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Environmental Engineering Problems

The document presents sample problems related to air and water pollution, including calculations for emissions from vehicles, particle travel distance from a volcano, and hydrocarbon emissions from paint and solvents. It also covers wastewater analysis, including BOD calculations and the impact of factory discharges on river pollution levels. Each problem provides given data, required outcomes, and solutions using relevant formulas.

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3 views

Environmental Engineering Problems

The document presents sample problems related to air and water pollution, including calculations for emissions from vehicles, particle travel distance from a volcano, and hydrocarbon emissions from paint and solvents. It also covers wastewater analysis, including BOD calculations and the impact of factory discharges on river pollution levels. Each problem provides given data, required outcomes, and solutions using relevant formulas.

Uploaded by

XÏX LXÏX
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Environmental

Engineering Problems
ES036
P r e p a r e d b y : E n g r . K i r s t e n G a i l T. M i a g a
AIR POLLUTION
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
#1
In New York City, USA, there are approximately 2.5 million registered
automobiles. The average carbon monoxide (CO) emission rate from
these cars is 5.2 g/VM (vehicle mile), and the particulate matter (PM)
emission rate is 0.8 g/VM. On average, each car travels about 40
miles round trip per working day. Calculate the total mass of carbon
monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) emitted into the city
atmosphere each working day.
Given:

# of cars = 2.5 million

Emission rate (CO) = 5.2 g/VM

Emission rate (PM) = 0.8 g/VM

Travel Rate per car = 40 mi/working day

Required:

Total mass of CO and PM per working day


Solution:

CO produced = (2.5 x 106 cars)(40 miles/day/car)(5.2 g/VM)

= 520,000,000 g CO

PM produced = (2.5 x 106 cars)(40 miles/day/car)(0.8 g/VM)

= 80,000,000 g PM
#2

A 50 μm spherical particle with a density of 2000 kg/m³ is ejected


from a height of 2500 meters from an active volcano. The particle
rises to a final height of 8000 meters into the atmosphere. The
mean wind speed through the atmospheric layer is 20 m/s.
Estimate the horizontal travel distance of the particle before
reaching its final height.
Given:

dp = 50 μm

p = 2000 kg/m³

h = 2,500 m

H = 8,000 m
Solutions:

Using Stokes Terminal Velocity Equation:


u = g(dp)2[p - ]
18 
where:
g = acceleration due to gravity
dp = particle diameter
p = density of particle
 = density of medium (air)
 = dynamic viscosity of medium (air)
@ 20 0C and 1 atm:
 of air = 1.2 kg/m3
 of air = 1.81 x 10-5 kg/m-s

u = (9.8 m/s2)(50 x 10-6 m)2[2000 – 1.2] kg/m3


18 (1.81 x 10-5 kg/m-s)

u = 0.150 m/s

Fall time for the particle is: t = h/u


t = 8,000 m ÷ 0.150 m/s
t = 53,333.333 sec
During this fall, the particle will travel horizontally:

distance = [53,333.333 s][20 m/s]

= 1,066,666.67 m

or 1,066.67 km
#3
A city with a population of 1.8 million consumes an annual average of
0.4 gallons of oil-based paint per capita for all purposes. Each gallon
of paint contains 5.5 lb of HC carrier for the pigment. Additionally, the
city’s annual average consumption of solvents for automotive
cleaning, assuming they are hydrocarbons (HCs), is 1.8 lb per capita.
Estimate the total amount of HC emissions into the city's atmosphere
from the evaporation of paint and automotive cleaning solvents,
assuming that all the averages are released locally.
Given:
Population = 1.8 million
Consumption rate (oil-based paint) = 0.4 gallons/capita
Mass composition of HC in paint = 5.5 lb/gallon
Consumption rate (solvents) = 1.8 lb/capita

Required:
total amount of HC emissions
Solutions:
HC from paint & coatings materials = (1,800,000)(0.4 gal/capita)(5.5 lb/gal)
= 3,960,000 lb/yr

HC from cleaning solvents = (1,800,000)(1.8 lb/yr)


= 3,240,000 lb/yr

Total HC = 3,960,000 lb/yr + 3,240,000 lb/yr


= 7,200,000 lb/yr
WATER POLLUTION
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
#1

A wastewater sample has a 5-day BOD (BOD₅) of 120 mg/L. The


BOD decay constant k is 0.23 per day. Calculate the ultimate
BOD (Lo) of the wastewater sample.
Given:
BOD5 = 120 mg/L
k = 0.23 per day
t = 5 days
Required: Lo = ?
Required:

Lo = ?
Solutions:
From BODt = Lo (1 – e-kt)
Lo = BODt __
(1 – e-kt)
Lo = 120 mg/L __
(1 – e-(0.23/day)(5 days))
Lo = 175.60 mg/L
#2

Calculate the Theoretical Oxygen Demand (ThOD) for 120 mg/L


of ethanol (C₂H₅OH) in water.
Solutions:
(Use stoichiometry in solving)
Start by writing a balance reaction of ethanol:
C2H5OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O
Next, compute the gram molecular weight:
mol. wt. C2H5OH = 2(12) + 6(1) + 1(16)
= 46 g/mole
mol. wt. O2 = 2(16)
= 32 g/mole
ThOD = 120 mg EtOH x 1 g x 1 mole x
L 1000mg 46 g EtOH

3 mole O2 x 32 g O2 x 1000mg
1 mole EtOH mole O2 1g

ThOD = 250.43 mg O2
L
#3

A factory discharges wastewater containing 5000 mg/L of a


pollutant into a river with a flow rate of 15 m³/s. The wastewater
discharge rate is 0.2 m³/s, and the upstream pollutant
concentration is 25 mg/L. The environmental limit for the pollutant
is 150 mg/L in the river. Can the factory discharge its wastewater
without treatment?
Given:

Qriver = Qupstream= 15 m3/s

Qdischarge = Qwaste stream = 0.2 m3/s

Cdischarge = Cwaste stream = 5000 mg/L

Cupstream = 25 mg/L
Solution:
Set a material balance on P for an interval of 1 second.
Input = Output + Accumulation
Accumulation is zero, since there’s an assumption of complete mixing in the
river.
Let Q = be the flow rate in m3/s
C = be the concentration in mg/L
Input = Output
(QC)waste stream + (QC)upstream = (QC)downstream
substituting values:

(0.2 m3/s)(5000 mg/L)(1000 L/m3) + (15 m3/s)(25 mg/L)(1000 L/m3) =

(15.2 m3/s)(Cd mg/L)(1000 L/m3)

solving for Cd:

Cd = 90.46 mg/L

Therefore, the industry will be allowed to discharge their liquid waste into the
river since Cd did not exceed the limit of 150 mg/L set by the regulatory
agency.

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