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Influence of mixing on the performance of periodic chemical reactors
Author(s) -
Lee C. K.,
Bailey J. E.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690200109
Subject(s) - polymerization , mixing (physics) , continuous stirred tank reactor , yield (engineering) , chemistry , molar mass distribution , chemical engineering , olefin fiber , continuous reactor , transfer agent , plug flow reactor model , materials science , thermodynamics , catalysis , polymer , organic chemistry , engineering , composite material , physics , quantum mechanics
The interaction between imperfect mixing and cyclic operation is examined for several continuous polymerizations in stirred‐tank reactors. The reactor is represented by a mixed model involving two interconnected ideal stirred vessels. Cyclic fluctuations in the concentration of a chain transfer agent during Ziegler‐catalyzed olefin polymerization can yield molecular weight distributions significantly different from those of a conventional steady state reactor. This result is consistent with the available experimental data. It is especially interesting that the cyclic reactor effluent with a modified molecular weight distribution is of approximately time‐invariant composition when the period of cycling is on the order of the reactor holding time. Imperfect mixing has a lesser effect on cycled reactors for free‐radical and polycondensation polymerization than it has on cycled olefin polymerization reactors.