# Combining air pressures - Time to reach equilibrium

1. Oct 15, 2012

### oujapuja

I need to produce a relationship between the radius of a hole between compartment A (Pressure P1, Volume V1) and compartment B (P2, V2) and the time it takes for these pressures to reach an equilibrium point. I am assuming the gases begin at the same temperature at this point. I'm struggling for a starting point and can't see where the time relationship comes from. I am also wondering how much detail I need to go into to get an accurate relationship and would be grateful for any hints or tips on how to tackle this, Thanks.

2. Oct 15, 2012

### tiny-tim

welcome to pf!

hi oujapuja! welcome to pf!

find how speed relates to pressure difference, and how speed relates to the amount of matter in each compartment

3. Oct 16, 2012

### oujapuja

Re: welcome to pf!

Thanks for your reply tim. I haven't had to do calculations like this for a long time so I'm very rusty, so thanks for the advice.

I've used Bernoulli's equation to link the pressure difference to flow velocity and have an expression for mass flow rate. I've also worked out an equation for the additional mass added to the lower pressure compartment using the ideal gas law (I think!).

My thinking is if I integrate my mass flow expression for the change in mass and change in time, using my limits as the additional mass I have calculated, this will yield the time taken? If I can deal with the following problem (hopelessly optimistic of me).

The other issue I am struggling with is the varying pressure difference in my mass flow expression and am unsure of how to deal with it. Tried a few replacements using the ideal gas law, but couldn't seem to get anywhere.

I'm also wondering how much effect the hole will have on the flow and I wonder whether I need to use a friction factor, somewhere (again, very rusty, sorry!).

Any tips again would be great. I'm quite keen on solving this, so thanks for not just solving it for me!

4. Oct 16, 2012

### tiny-tim

hi houjapuja!

it's a little difficult to advise when you haven't shown your equations

for the hole, just use Bernoulli's equation, and forget friction etc

i think you'll have to make an assumption about temperature … i'd assume the temperature stays the same

5. Oct 17, 2012

### oujapuja

From Bernoulli's equation, I have the following for velocity U:

U=$\sqrt{\frac{2*(P1-P2)}{ρ}}$

My mass flow equation is then:

mass flow rate = A*$\sqrt{2*ρ*(P1-P2)}$ (A - Cross Sectional Area of hole)

Using: Mass in compartment B at equilibrium = original mass + additional mass (Ma)
Using the ideal gas law to find masses, I arrived at the following:

Ma = $\frac{V2}{V1+V2}$*$\frac{P1*V1}{R*T1}$ - $\frac{V1}{V1+V2}$*$\frac{P2*V2}{R*T2}$

Again, I'm unsure if this is correct.

As I mentioned, I was thinking it would be correct to integrate my mass flow expression with mass limits (0, Ma) and time Limits (0, t), aiming to find t.

If all this is correct then the problem for me lies in the flow velocity as this will be changing with time. Am I right in trying to substitute the pressure difference in terms of mass?

Last edited: Oct 17, 2012
6. Oct 17, 2012

### tiny-tim

hi oujapuja!
looks ok (but what is ρ in your first equation?)

your Vs and Ts are constants,

so you have equations for Ma and dMa/dt which you should be able to solve

7. Dec 11, 2012