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Control of Bulk Propylene Polymerizations Operated with Multiple Catalysts through Controller Reconfiguration
Author(s) -
Dutra Julio Cesar Sampaio,
de Sá Feital Thiago,
Skogestad Sigurd,
Lima Enrique Luis,
Pinto José Carlos
Publication year - 2014
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.201300139
Subject(s) - operability , control reconfiguration , catalysis , controller (irrigation) , process engineering , materials science , control theory (sociology) , moment (physics) , computer science , chemical engineering , chemistry , control (management) , engineering , organic chemistry , physics , software engineering , artificial intelligence , agronomy , biology , embedded system , classical mechanics
This paper presents a model to describe the dynamic behavior of bulk propylene polymerizations performed in a continuous reactor, assuming that three catalysts can be used. The model takes into account mass, energy, and statistical moment balances used to estimate the final polymer properties, including the melt index (MI) and extractables in xylene (XS). As the catalysts present different sensitivities to hydrogen, the proposed controller scheme considers that the MI control loop must be reconfigured in line and in real time when the catalysts are exchanged. Simulation results indicate that the reactor stability is maintained during specified production programs and that the desired final properties can be achieved satisfactorily. It is shown that control reconfiguration represents an alternative to overcome existing operation limits and recover operability when multiple catalysts are used at plant site.