The bain of my existence this semester is proving to be Separations Processes. It's one of those classes where the homework problems don't make any sense. I hit one tonight where I couldn't convert the units of a constant called Kga. Turns out I'd done the first part wrong, that you have to base the Kga on the molar concentrations. Well, shoot, I only had the mole fractions. Well, okay, that I can fix. So I converted my mole fractions. But then what the heck mole fractions do I use? Inlet, outlet, in between? And how am I supposed to do it if I have to now base it on the little k's, which are based on the interfacial concentrations? I don't know Jack about the interfacial concentrations.

Then, I did a mass balance. You know, in=out. And then I realized the outlet gas concentration was higher than the absolute highest concentration possible. Well, shit. I redid all the beginning, which turned my numbers from reasonable to totally unreasonable (800,000 cubic feet per minute, anyone?). And the great part was that the total number of gas transfer units I get is negative every single time. That's like a negative number of apples. It doesn't happen.

Except to me.

It makes me want to beat my head against the wall except I know that doesn't help.

So, so frustrating.

Next week I have to finish this assignment, one for Bioprocess, one for Control, and study for a Control test, too.

School controls my life.

I want a vacation.