Calculating Pressure for Candle Compression

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the pressure required to compress candle wax into a specific shape and size for tea candles. Participants explore the mathematical and physical principles involved in the compression process, including volume calculations and assumptions about the properties of liquid wax.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents initial calculations for the pressure needed to compress wax, noting a final dimension of 38mm diameter and 16mm height.
  • Another participant points out discrepancies in the calculations, including incorrect units for volume and suggests rechecking the math.
  • There is a discussion about the compressibility of liquid wax, with some participants questioning whether it contains air and how that might affect the compression process.
  • A participant expresses uncertainty about the purpose of the calculations and the value they add to the project.
  • Concerns are raised about the assumption that candle wax behaves like a gas during compression.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the calculations or the assumptions made about the properties of candle wax. Multiple competing views regarding the nature of the compression process and the validity of the calculations remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight potential errors in calculations, including unit discrepancies and assumptions about the compressibility of wax. The discussion reflects uncertainty about the physical properties of the materials involved and the implications for the compression process.

irish_enginee
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Hi doing a group project on making tea candles! Silly topic but anyway...

my part is to calculate the pressure needed to make a candle and having trouble with the calculations...

final dimension needs to be a 38mm diameter and 16mm height

using rotary compression to do this... candle wax comes in and candle comes out...

here is what i have done yet answer seems extreme, any advice would be great !

oh and have attached a word file with sketch and solid works screen capture so hopefully the whole thing makes some sense!

my workings

assume height of 40mm of wax will drop to give 16mm when compressd

therefore volume of melted wax is

V1=∏r^2 h liquid
=∏(0.019)^2 (0.04)
=0.001134m^2

V2==∏r^2 h compressed
=∏(0.019)^2 (0.016)
=0.00002166m^2

P1V1=P2V2
(101000)(0.001134)=(P2)(0.00002144)
therefore P2=2525kPa

i not really too sure what to think of this value?

not even too sure if i have gone about it in the right way

any help would be great!

oh and can't attach the word file as its too big!
 
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irish_enginee: The answers you typed in post 1 do not match the equations you typed above the answers. It appears you did not check your calculations. And volume has units of m^3, not m^2. Try it again, and check your calculations multiple times. By the way ...

  1. Always leave a space between a numeric value and its following unit symbol. E.g., 38 mm, not 38mm. See the international standard for writing units[/color] (ISO 31-0[/color]).

  2. For long numbers having five or more digits, the international standard says you can write the digits in groups of three, separated by spaces. E.g., 0.000 045 365 m^3, instead of 0.000045365 m^3.
I was not even aware liquid wax is significantly compressible. Perhaps it contains a lot of air?
 
Hi thanks for reply, sorry for mistakes. Think they are corrected below

I was thinking that liquid wax would contain lots of air too but would compressing it significantly not remove the air? Hence just leaving a solid candle?

"Hi doing a group project on making tea candles! Silly topic but anyway...

my part is to calculate the pressure needed to make a candle and having trouble with the calculations...

final dimension needs to be a 38mm diameter and 16mm height

using rotary compression to do this... candle wax comes in and candle comes out...

here is what i have done yet answer seems extreme, any advice would be great !

oh and have attached a word file with sketch and solid works screen capture so hopefully the whole thing makes some sense!

my workings

assume height of 40mm of wax will drop to give 16mm when compressd

therefore volume of melted wax is

V1=∏r^2 h liquid
=∏(0.019)^2 (0.04)
=0.000045364 m^3

V2==∏r^2 h compressed
=∏(0.019)^2 (0.016)
=0.000018145 m^3

P1V1=P2V2
(101000)(0.000045364)=(P2)(0.000018145) aside:101000 taken as atmospheric
therefore P2=252 kPa

i not really too sure what to think of this value?

not even too sure if i have gone about it in the right way

any help would be great!

oh and can't attach the word file as its too big!"
 
As an engineer I feel compelled to ask what value is added by calculating this
 
I have attached the general process i hope to use draw in a paint file

Also attached a screen shot of the unfinished process in solid works

Hope its clear

My problem is the candle wax will need to be compressed, yet not too sure how to calculate it

My calculation above is probably totally wrong but a push in the right direction would be great!
 
pictures should now be attached
 

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From your calculations it appears that you are making an assumption that candle wax is a gas, and for the life of me cannot understand why you would do so. Is the compression prcocess an actual compression, or is it done to ensure that the wax is in the shape of the walls of the container with no air pockets in the finished candle,
 
Last edited:

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