Abstract

The multizone circulating reactor (MZCR) technology is a newly announced reactor design for solid-catalyzed gas-phase polymerization. The process is characterized by two hydrodynamically distinct but interconnecting polymerization zones, thus forming a continuous loop of polymer flow between the said zones. In the present study, a dynamic model for the MZCR reactor is developed to illustrate the basic dynamic behavior of the new reactor design; the model is used to study the copolymerization of ethylene with butene. Several parameter sensitivity analyses are performed to show the computer-simulated time responses for reactor temperature, number-average molecular weight, weight-average molecular weight, catalyst feed rate and the monomer concentration along the reactor length.

Recommended Citation

Ghasem, Nayef M.; Ang, Wee-Lee; and Hussain, Mohamed Azlan (2008) "Dynamic Model for Polyethylene Production in a Multizone Circulating Reactor," Chemical Product and Process Modeling: Vol. 3 : Iss. 1, Article 1.
DOI: 10.2202/1934-2659.1137
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/cppm/vol3/iss1/1