CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control

3rd Quarter SY 2016-2017

Determination of Resistance and Time Constant of a Liquid Level System

Mendoza, Theresa C1,

1Student, CHE184-1P/C31, School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Mapa Institute of Technology

1. Introduction

The liquid level system has storage tanks and

connecting pipes. The analysis of such systems is
dependent on the nature of fluid through the pipes. The
flow is divided based on Reynolds number. Moreover,
the height of fluid in tanks and the flow rate of fluid
through connecting pipes are significant variables in this
system.
In any liquid level system, the three basis parameters
are the resistance, capacitance, and inertance. The
resistance, R, of a liquid level system is defined as the
change in the level difference between the liquid levels
of the two tanks potentially to cause a unit change in the
flow rate. It is mathematically expressed as,
Change in level difference in m
R= (1)
Change in Flow Rate in m3 /s
Figure 1. Liquid Level System With Single Tank
Figure 1 shows a simple liquid level system in which the
variables are,
steady state flow rate before any change in m3/sec
Q
qi small change in the inflow rate from its steady state
value
qo small change in the outflow rate from its steady
state value
steady state head before change in m
H
h small change in head before its steady state value

The capacitance, C, of a liquid level system is stated as With the assumption of linearized turbulent flow,
the change in the liquid measured in m3 necessary to equation 2 can be written as,
cause a unit change in head measured in m.
Cdh = (q i q o )dt (3)
Qi Q
C= (2)
dH/dt
From the definition of resistance,
However, inertance is often neglected in practical q0
analysis. R= h

h
qo = (4)
R

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 CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
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2. Experimental
Substituting equation 4 to equation 3,
Materials & Set-Up
h
Cdh = (q i ) dt The laboratory apparatus used to meet the objectives
R
of this experiment are graduated cylinder and rubbing
RC dh = (Rq i h)dt tubing. An improvised container, ruler, stopwatch and
cutter are also utilized to complete the set-up.
dh
RC = Rq i h Initially, a hole at the bottom of the container was made
dt
which served as the outlet of the system. The
dh capacitance of the container was measured using ruler.
RC + h = Rq i Then, the set-up was complete and shown in Figure 2.
dt

Taking the Laplace Transforms of both sides neglecting

initial conditions,

RC [sH(s)] + H(s) = Rq i (s)

Hence, for qi as an input and h as the output, the

transfer function for the system is,

H (s) R
= (5)
Qi (s) 1+sRC

However, for qo as an output, the transfer function can

be written as

Qo (s) 1
= (6) Figure 2. Liquid Level Laboratory Exercise Set-Up
Qi (s) 1+sRC

H (s)
Since Qo = . RC is the time constant of the liquid Methodology
R (s)
level system.
Step Function
The objectives of this laboratory exercise are to
Measurement of the initial inlet flow rate of about of
determine the resistance and time constant of a liquid
the valve opening was done initially. The tank was then
level system for step and pulse disturbance.
filled with water until it reached its steady state or until
Considering that the outflow is constant throughout the
the height neither decreases or increases. The constant
analysis.
outlet flowrate was also measured. The disturbance
was introduced by increasing the inlet flowrate into fully
open. The time starts as the disturbance has been

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 CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
3rd Quarter SY 2016-2017

applied. The liquid level was carefully measured every R=

H(t)
t (7)

5 seconds for 3 minutes. The container did not overflow A (1e )

and reached its steady state. Then, the final flowrate

was measured. Wherein
A = difference between initial and final inlet flow rate
Pulse Function H(t) = change in liquid level from the steady state

Table 2. Time versus Liquid Level (Step Function)

For this function, the inlet flowrate starts at fully open
t,s H(t), cm R
valve. The container was filled with water until steady
0 0
state was reached. The inlet flowrate was then
5 1.3 0.201695
decreased into a certain valve opening, which was
10 1.9 0.16687
marked for the flowrate measurement later. The time
15 2.4 0.158171
starts again as soon as the disturbance was introduced.
20 2.9 0.160427
The liquid level was measured again with an interval of 25 3.15 0.155155
5 seconds. After a minute, the valve open was back to 30 3.45 0.15676
fully open. Continuously, the liquid level was measured 35 3.7 0.15869
every 5 seconds for another minute. 40 3.85 0.158316
45 3.95 0.157453
3. Results and Discussion 50 4 0.155788
55 4.05 0.155009
This experiment initially measured the flowrates both 60 4.1 0.154871
initial and final inlet and outlet, and the diameter of the 65 4.1 0.153334
container. The values were shown in Table 1. These 70 4.15 0.154033
values are important in determining the resistance and 75 4.15 0.153147
time constant for a liquid level system. 80 4.15 0.152474
85 4.2 0.153793
Table 1. Measured Values 90 4.2 0.153399
Function Step Pulse 95 4.2 0.153098
Initial Inlet Flow Rate, cm3/s 22.38979 50 100 4.3 0.156508
Second Inlet Flow Rate, cm3/s 50 28.29 105 4.3 0.156328
Outlet Flow Rate (constant), 110 4.3 0.15619
23.3209 23.3209
cm3/s
115 4.3 0.156085
Diameter of the Container, cm 10 10
120 4.35 0.157818
125 4.35 0.157755
The recorded liquid level (h) in cm every 5 seconds is
130 4.4 0.15952
shown in Appendix Table A and B of this report. The 135 4.4 0.159483
determination of the resistance is one of the objective 140 4.4 0.159455
which can be calculated using Equation 7. The 145 4.4 0.159433
calculated H(t) to determine the resistance and the 150 4.4 0.159416
computed resistance itself are shown in Table 2 and 3 155 4.4 0.159403
respectively. 160 4.4 0.159394
165 4.4 0.159386

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 CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
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170 4.4 0.15938

175 4.4 0.159376 The resistance is the average of calculated values in
180 4.4 0.159372 Tables 2 and 3. The resistance of a tank can be
analyzed in several ways when the fluid flows out.
Table 3. Time versus Liquid Level (Pulse Function) When the outlet is pipe, the nature of liquid flow and
t, s H(t), cm R friction of fluid indicate the resistance. However, if the
0 0 outlet is a hole like what has been used in this
5 -0.7 0.174154
10
experiment, the liquid could not flow easily since the
-1.3 0.178209
15 -1.75 0.175635
hole creates resistance.
20 -2.2 0.181237
25 -2.5 0.179712 Relation of resistance to the flow of fluid can be seen
30 -2.7 0.175834 specifically from the pulse response. The pattern of this
35 -2.9 0.175414
response is from high to low, and from low to high flow
40 -3 0.171513
45 -3.1 0.16965
rate. Hence, increasing the flow decreases the
50 -3.15 0.166581 resistance. Seeing the results from Table 4, the
55 -3.2 0.164705 assumption of constant outlet flowrate is wrong. It can
60 -3.3 0.166234 be proven by comparing the actual and experimental
65 -2.9 0.085917 area/capacitance shown in Table 5. As stated
70 -2.1 0.144351
75
previously in this report, time constant is the product of
-1.6 0.151972
80 -1.25 0.152491 resistance and capacitance.
85 -1 0.151151
90 -0.8 0.150516
Table 5. Experimental and Actual Capacitance
95 -0.7 0.146861
100 Function C, cm2
-0.5 0.150833 C, cm2 (actual)
105 (experimental)
-0.45 0.148138
110 Step 118.65
-0.4 0.146691
115 -0.4 0.143663 Pulse (t0 t60) 140.99 78.54
120 -0.3 0.146245 Pulse (t60 t120) 144.65

Calculating the resistance and time constant involves The percentage error of the capacitance for all systems
assumptions and interpolations that made them more is quite high. More than 50% error is attained which
difficult to determine. The concept of time constant means that several mistakes have been done in the
which is The value of Y(t) reaches 63.2 percent of its experiment. As mentioned earlier, the outlet flowrate
ultimate value when the time elapsed is equal to one might not be constant. It is difficult to make the rubber
time constant . The final of resistance and time tubing steady, so the water that filled the container
constant are shown in Table 4. might not fall in just one part of the container that
probably makes the flowrate inconsistent. Moreover,
Table 4. Time Constant and Resistance the interpolations made in this experiment are also
Function , s R, s/cm2 prone to error.
Step 18.81 0.159
Pulse (t0 t60) 24.43 0.173
Pulse (t60 t120) 20.72 0.143

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 CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
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45 5.55
50 5.60
4. Conclusion 55 5.65
60 5.70
Liquid level system has three basic parameters which 65 5.70
are resistance, capacitance, and inertance in which the 70 5.75
latter is negligible. The remaining parameters have 75 5.75
significant role in meeting the objective for this 80 5.75
experiment. Several assumptions and interpolations 85 5.80
have been made to determine the time constant and 90 5.80
resistance of liquid level system for both step and pulse 95 5.80
function. Time constant and resistance are determined 100 5.90
but the results have high percentage error in terms of 105 5.90
the capacitance. Though all objectives were met, high 110 5.90
percentage error cannot be tolerated. Hence, 115 5.90
120 5.95
interpolations and assumptions should be carefully
125 5.95
made.
130 6.00
135 6.00
References
140 6.00
145 6.00
[1] Bakshi, U., & Bakshi, V. (2007). Control
150 6.00
Engineering. Techinal Publications Pune.
155 6.00
160 6.00
[2] Bakshi, U., & Bakshi, V. (2008). Automatic Control
165 6.00
System. Technical Publications Pune.
170 6.00
175 6.00
[3] Coughanour, D. R. (1991). Process Systems
180 6.00
Analysis and Control. McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Appendix
Table B. Time versus Liquid Level
Table A. Time versus Liquid Level
(Step Function)
(Step Function)
t,s h, cm
t,s h, cm
0 6
0 1.60
5 5.3
5 2.90
10 4.7
10 3.50
15 4.25
15 4.00
20 3.8
20 4.50
25 3.5
25 4.75
30 3.3
30 5.05
35 3.1
35 5.30
40 3
40 5.45

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 CHE184-1P Process Dynamics and Control
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45 2.9 H(t) = 0.632(1.6 cm)

50 2.85
55 H(t) = 2.7808 cm
2.8
60 2.7
65 3.1
70 3.9
By interpolation, (from Table 2)
75 4.4
80 4.75
2.9 2.2808 20
85 5 =
90 2.9 2.4 20 15
5.2
95 5.3
100 = 18.81 s
5.5
105 5.55
110 5.6
115 5.6
120 5.7

Sample Calculation: (Step Function)

Given:

t < 0, hs = 1.6 cm (Table A)

t=

Required:
Time Constant and Resistance

Solution:

H(t) = 0.632(hs )

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