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Numerical simulation of a tubular polymerization reactor
Author(s) -
Lynch D.,
Kiparissides C.
Publication year - 1981
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.1981.070260420
Subject(s) - monomer , polymerization , emulsion polymerization , polymer , materials science , mechanics , thermodynamics , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , chemistry , composite material , physics , engineering
A mathematical model for a tubular emulsion polymerization reactor is developed. The partial differential equations describing the mass balances on initiator, monomer, and number of polymer particles are numerically solved using an implicit–explicit scheme based on the Crank–Nicholson method. The model adequately simulates experimental results reported by Rollin and co‐workers and sufficiently explains the unusual behavior of the reactor when operating at relatively low emulsifier concentrations.