Lecture Notes :Introduction

Mathematical modeling: Area of application

•Research and development
•Design
•Plant operations
•Projects
Scope of Coverage
•Deterministic system (continuous process, where the output
variable most representative of the process and is uniquely
determined by the input variable); can be described by ODE or
PDE [Stochastic process: discontinuous, output variable not
directly related to input variable]
 Lecture Notes :Introduction
Physical modeling
• The experiment is carried out directly on the real
process.
• With the experimental data parameters are estimated.
• Thus, a physical model is restrained directly within the
system where the real process of interest takes place.
Disadvantage
• Needs R&D, Pilot scale study, scale up for
commercialization.
• It is expensive and time consuming.
 Lecture Notes :Introduction
Mathematical modeling
• Mathematical description of a real chemical process.
• Combines experimental facts and established
relationships among the process variables.
• Objective of a mathematical model is to predict the
behavior of a process and to work out ways to control its
course.
• Advantage
• Mathematical modeling involves the simulation of a
process on a computer by changing the interlinked
variables.
• It is economic and less time consuming.
 Lecture Notes :Introduction
Principles of Formulation of model:
•Basis
•Assumptions
•Mathematical consistency of model
•Solution of the model equations
•Verification
 Lecture Notes :Introduction
Principle of similarity
These are useful in scaling up operations in physical modeling.
Geometric similarity
Geometric similarity exists between a model and a prototype if
the ratio of all corresponding dimensions in the model and the
prototype are equal.
e.g. The solid boundaries of any flow system may be
adequately described by a number of length dimensions such
as L1, L2, L3 etc. If these length are divided by L1, the system
may be defined by 1, 2, 3 etc.
 Lecture Notes :Introduction
Kinematic similarity
• Kinematic similarity refers to the motion occurring in the system
and considers the existing components of velocities.
• Kinematic similarity is the similarity of time as well as geometry.
• For Kinematic similarity to exist in two geometrically similar
systems, the velocities at the same relative point in each
system must be related.
e.g. velocity
Vm Lm / Tm L
    u
Vp Lp / Tp T
• Same way for acceleration(L/T2) and discharge(L3/T)
 Lecture Notes :Introduction
Dynamic similarity
Dynamic similarity exists between geometrically and
Kinematically similar systems if the ratios of all the forces in
the model and the prototype are the same.
Force=
Fm M m am m Lm ( Lm / Tm )
3 2
    p L u
2 2

Fp M p a p  p L p ( L p / Tp )
3 2
 Lecture Notes :Introduction
Independent Variables:
Quantities describing the system which can be varied by
choice during a particular experiment independently of
one another.
e.g. Time and co-ordinate variable.

Dependent Variables:
These are the properties of the system which change
when the independent variables are altered in value.
There is no direct control over a dependent variable.
e.g. Temperature, concentration and efficiency.
Relationship between independent and dependent variable:
• The independent variable measures the cause and the
dependent variable measures the effect of a particular action.
E.g. Dynamic system with time other parameters varies
Parameters:
• The characteristic properties of the apparatus
• The physical properties of the materials. This includes all
properties which remains constant during an individual
experiment.
e.g. Overall dimensions of the apparatus, flow rate, heat transfer
coefficient, thermal conductivity, specific heat, density and initial
or boundary values of the dependent variables.
Example:
For a single stage liquid-liquid extraction system
Y  mX
• X=f (time,); so independent variable:; dependent
variables: x, y; parameters: incorporated in m
Use:
• The main use of this classification is in the
interpretation of the differentiation process.
• A dependent variables is usually differentiated with
respect to an independent variable.
N.B. One independent variable say time gives ODE and
when more than one independent variable is needed
to describe a system, the result is a PDE.
Scope:
• In general there is usually a restriction on the range of
values which the independent variables can take and this
range describes the scope of the problem.
Boundary conditions:
• Special conditions are placed on the dependent variables at
the end points of the range of the independent variable.
• These are naturally called boundary conditions, and are
used to evaluate the arbitrary constants in the general
solution of the differential equations.
e.g. Constant heat flow rate through the boundary, dT/dx =A