MATH 251.

APPLICATIONS OF FIRST-ORDER
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS IN
PETROCHEMICAL ENGINEERING.
GROUP WORK.
GROUP ONE(1).
 What is a differential equation?
› In mathematics, a differential equation is an equation that relates one
or more unknown functions and their derivatives.
› An example is shown below:

› Differential equations are commonly used to model real-life problems

and analyze them easily to find accurate and sustaining solutions.
› In applications, the functions generally represent physical quantities,
the derivatives represent their rates of change, and the differential
equation defines a relationship between the two.
› Such relations are common; therefore, differential equations play a
prominent role in many disciplines including engineering, physics,
economics, and biology.
Applications of first-order differential
equations in petrochemical engineering.
› A first-order differential equation is simply one which has an order of
1.
› Differential equations are widely used throughout every field of
engineering. Differential equations are fundamental in engineering
to describe the behavior of physical systems.
› They are used to model phenomena such as fluid flow, heat transfer,
electrical circuits, vibrations, and quantum mechanics. By solving
these equations, engineers can predict and analyze the behavior of
complex systems.
› In petrochemical engineering, differential equations have so many
applications ranging from heat transfer to chemical reaction
kinetics. Differential equations can be applied to petrochemical
engineering in some of the following ways:
HEAT TRANSFER:
Differential equations play
a crucial role in modelling
heat transfer phenomena
in petrochemical
processes, such as heat
exchangers and furnaces.
They are used to describe
temperature profiles, heat
exchange rates, and
energy balances, aiding in
the design and
optimization of heat
transfer equipment.
TRANSPORT
PHENOMENA:
First-order differential
equations are fundamental
to understanding and
predicting mass and
momentum of fluids in
chemical fluid transport
systems. They provide a
mathematical framework
for analyzing diffusion,
convection, and reaction
processes.
CHEMICAL
REACTION
KINETICS:
First-order differential
equations are widely used
to describe the kinetics of
chemical reactions in
petrochemical processes.
These equations help
determine the rate at
which reactants are
consumed and products
are formed, which is
crucial for process design
and optimization.
The following is an application of first-order differential equations to chemical reaction kinetics in
petrochemical engineering:
An oil refinery employs a purification system to eliminate impurities from crude oil during the
refining process. The concentration, , of impurities in the purified oil that flows in a pipeline changes
over time, , according to the equation:
, where:
=cross-sectional area of the pipe
=concentration of impurities in the crude oil at a given time, t
=initial concentration of impurities in the crude oil at a time, t=0
=time
=rate at which the impurities flow into the crude oil
=constant representing rate of natural decay or decrease in impurity concentration in the absence of
purification or external factors
=rate at which the impurities flow out of the crude oil
Find the concentration of impurities in the crude oil through the pipe at the given time, supposing that
at time
 Solution.
𝑑𝐶
𝑎 =𝑏+ 𝑑𝑚 − 𝐶𝑚
𝑑𝑡

Rewriting the whole equation:

′
𝑎 𝐶 +𝑚𝐶 =𝑏+ 𝑑𝑚

Dividing through by :

′ 𝑚 𝑏 +𝑑𝑚
𝐶 + 𝐶=
𝑎 𝑎
 Solving for the integrating factor, :
∫ 𝑝 ( 𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑡
𝐼 . 𝐹 =𝑒
𝑚
∫ 𝑎
𝑑𝑡
¿ 𝑒
𝑚
𝑡
𝑎
¿ 𝑒

Multiplying the differential equation through by the :

𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
𝑚
( 𝑏+ 𝑑𝑚
)
𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
𝑎 ′ 𝑎 𝑎
𝑒 𝐶 +𝑒 𝐶=𝑒
𝑎 𝑎
Representing the right-hand side in terms of product rule of
differentiation:

[ ]
𝑚 𝑚
𝑑
( 𝑏+ 𝑑𝑚
)
𝑡 𝑡
𝑎 𝑎
𝑒 𝐶 =𝑒
𝑑𝑡 𝑎

Integrating both sides of the equation:

[ ]
𝑚 𝑚
𝑑
( 𝑏+𝑑𝑚
)
𝑡 𝑡
∫ 𝑑𝑡 𝑒 𝐶 =∫ 𝑒 𝑎 𝑎
𝑎𝑚
𝑑𝑡
𝑚
𝑏+ 𝑑𝑚
( )
𝑡 𝑡
𝑒 𝑎
𝐶=
𝑎
∫ 𝑒 𝑎
𝑑𝑡
𝑚 𝑚
𝑏+ 𝑑𝑚
(
𝑎 𝑎𝑡
)
𝑡
𝑎
𝑒 𝐶= × 𝑒 +𝑐
𝑎 𝑚
 𝑚 𝑚

(
𝑏+ 𝑑𝑚
)
𝑡 𝑡
𝑎 𝑎
𝑒 𝐶= 𝑒 +𝑐
𝑚

With the conditions of to find the constant, :

𝑚 𝑚

( 𝑏+ 𝑑𝑚
)
(0 ) ( 0)
𝑎 𝑎
𝑒 𝐶 0= 𝑒 +𝑐
𝑚

𝑐 = 𝐶0 − ( )
𝑏+ 𝑑𝑚
𝑚

−( +𝑑 )
𝑏
𝑐 = 𝐶0
𝑚
 Making the subject of the solution:
𝑚

( 𝑏
)𝑒
𝑡
𝑎
+𝑑 +𝑐
𝑚
𝐶= 𝑚
𝑡
𝑎
𝑒
𝑚
𝑏
( )
− 𝑡
𝑎
𝐶= + 𝑑 +𝑒 𝑐
𝑚

Substituting the value of the constant into the solution:

[ ( )]
𝑚
𝑏
( ) 𝑏
− 𝑡
𝑎
𝐶= + 𝑑 +𝑒 𝐶0 − +𝑑
𝑚 𝑚

C
 () )+ 𝑒
𝑚 𝑚
𝑏
(
− 𝑡 − 𝑡
𝑎 𝑎
𝐶= + 𝑑 1− 𝑒 𝐶0
𝑚
Substituting the values of and into the solution:

() )+𝑒
17 17
34
(
− ×5 − ×5
𝐶= + 0.25 1 −𝑒 15 15
( 200 )
17

𝐶 =2.9341 𝑝𝑝𝑚
This implies that the modelling of the problem into a differential
equation helped to analyse and calculate the concentration of
impurities at the given time after the purification.
 LIST OF GROUP MEMBERS.
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