Water Balance
Close site external water inventory and report makeup/excess against target; internal recirculation must not be double counted.
Description
An inventory balance adds external inflows and subtracts external outflows over one period.
An inventory balance adds external inflows and subtracts external outflows over one period. Internal recirculation should not be counted as an external contribution.
The tool returns finalInventoryM3 (final inventory m3); netExternalChangeM3 (net external change m3); additionalMakeupM3 (additional makeup m3); excessAboveTargetM3 (excess above target m3). Input measurements and model parameters are supplied by the caller; the tool computes the stated summary rather than acquiring those measurements.
When to use Water Balance
Use Water Balance when you already have initialWaterInventoryM3, externalInflowsM3, externalOutflowsM3, targetInventoryM3 and want finalInventoryM3, netExternalChangeM3, additionalMakeupM3, excessAboveTargetM3. This is useful for checking a supplied calculation, documenting a measurement convention, or comparing observations prepared on the same basis.
How to use Water Balance and understand its results
- Enter initialWaterInventoryM3, externalInflowsM3, externalOutflowsM3, targetInventoryM3 using the field table below. Match the units, ordering and data boundaries described in the calculation.
- Run the tool after checking the stated bounds and matching paired observations or categories. A malformed request gives a tool error rather than a usable measurement.
- Read finalInventoryM3, netExternalChangeM3, additionalMakeupM3, excessAboveTargetM3. Use the calculation and interpretation below to distinguish amounts, ratios, signs and decision flags where applicable.
- Review the supplied parameters and assumptions before using the result in a report or comparing it with another observation.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type and bounds | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| initialWaterInventoryM3 | Initial water inventory m3 | number | Required |
| externalInflowsM3 | External inflows m3 | list of number | Required |
| externalOutflowsM3 | External outflows m3 | list of number | Required |
| targetInventoryM3 | Target inventory m3 | number | Required |
Use nonnegative volumes and target. Empty flow lists are permitted; reject a negative final inventory and report both makeup need and excess above target.
final = initial+Σinflows−Σoutflows; makeup = max(0,target−final) The symbols refer to the supplied quantities or generated values described above; unit conversions and comparison boundaries follow the stated implementation.
{
"input": {
"initialWaterInventoryM3": 100,
"externalInflowsM3": [
10,
20
],
"externalOutflowsM3": [
15,
5
],
"targetInventoryM3": 120
},
"output": {
"finalInventoryM3": 110,
"netExternalChangeM3": 10,
"additionalMakeupM3": 10,
"excessAboveTargetM3": 0
}
}Limitations and assumptions
No missing flows, storage limits, losses or time-dependent rates are inferred. All volumes refer to the same accounting period.
Numerical inputs must be finite. The tool checks its declared input shape and calculation constraints; those checks do not verify the quality, calibration or representativeness of the supplied observations.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Water Recovery: Derive water recovery from measured feed/product slurry masses and solid fractions; assumes no intervening water additions and matched streams. Pulp Density: Calculate ideal mixture density and solids volume fraction with additive component volumes; gas entrainment and volume contraction are excluded.
Methodological background: Material balance in mineral processing.1
References
-
Material balance in mineral processing — NPTEL, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Similar or alternative tools
- Water Recovery
Derive water recovery from measured feed/product slurry masses and solid fractions; assumes no intervening water additions and matched streams.
- Pulp Density
Calculate ideal mixture density and solids volume fraction with additive component volumes; gas entrainment and volume contraction are excluded.