Differential equations using

Microsoft Excel
 Back to the beginning 

Equations

Algebraic Differential

Does not have differential term Has the differential term

 Algebraic Equations
 a
Van der Wall’s equation  P  2 v  b   RT
 v 

Material balance  F   F  r
Out
i
in
i

Enthalpy
ˆ 
b 2
 
c 3
 
d 4
H  a (T  Tref )  T  Tref  T  Tref  T  Tref4
2
2

3
3

4

P v2
Bernoulli equation   Z  const
g 2 g

Solved by direct substitution or by iteration

(solver or goal seek)
 Algebraic vs. Differential
For n order reaction
th r  k .C i
n

Continuous Stirred Tank Plug Flow Reactor (PFR)

F Reactor (CSTR)
F L F
Cif Cif Cip
Ci Ci+DCi
Feed Prod

V Z dZ

Cip
F F .dCi   .r.dV   .r. A.dZ
Cip F .dCi   .k .Cin . A.dZ
F .Cip  F .Cif   .V .r
dCi  .k .Cin . A

F .Cip  F .Cif   .V .k .Cipn dZ F
 Solving Differential Equations
y2 x2
dy
 2xy 2

1
2
dy   2 xdx
1 1

y1 y2

 2 x22  x12 
dx y1
y x1

This is called “Analytical Solution” which is simply converting

the differential form into algebraic form

In other cases it is not that easy !!!

dy
 y 2  sin x
dx
Long analytical
steps (not always
NUMERICAL
applicable) SOLUTION
 Numerical Solution of Ordinary
Differential Equations (ODE’s)
Consider a very simple differential equation
x
dy e
y'   100  2 x 3 
dx x
800
700
600
500 x2
dy
400 y x dx  area under the curve
y'=dy/dx

300
1

200
100
x
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
-100
-200