Modeling and Sensitivity Analysis of Particle Size Distribution and Chain Length Distribution in a Semibatch Emulsion Copolymerization Reactor

✍ Scribed by Myung-June Park; Mustafa T. Dokucu; Francis J. Doyle III

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 415 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1022-1344
• DOI: 10.1002/mats.200500019

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Summary: A comprehensive model is developed to predict the relationship between the particle size distribution and molecular weights of particles in an emulsion copolymerization reactor. A full population balance equation is used for the particle size distribution and extended to the model for the molecular properties using a continuous reactor approach. The numerical prediction clearly distinguishes the characteristics of molecular properties of particles by homogeneous nucleation from those by micellar nucleation with the dependence on the particle size. Sensitivity analysis of the proposed model under a variety of conditions shows that the compartmentalized feature of the emulsion system should be considered for better prediction of molecular properties, and provides information on the manipulated variables and lumped parameters which effectively decompose the correlation of both properties. Finally, a control strategy utilizing a lumped parameters tracking method is suggested for the regulation of both the particle size distribution and molecular properties.

Time evolution of number‐averaged molecular weights in the element under base conditions.

magnified imageTime evolution of number‐averaged molecular weights in the element under base conditions.