Calculating Dilution

[EEChemE]

I need your help! I'm an EE playing a ChemE.

I'm trying to calculate the dilution factor of two gasses. I have a gas that is mixed with zero air using a timed valving scheme. Both the gas and zero air use a common flow rate(200ml/min). This is plumbed in such a way that the output of the previously described gas is ran into a three-way inlet with zero air at a variable flow rate(X). My questions is how do I calculate the final dilution factor if I know the stage one flow rates, the initial dilution factor, and the second stage zero air flow rate?

Thanks to anyone that can help me!

-Eric

 

[springrise]

Hello Eric,

do I understand your setup correctly? (attachment)

If yes, then the final dilution factor is:
DF(final) = DF(initial) * (200 + 200 + x) / 200

E.g. if your initial DF is 1 (no dilution) and the x = 0, you get a dilution of 2 ie. your gas is diluted twice.

(I have used the definition of dilution factor as "ratio of the mixture volume and the specific component volume")

 

[EEChemE]

That's pretty close to what I'm doing. I've attached hand-drawn diagram that gives more detail. Thanks for your help!!