Model-Based design of a novel process applicable to solution and slurry polymerization with phase change

Abstract

This work aims on developing a novel process that is applicable to solution and slurry polymerization, which can efficiently control production efficiency, product properties and reactor thermal load through changing the flow ratios of cooled evaporation streams between different reactors. Furthermore, various process routes can be created by varying the destinations of cooled evaporation streams, markedly enhancing the process flexibility. To provide a thorough insight into the characteristics of the developed process, numerical simulations based on coupling the constructed models of polymerization reaction kinetics, thermodynamic properties and reactors are conducted to comprehensively study the impact of various factors (e.g., process routes, pressure, monomer and catalyst concentration, flow rates of cooled evaporation streams in different reactors) on the ethylene/1-octene solution copolymerization system with several stirred reactors connected in series. Some strategies for regulating production efficiency, product properties and reactor heat load of different process routes are obtained.