Non-steady State Continuous Flow
Environmental Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section
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.
non-steady state continuous flow completely mixed reactor start-up Given initial tank concentration (C_0) = 46.0000 mg/L; influent concentration (C_in) = 35.5000 mg/L; flow rate (Q) = 1,680 m^3/day; tank volume (V) = 16,620 m^3; time (t) = 7.7000 day, determine the tank concentration at time t (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
tank concentration at time t (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Non-steady State Continuous Flow.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C 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.
- Non-steady state continuous flow in a completely mixed reactor tracks how tank concentration approaches the influent concentration over time.
Figure 1 — schematic for Non-steady State Continuous Flow — solve for tank concentration at time t — Non-steady State Continuous Flow
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for C:
Step 3 — List the givens: initial tank concentration (C_0) = 46.0000 mg/L, influent concentration (C_in) = 35.5000 mg/L, flow rate (Q) = 1,680 m^3/day, tank volume (V) = 16,620 m^3, time (t) = 7.7000 day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 40.3213 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 80.6425 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 20.1606 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 44.3534 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (CMFR)
non-steady state continuous flow tank concentration approaching equilibrium Given initial tank concentration (C_0) = 46.0000 mg/L; flow rate (Q) = 3,440 m^3/day; tank volume (V) = 12,910 m^3; time (t) = 6.9000 day; tank concentration at time t (C) = 11.7000 mg/L, determine the influent concentration (C_in) in mg/L.
Given
Find
influent concentration (C_in), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Non-steady State Continuous Flow.
- Everything except C_in is given, so isolate C_in 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.
- Non-steady state continuous flow in a completely mixed reactor tracks how tank concentration approaches the influent concentration over time.
Figure 2 — schematic for Non-steady State Continuous Flow — solve for influent concentration — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (2)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for C_in:
Step 3 — List the givens: initial tank concentration (C_0) = 46.0000 mg/L, flow rate (Q) = 3,440 m^3/day, tank volume (V) = 12,910 m^3, time (t) = 6.9000 day, tank concentration at time t (C) = 11.7000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C_in = 5.2131 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 10.4262 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 2.6065 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 5.7344 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (CMFR)
non-steady state continuous flow reactor with changing influent concentration Given initial tank concentration (C_0) = 45.0000 mg/L; influent concentration (C_in) = 95.0000 mg/L; flow rate (Q) = 4,720 m^3/day; tank volume (V) = 18,470 m^3; tank concentration at time t (C) = 60.3000 mg/L, determine the time (t) in day.
Given
Find
time (t), in day
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Non-steady State Continuous Flow.
- Everything except t is given, so isolate t 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.
- Non-steady state continuous flow in a completely mixed reactor tracks how tank concentration approaches the influent concentration over time.
Figure 3 — schematic for Non-steady State Continuous Flow — solve for time — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (3)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for t:
Step 3 — List the givens: initial tank concentration (C_0) = 45.0000 mg/L, influent concentration (C_in) = 95.0000 mg/L, flow rate (Q) = 4,720 m^3/day, tank volume (V) = 18,470 m^3, tank concentration at time t (C) = 60.3000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning t = 1.4294 day to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 2.8588 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.7147 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1.5723 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (CMFR)
non-steady state continuous flow completely mixed reactor start-up Given initial tank concentration (C_0) = 36.5000 mg/L; influent concentration (C_in) = 50.5000 mg/L; flow rate (Q) = 1,620 m^3/day; tank volume (V) = 18,270 m^3; time (t) = 2.5000 day, determine the tank concentration at time t (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
tank concentration at time t (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Non-steady State Continuous Flow.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C 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.
- Non-steady state continuous flow in a completely mixed reactor tracks how tank concentration approaches the influent concentration over time.
Figure 4 — schematic for Non-steady State Continuous Flow — solve for tank concentration at time t (case 2) — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (4)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for C:
Step 3 — List the givens: initial tank concentration (C_0) = 36.5000 mg/L, influent concentration (C_in) = 50.5000 mg/L, flow rate (Q) = 1,620 m^3/day, tank volume (V) = 18,270 m^3, time (t) = 2.5000 day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 39.2835 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 78.5671 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 19.6418 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 43.2119 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (CMFR)
non-steady state continuous flow tank concentration approaching equilibrium Given initial tank concentration (C_0) = 45.5000 mg/L; flow rate (Q) = 2,690 m^3/day; tank volume (V) = 18,220 m^3; time (t) = 1.7000 day; tank concentration at time t (C) = 82.4000 mg/L, determine the influent concentration (C_in) in mg/L.
Given
Find
influent concentration (C_in), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Non-steady State Continuous Flow.
- Everything except C_in is given, so isolate C_in 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.
- Non-steady state continuous flow in a completely mixed reactor tracks how tank concentration approaches the influent concentration over time.
Figure 5 — schematic for Non-steady State Continuous Flow — solve for influent concentration (case 2) — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (5)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for C_in:
Step 3 — List the givens: initial tank concentration (C_0) = 45.5000 mg/L, flow rate (Q) = 2,690 m^3/day, tank volume (V) = 18,220 m^3, time (t) = 1.7000 day, tank concentration at time t (C) = 82.4000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C_in = 211.7 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 423.5 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 105.9 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 232.9 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (CMFR)
non-steady state continuous flow reactor with changing influent concentration Given initial tank concentration (C_0) = 39.5000 mg/L; influent concentration (C_in) = 20.5000 mg/L; flow rate (Q) = 120.0 m^3/day; tank volume (V) = 13,240 m^3; tank concentration at time t (C) = 37.2000 mg/L, determine the time (t) in day.
Given
Find
time (t), in day
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Non-steady State Continuous Flow.
- Everything except t is given, so isolate t 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.
- Non-steady state continuous flow in a completely mixed reactor tracks how tank concentration approaches the influent concentration over time.
Figure 6 — schematic for Non-steady State Continuous Flow — solve for time (case 2) — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (6)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for t:
Step 3 — List the givens: initial tank concentration (C_0) = 39.5000 mg/L, influent concentration (C_in) = 20.5000 mg/L, flow rate (Q) = 120.0 m^3/day, tank volume (V) = 13,240 m^3, tank concentration at time t (C) = 37.2000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning t = 14.2363 day to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 28.4727 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 7.1182 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 15.6600 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (CMFR)
non-steady state continuous flow completely mixed reactor start-up Given initial tank concentration (C_0) = 30.5000 mg/L; influent concentration (C_in) = 58.0000 mg/L; flow rate (Q) = 2,420 m^3/day; tank volume (V) = 14,970 m^3; time (t) = 2.4000 day, determine the tank concentration at time t (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
tank concentration at time t (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Non-steady State Continuous Flow.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C 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.
- Non-steady state continuous flow in a completely mixed reactor tracks how tank concentration approaches the influent concentration over time.
Figure 7 — schematic for Non-steady State Continuous Flow — solve for tank concentration at time t (case 3) — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (7)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for C:
Step 3 — List the givens: initial tank concentration (C_0) = 30.5000 mg/L, influent concentration (C_in) = 58.0000 mg/L, flow rate (Q) = 2,420 m^3/day, tank volume (V) = 14,970 m^3, time (t) = 2.4000 day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 39.3432 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 78.6864 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 19.6716 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 43.2775 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (CMFR)
non-steady state continuous flow tank concentration approaching equilibrium Given initial tank concentration (C_0) = 23.5000 mg/L; flow rate (Q) = 2,280 m^3/day; tank volume (V) = 19,490 m^3; time (t) = 5.5000 day; tank concentration at time t (C) = 68.8000 mg/L, determine the influent concentration (C_in) in mg/L.
Given
Find
influent concentration (C_in), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Non-steady State Continuous Flow.
- Everything except C_in is given, so isolate C_in 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.
- Non-steady state continuous flow in a completely mixed reactor tracks how tank concentration approaches the influent concentration over time.
Figure 8 — schematic for Non-steady State Continuous Flow — solve for influent concentration (case 3) — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (8)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for C_in:
Step 3 — List the givens: initial tank concentration (C_0) = 23.5000 mg/L, flow rate (Q) = 2,280 m^3/day, tank volume (V) = 19,490 m^3, time (t) = 5.5000 day, tank concentration at time t (C) = 68.8000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C_in = 119.0 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 237.9 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 59.4844 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 130.9 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (CMFR)
non-steady state continuous flow reactor with changing influent concentration Given initial tank concentration (C_0) = 47.0000 mg/L; influent concentration (C_in) = 88.5000 mg/L; flow rate (Q) = 1,600 m^3/day; tank volume (V) = 9,340 m^3; tank concentration at time t (C) = 19.9000 mg/L, determine the time (t) in day.
Given
Find
time (t), in day
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Non-steady State Continuous Flow.
- Everything except t is given, so isolate t 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.
- Non-steady state continuous flow in a completely mixed reactor tracks how tank concentration approaches the influent concentration over time.
Figure 9 — schematic for Non-steady State Continuous Flow — solve for time (case 3) — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (9)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for t:
Step 3 — List the givens: initial tank concentration (C_0) = 47.0000 mg/L, influent concentration (C_in) = 88.5000 mg/L, flow rate (Q) = 1,600 m^3/day, tank volume (V) = 9,340 m^3, tank concentration at time t (C) = 19.9000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning t = -2.9339 day to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -5.8678 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -1.4670 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -3.2273 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (CMFR)
non-steady state continuous flow completely mixed reactor start-up Given initial tank concentration (C_0) = 27.0000 mg/L; influent concentration (C_in) = 6.0000 mg/L; flow rate (Q) = 4,930 m^3/day; tank volume (V) = 10,310 m^3; time (t) = 2.3000 day, determine the tank concentration at time t (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
tank concentration at time t (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Non-steady State Continuous Flow.
- Everything except C is given, so isolate C 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.
- Non-steady state continuous flow in a completely mixed reactor tracks how tank concentration approaches the influent concentration over time.
Figure 10 — schematic for Non-steady State Continuous Flow — solve for tank concentration at time t (case 4) — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (10)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for C:
Step 3 — List the givens: initial tank concentration (C_0) = 27.0000 mg/L, influent concentration (C_in) = 6.0000 mg/L, flow rate (Q) = 4,930 m^3/day, tank volume (V) = 10,310 m^3, time (t) = 2.3000 day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 12.9916 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 25.9833 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 6.4958 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 14.2908 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Non-steady State Continuous Flow (CMFR)