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A Simpler Approach to Population Balance Modeling in Predicting the Performance of Ziegler‐Natta Catalyzed Gas‐Phase Olefin Polymerization Reactor Systems
Author(s) -
Rawatlal Randhir
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular reaction engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1862-8338
pISSN - 1862-832X
DOI - 10.1002/mren.200800047
Subject(s) - natta , residence time distribution , continuous stirred tank reactor , residence time (fluid dynamics) , work (physics) , population , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , olefin fiber , catalysis , gas phase , materials science , olefin polymerization , polymerization , thermodynamics , volumetric flow rate , nuclear engineering , chemistry , engineering , physics , organic chemistry , polymer , composite material , geotechnical engineering , demography , sociology
In this work, an alternative formulation of the Population Balance Model (PBM) is proposed to simplify the mathematical structure of the reactor model. The method is based on the segregation approach applied to the recently developed unsteady state residence time distribution (RTD). It is shown that the model can predict the performance of a reactor system under unsteady flow and composition conditions. Case studies involving time‐varying catalyst flowrates, reactor temperature and reactor pressure were simulated and found to predict reactor performance with reasonable accuracy. The model was used to propose a grade transition strategy that could reduce transition time by as much as two hours.