If 36 000 kg of full cream milk containing 4% fat is to be separated in a 6 hour period into skim milk with 0.45% fat and cream with 45% fat, what are the flow rates of the two output streams from a continuous centrifuge which accomplishes this separation?

B=5522.33kg/h

C=478.11kg/h

Explanation:

Hi! It's a mass balance. First we have to determine the inflow.

mass flow rate = 36000kg / 6h = 6000kg / h

We define the input variable

- input flow (A) = 6000kg / h

-XgA = percentage of fat in A = 0.04

We define output variables.

- skim milk (B)

-creme (C)

-XgB = fat percentage at B = 0.0045

-XgC = percentage of fat in C = 0.45

Then we can start with the balance.

As a general rule, the mass balance is:

Input = Output

Balance sheet

1) A = B + C

Fat balance

2) A * XgA = B * XgB + C * XgC

Now we can solve.

We replace and clear B in equation 2

6000kg / h * 0.04 = B * 0.0045 + C * 0.45

B = (240kg / h) /0.045-C*0.45/0.0045

3) B = 53333.33kg / h-C * 100

We replace equation 3 in 1 and clear C

A = B + C

6000kg / h = 53333.33kg / h-C * 100 + C

C=(6000kg/h-53333.33kg/h)/(-99)

C=478.11kg/h

We replace C in equation 3 and calculate B

B = 53333.33kg / h-478.11kg/h * 100

B=5522.33kg/h

Then we have the values of the outflows.

C=478.11kg/h

B=5522.33kg/h

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