Q1. Consider a simple liquid surge tank with area of 7.5 m2.
The steady state height in the tank is 2
m and the corresponding inlet/outlet flow rate is 0.2 m3/s. Assuming linear relationship between
outlet flow rate and tank height, the time constant of the system is 75 s. (enter answer rounded up to
1 decimal place)
area * h eight 7.5 * 2
T im econ sta nt = = = 75s
f lo wr ate 0.2
Q2. A first order purely capacitive process has only one parameter to describe the system
Q3. For a simple liquid surge tank, the level inside is a function of inlet and outlet flow rates. If
the area of the tank is 3 m2 and steady state height is 0.4 m, what is the gain value with respect to
outlet flow?
1 1
h(s) = Fin(s) − Fout (s)
As As
1 1
Therefore, gain with respect to Fout(s) is − =−
A 3
Q4. The gain in a liquid surge tank with linear valve at the outlet is the product of area of tank and
resistance of the valve.
a) False
Q5. Consider a liquid surge tank with 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝛼√ℎ. If initially the tank is at a steady state with hss =
45 cm and corresponding τ = 3, what will be the new time constant if new steady state level is 5
cm?
2A hss
τ =
α
Since A and 𝜶 are not changing,
τ1 hss1 45
= = = 9=3
τ2 hss2 5
τ1 3
τ2 = = =1
3 3
Q6 Surge tank is used in industry as a low pass filter to diminish the effects of fast changing distur-
bances (oscillations). For this tank, the amplitude ratio is
a) Inversely proportional to frequency
[ τs + 1 ]
1
Q7. The steady state response of a first order system G(s) = to a sinusoidal function (
Asin(ωt))and the corresponding phase angle (φ) of the response is given by
A
a) sin(ωt − φ), φ = tan-1 (ωτ)
τ2ω2 +1
Q8. Consider two independent first order processes P1 and P2 with corresponding time constants 2
and 4 seconds. What is the reasonable estimate of the time the fastest process takes to reach new
steady state if P1 and P2 are subjected to the same step input of magnitude 10?
The process with smaller time constant is faster than the other. Also for a first order system, time
taken to reach a new steady state when perturbed with step input is 5 times the time constant.
Hence, fastest process will take 5*2 = 10 seconds
Q9. A liquid surge tank with linear valve at the outlet has an area of 2.4 units and initial steady
state level of 7 units. The resistance offered by the valve is 1.25 units. If the system is subjected to a
step change in inlet flow rate with magnitude 2.5, how much time will it take to reach new level of
9 units?
kp = R = 1.25,
τ = A R = 2.4 * 1.25 = 3
In deviation variables,
h̃ = Akp(1 − e −t/τ )
9 − 7 = 2.5 * 1.25(1 − e −t/3)
2 = 3.125(1 − e −t/3)
(1 − e −t/3) = 0.64
t = 1.0217 * 3 = 3.065
t ≈ 3.1
Q10. Thermometer is an example of a first order system. Consider that a thermometer with mercury
of mass 8g and specific heat capacity 0.14 J/goC is kept in ambient conditions (Tambient). Consider
this as the initial steady state. This thermometer is then dipped into a hot oil bath at temperature Toil.
Heat will transfer from oil to the mercury and its temperature will rise (and thus it will expand to
show an increase in temperature scale). The corresponding heat transfer coefficient is 50W/m2K and
the corresponding heat transfer area is 7 cm2. The time (in seconds) by the thermometer to reach the
temperature of the hot oil bath would be approximately
For thermometer,
mCp 8 * 0.14
τ = = = 32s
UA 50 * 0.0007
Also for a first order system, time taken to reach a new steady state when perturbed with step input
is 5 times the time constant. Hence, fastest process will take 5*32 = 160 seconds
