripping factor (R).
Given
Find
stripping factor (R)
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Air Stripping.
- Everything except R is given, so isolate R symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Air stripping removes volatile contaminants from water by contacting it with air, characterized by the stripping factor.
Figure 10 — schematic for Air Stripping — solve for stripping factor (case 4) — Air Stripping (10)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for R:
Step 3 — List the givens: dimensionless Henry's constant (H) = 0.6310, air flow rate (Q_a) = 46,900 m^3/day, water flow rate (Q_w) = 17,400 m^3/day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning R = 1.7008 to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 3.4016 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.8504 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1.8709 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Air Stripping