Mass Balance Calculator
Solve steady-state mass and component balances around a separation unit. Calculate product/waste flow rates, component recovery, split ratio, and yield.
Inputs
Results
Product flow rate (kg/hr)
301.08
Waste flow rate (kg/hr)
698.92
Component recovery (%)
95.34
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Feed rate (kg/hr), Feed concentration (wt%), and Product concentration (wt%).
- Set Waste concentration (wt%).
- Review Product flow rate (kg/hr), Waste flow rate (kg/hr), and Component recovery (%).
- Use Component in feed (kg/hr) and Component in product (kg/hr) to inform your decision.
How the result changes with Feed concentration (wt%)
| Feed concentration (wt%) | Product flow rate (kg/hr) | Waste flow rate (kg/hr) | Component recovery (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 86.02 | 913.98 | 81.72 |
| 35 | 354.84 | 645.16 | 96.31 |
| 65 | 677.42 | 322.58 | 99.01 |
| 90 | 946.24 | 53.76 | 99.88 |
What each input means
- Feed rate (kg/hr)
- Total mass flow rate of the feed stream.
- Feed concentration (wt%)
- Weight percent of the key component in the feed.
- Product concentration (wt%)
- Desired weight percent of key component in the product stream.
- Waste concentration (wt%)
- Weight percent of key component remaining in the waste/reject stream.
What each result means
- Product flow rate (kg/hr)
- Mass flow rate of the product stream, solved from the component balance.
- Waste flow rate (kg/hr)
- Mass flow rate of the waste/reject stream.
- Component in feed (kg/hr)
- Mass flow of the key component entering in the feed.
- Component in product (kg/hr)
- Mass flow of the key component leaving in the product.
- Component recovery (%)
- Percentage of the key component captured in the product stream.
- Split ratio (P/F)
- Fraction of feed mass that becomes product.
- Mass yield (%)
- Product mass as a percentage of feed mass.
- Balance closure error (kg/hr)
- Should be ~0 if the balance is correctly solved.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersFeed rate (kg/hr) = 1000, Feed concentration (wt%) = 30, Product concentration (wt%) = 95, Waste concentration (wt%) = 2 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Product flow rateProduct flow rate301.08 = 301.08
- Calculate Waste flow rateWaste flow rate698.92 = 698.92
- Calculate Component recoveryComponent recovery = feedComponentFlow > 095.34 = 95.34
- Calculate Component in feedComponent in feed = feedRate * xF300 = 300
- Calculate Component in productComponent in product = productRate * xP286.02 = 286.02
Engine last updated . Checked against 3 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.
Related Calculators
The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.
Mass Balance Calculator
Perform overall and component mass balances for a single-unit process with feed, product, waste, and recycle streams.
Process EngineeringEnergy Balance Calculator
Calculate steady-state energy balance for a process stream. Includes sensible heat (Q = mCpΔT), latent heat of phase change, and reaction heat contributions.
Process EngineeringDistillation Reflux Ratio Calculator
Shortcut distillation design using Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland method. Calculate minimum stages, minimum reflux ratio, actual trays, and column material balance.
Process EngineeringHeat Exchanger Duty Calculator
Calculate heat exchanger duty using the Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD) method: Q = U × A × ΔTlm for counter-current or parallel flow.
More in Engineering.