Abstract
Abstract A comprehensive mathematical model is developed for the simulation of high-pressure Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plants. Correlations describing the thermodynamic, physical and transport properties of the ethylene-polyethylene mixture are presented and compared with experimental data. Energy balances around the compression units are derived to calculate the energy requirements. A detailed kinetic mechanism is proposed to describe the molecular and structural developments of the free-radical polymerization of ethylene. Based on the postulated kinetic mechanism, a system of differential mass balance equations are derived for the various molecular species, total mass, energy and momentum in the polymerization system. Simulation results show that the proposed mathematical model can be successfully applied to the real-time prediction of reactor temperature profile and polymer melt index. Moreover, model predictions are compared with industrial measurements on reactor and coolant temperature profiles, reactor pressure, conversion, and final molecular properties for different polyethylene grades. Finally, various equations of state (e.g., Sako-Wu-Prausnitz, SAFT, PC-SAFT) are employed to simulate the operation and phase equilibrium in the flash separation units.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
