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Determination of optimal reactor system configuration for polymerization reactions. I. Free‐radical polymerization at constant temperature
Author(s) -
Shastry J. S.,
Fan L. T.,
Erickson L. E.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1973.070171015
Subject(s) - polymerization , polymer , monomer , materials science , constant (computer programming) , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , thermodynamics , chemistry , computer science , physics , composite material , engineering , programming language
A systematic procedure was developed for selecting the type of reactors or a reactor system configuration for polymerization reactions. Two different mechanisms were investigated, and the “best” reactor system to give the desired quality of the product was determined using a systems synthesis technique. The behavior of the system in the neighborhood of the optimal solution was explored, and the effect of variation in the rate constants and the initial concentrations of the catalyst and the monomer on the optimal reactor system was examined. Recycle streams were introduced and their effect on the system performance was investigated, and finally the applicability of the systems synthesis technique to other polymer reactor design problems was discussed.