Dynamic modeling: The influence of the improved solid elutriation correlation on the two-phase mathematical model of polyolefin polymerization in a gas-phase fluidized bed reactor
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2020
Abstract
Dynamic modeling of the polyolefin polymerization process in the gas phase is relatively complex due to its high nonlinearity. This nonlinearity is induced by several factors including the reaction mechanism, the heat and mass transfer mechanism, the flow properties in both solid and gas phases, the type of reactor, and the correlations between the operating conditions and the chemical and physical properties of the polyolefin. In this study, polymerization of the polypropylene was observed in a fluidized bed reactor to potentially improve the solid elutriation correlations proposed previously, to increase the reliability and the accuracy of this two-phase model. By embedding the improved solid elutriation correlations, the production rate was reduced relative to earlier proposed solid elutriation correlations due to the loss of the product at the top of the fluidized bed reactor. The composition of the reactants and the catalyst flow rate also influenced the production rate, yet the inlet temperature did not. The current two-phase model is validated with the pilot plant data with the deviations lower than the previously validated model with reference to the production rate, the concentration of propylene and hydrogen, and the temperature of the reactor.
Keywords
Fluidized bed reactor, Gas phase, Polyolefin, Propylene, Solid elutriation, Two-phase model
Divisions
fac_eng
Funders
Ministry of Education, Malaysia,Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
Publication Title
Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering
Volume
15
Issue
3
Publisher
Wiley
Publisher Location
111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN 07030-5774, NJ USA