How Do You Solve an ODE Involving Changing Tank Volume and Concentration?

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This discussion focuses on solving a first-order ordinary differential equation (ODE) related to mass balance in a tank with changing volume and concentration. The equation presented is Fin*Co - Fout*C1 = d(C1*V)/dt, which incorporates variables for inflow (Fin), outflow (Fout), concentration (C1), and volume (V). The user seeks guidance on applying the Laplace transform to simplify the equation, but faces the challenge of having two unknown functions, C1 and V, with only one differential equation available for solution.

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irNewton
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I am trying to solve this ODE and am stuck on this step! It is a mass balance of a tank where the volume and concentration are changing by time

Fin*Co - Fout*C1 = d(C1*V)/dt
Fin*Co - Fout*C1 = d(C1)/dt * V + d(V)/dt * C1

where V = A*h (area and height, where area is constant and height is changing with time)

Fin*Co - Fout*C1 = d(C1)/dt * Ah + d(h)/dt * A * C1

I understand you need to take the laplace somewhere...don't know where though!
Any ideas on how I would go about simplifying this?

Thank you!
 
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You appear to have two unknown functions, C1 and V, but only one differential equation.
You cannot solve a single equation for two unknowns.
 

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