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Calculation of the particle size distribution in suspension polymerization using a compartment‐mixing model
Author(s) -
VivaldoLima Eduardo,
Wood Philip E.,
Hamielec Archie E.,
Penlidis Alexander
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450760320
Subject(s) - agitator , impeller , mechanics , mixing (physics) , suspension (topology) , dissipation , materials science , population balance equation , polymerization , particle (ecology) , thermodynamics , population , physics , mathematics , composite material , polymer , oceanography , demography , quantum mechanics , homotopy , sociology , pure mathematics , geology
A modelling strategy for effective estimation of the particle size distribution (PSD) in suspension polymerization is presented. The strategy consists of coupling a population balance equation (PBE) and a compartment‐mixing (CM) model to account for the non‐homogeneous mixing in the tank reactor. The values for the rate of energy dissipation of each compartment are estimated from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations and experimental reports on systems with the same agitator and geometric characteristics. Model predictions using the CM model are compared with predictions that assume homogeneous mixing and experimental data on PSD from styrene and divinylbenzene pilot‐plant suspension polymerization reactors of 1 and 5 L with Rushton and PBT impellers.