A Monte Carlo Method to Quantify the Effect of Reactor Residence Time Distribution on Polyolefins Made with Heterogeneous Catalysts: Part II ‐ Packing Density Effects

Abstract

The residence time distribution of reactors used to produce polyolefins commercially has a significant impact on many of their properties. This effect often goes unnoticed, since the concept of reactor residence time is often poorly understood even among chemical engineers. In the first part of this series of articles, it is shown how the reactor residence time distribution has a marked impact on the particle size distribution of polyolefin particles using a new Monte Carlo model. In this article, the Monte Carlo model is combined with a drop and roll algorithm to predict how reactor residence time distribution affects the packing density of the polyolefin particles.