Percent of Outdoor Air
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.
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 16.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 5.0000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 7.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 43.5000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
blended concentration (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- 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.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 16.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 5.0000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 7.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 43.5000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 16.4681 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 32.9362 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 8.2340 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 18.1149 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Percent of Outdoor Air
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 16.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 13.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 49.5000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 22.5000 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.
Given
Find
concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 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.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 16.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 13.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 49.5000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 22.5000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 0.5625 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 1.1250 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.2813 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 0.6188 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Percent of Outdoor Air
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 15.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 46.5000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 2.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 34.0000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
blended concentration (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- 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.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 15.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 46.5000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 2.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 34.0000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 45.0714 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 90.1429 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 22.5357 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 49.5786 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Percent of Outdoor Air
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 14.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 3.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 18.0000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 29.7800 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.
Given
Find
concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 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.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 14.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 3.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 18.0000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 29.7800 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 32.7250 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 65.4500 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 16.3625 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 35.9975 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Percent of Outdoor Air
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 13.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 29.0000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 3.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 42.0000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
blended concentration (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- 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.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 13.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 29.0000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 3.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 42.0000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 31.3636 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 62.7273 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 15.6818 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 34.5000 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Percent of Outdoor Air
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 19.5000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 3.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 19.5000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 32.4400 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.
Given
Find
concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 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.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 19.5000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 3.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 19.5000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 32.4400 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 34.7626 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 69.5251 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 17.3813 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 38.2388 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Percent of Outdoor Air
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 19.0000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 18.5000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 18.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 2.0000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
blended concentration (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- 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.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 19.0000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 18.5000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 18.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 2.0000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 10.3600 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 20.7200 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 5.1800 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 11.3960 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Percent of Outdoor Air
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 9.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 8.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 7.0000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 38.8700 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.
Given
Find
concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 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.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 9.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 8.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 7.0000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 38.8700 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 67.1989 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 134.4 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 33.5994 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 73.9188 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Percent of Outdoor Air
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 18.0000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 41.0000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 4.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 23.0000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.
Given
Find
blended concentration (C), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- 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.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 18.0000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 41.0000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 4.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 23.0000 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 37.7273 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 75.4545 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 18.8636 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 41.5000 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Percent of Outdoor Air
A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 9.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 4.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 40.5000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 40.6500 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.
Given
Find
concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
- Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 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.
- Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 9.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 4.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 40.5000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 40.6500 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 40.7167 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 81.4333 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 20.3583 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 44.7883 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Percent of Outdoor Air