Kosky, Balmer, Keat and Wise: Exploring Engineering, Fourth Edition
Copyright ©2015, Elsevier, Inc
Each molecule of H2(g) requires two e–. Hence the flow of H2(g) = 1.02 x 1024/2.000 =
5.08 x 1023 molecules/s.
Divide by Avogadro’s number to obtain the kmols H2(g)/s = 5.08 x 1023/6.022 x 1026
[molecules/s][kmol/molecule] = 8.44 x 10-4 kmols H2(g)/s.
Use the standard molar volume 22.4 m3/kmol, to get the std3 volumetric flow of H2(g) =
22.4 x 8.44 x 10-4 [std m3/kmol] [kmols/s] = 1.89 x 10-2 std m3/s.
The O2(g) rate would have been 9.45 x 10-3 std m3/s and the air rate would have
been 4.76 x this or 4.50 x 10-2 std m3/s
3. Had we wanted actual flow rates we would have corrected by absolute temperature. Suppose the feed
Kosky, Balmer, Keat and Wise: Exploring Engineering, Fourth Edition
Comment: This problem, and the next, are loosely based on experiences of Thomas
Kosky, Balmer, Keat and Wise: Exploring Engineering, Fourth Edition
Options
Canons
a) Go along
with the
inventor’s
plan
b) Express
your concerns
to CEO
c)
Independently
perform safety
and life tests
d)
Independently
inform
stockholders
e) Quit your
job
Hold
paramount
the safety,
health and
welfare of
the public.
No.
Total assent
may put
public at
risk
Yes.
Inventor’s
reputation
doesn’t insure
safety
Probably not
You are
unlikely to
have the
resources
Yes,
Potential risk
will be put
before stake
holders
No – does
not address
the issue
Perform
services
only in the
area of your
competence
No.
you have
enough
knowledge
to insist on
testing to
verify
claims
Yes
You are
competent to
surface the
issue
No – you can’t
do this all by
yourself
Maybe – if
you can do this
without
making it a
personal issue
Yes – this
is within your
competence
Issue public
statements
only in an
objective
and truthful
manner
No.
Silence
may seem
untruthful
assent
Maybe.
You are
publicly
silent, but
have
registered
dissent
No – unless
you can be
sure of making
an accurate and
objective study
Maybe.
Your personal
involvement
may hurt your
objectivity
Yes – to
quit is not a
statement
Act for each
employer or
client as
faithful
agents or
trustees
No.
You are an
agent of the
company,
not of the
inventor
Yes.
As an agent,
you are
expected to
alert
management
to potential
problems
No – as an
agent, you are
not authorized
to do “bootleg”
work
No.
As an agent or
trustee, your
duty is to work
through
management
Yes – if
you give
adequate
notice
Avoid
deceptive
acts
No.
Assent to
something
you
disagree
with is
deceptive
Yes.
You honestly
reveal your
disagreement
Yes –
though
probably futile,
this is not
deceptive
Yes.
You honestly
reveal your
disagreement
No.
Quitting to
avoid
responsibility
is deceptive
Conduct
themselves
honorably
…
No.
Deceptive
assent
dishonors
the
profession
Yes.
honorable
dissent is in
accord with
obligations
Maybe
Yes.
Honorable
dissent is in
accord with
obligations
No.
Quitting to
avoid
responsibility
isn’t
honorable
Kosky, Balmer, Keat and Wise: Exploring Engineering, Fourth Edition
Copyright ©2015, Elsevier, Inc
interest
inventor’s
interest
inventor’s
interest
Avoid
deceptive
acts
No-secrecy
of technical
information
may
compromise
future safety
Yes
Yes-
this is not
deceptive
Only if
information
is treated in
the same
way as in all
other
projects
Yes-
this is
ethical,
though it
might not be
the right
business
decision
Conduct
themselves
honorably
…
No
putting ego
before
profession
dishonors
the
profession
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Note: this example illustrates that there is no ethical obligation to go beyond contract
provisions. Going beyond the contract may be a good business decision. But there is no
ethical obligation to do so. Such a gesture may in fact be counter to ethics when it puts
ego before one’s duty as an agent, or when it results in hiding information potentially
important to safety.