Math Problem Statement

Question 1: The diagram in Figure 1 below shows the sake (rice wine) making process. A mixture of treated rice and other materials is added to a fermentation tank. Raw materials are added at a rate of 5,000 litres per day. After 10,000 litres have been added to the tank, the tank is sealed and the mixture ferments for 30 days. After the fermentation process is completed, raw sake flows out of the tank and into the filter at a rate of 1200 litres per day. Sake continuously flows through the filter and ten days after the first sake enters the filter, sake begins to flow out of the filter, also at a rate of 1200 litres per day. As soon as the fermentation tank is empty, it undergoes a 3-day cleaning process and then begins receiving the next batch of raw materials. As soon as the filter is completely empty, it undergoes a 5-day cleaning process. What is the long-run average capacity of this system in litres per day? Please show how you have arrived at your answer.

Solution

To determine the long-run average capacity of the system, we analyze the process by breaking it into its distinct phases and calculating the overall output over a repeating production cycle. Here's how:


1. Key Points of the Process

  • Input to the fermentation tank: 5,000 litres per day.
  • Fermentation tank capacity: 10,000 litres.
  • Fermentation time: 30 days.
  • Output from the fermentation tank to the filter: 1,200 litres per day.
  • Delay before sake begins flowing out of the filter: 10 days.
  • Output from the filter: 1,200 litres per day.
  • Cleaning times:
    • Fermentation tank: 3 days after being emptied.
    • Filter: 5 days after being emptied.

2. Breakdown of the Cycle

Phase 1: Filling the fermentation tank

  • Raw materials are added at 5,000 litres per day.
  • To fill the tank to its capacity of 10,000 litres, it takes: Time to fill the tank=Tank capacityInput rate=10,0005,000=2 days.\text{Time to fill the tank} = \frac{\text{Tank capacity}}{\text{Input rate}} = \frac{10,000}{5,000} = 2 \text{ days.}

Phase 2: Fermentation

  • The fermentation process lasts for 30 days.

Phase 3: Emptying the fermentation tank

  • The sake flows from the fermentation tank to the filter at 1,200 litres per day.
  • To empty the entire tank (10,000 litres): Time to empty the tank=Tank capacityOutput rate=10,0001,2008.33 days.\text{Time to empty the tank} = \frac{\text{Tank capacity}}{\text{Output rate}} = \frac{10,000}{1,200} \approx 8.33 \text{ days.}

Phase 4: Cleaning the fermentation tank

  • The fermentation tank is cleaned for 3 days.

Phase 5: Filtering and final output

  • Filtering starts as soon as sake enters the filter. However, sake only begins flowing out of the filter after a 10-day delay.
  • Since sake flows into and out of the filter at the same rate (1,200 litres per day), the filter will empty 10,000 litres in: Time to empty the filter=Filter capacityOutput rate=10,0001,2008.33 days.\text{Time to empty the filter} = \frac{\text{Filter capacity}}{\text{Output rate}} = \frac{10,000}{1,200} \approx 8.33 \text{ days.}
  • After the filter is empty, it undergoes 5 days of cleaning.

3. Total Cycle Time

Now, we calculate the total time for one complete cycle:

  1. Filling the fermentation tank: 2 days.
  2. Fermentation: 30 days.
  3. Emptying the fermentation tank: 8.33 days.
  4. Cleaning the fermentation tank: 3 days.
  5. Emptying the filter (includes the 10-day delay): 10(delay)+8.33(emptying time)=18.33days.10 \, \text{(delay)} + 8.33 \, \text{(emptying time)} = 18.33 \, \text{days.}
  6. Cleaning the filter: 5 days.

Total cycle time=2+30+8.33+3+18.33+5=66.66days.\text{Total cycle time} = 2 + 30 + 8.33 + 3 + 18.33 + 5 = 66.66 \, \text{days.}


4. Total Output in One Cycle

The total output of sake in one cycle is the amount that flows through the filter, which is 10,000 litres.


5. Long-Run Average Capacity

The long-run average capacity is the total output divided by the total cycle time: Long-run average capacity=Total outputTotal cycle time=10,00066.66150litres per day.\text{Long-run average capacity} = \frac{\text{Total output}}{\text{Total cycle time}} = \frac{10,000}{66.66} \approx 150 \, \text{litres per day.}


Final Answer

The long-run average capacity of this system is 150 litres per day.


Do you want details on any part of this explanation or have other questions?

Here are five related questions to expand your understanding:

  1. How does the cleaning time affect the system’s long-run average capacity?
  2. What happens to the capacity if the fermentation time is reduced?
  3. How would an increase in the filter’s output rate affect the long-run average capacity?
  4. What are the implications of increasing the fermentation tank’s capacity?
  5. How does the 10-day delay in filtering impact the overall efficiency of the system?

Tip: When analyzing process-based systems, always focus on identifying the bottleneck as it controls the overall throughput.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Rates of Flow
Average Capacity
Cycle Time
Throughput

Formulas

Time = Capacity / Rate
Long-run average capacity = Total Output / Total Cycle Time

Theorems

Throughput analysis
Capacity optimization

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 10-12