Abstract
A population balance model is presented for suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride in a batch reactor to investigate the thermal properties of the system. Reactions are described using a simplified reaction model focusing on the heat generation of the highly exothermic polymerization reactions. The temperature of the continuous phase is assumed to be homogeneous over the reactor and the effects of some temperature rise of droplets due to the exothermic polymerization reactions and the possible heat exchange because of the coalescence/redispersion process are analysed. The population balance equation is solved applying a Monte Carlo method by coupling the deterministic polymerization reactions inside the droplets with the discrete event process induced by collisions of droplets. The results obtained by simulation show that rise in the temperature of droplets over the mean temperature of continuous phase lead to acceleration of the process. The possible size distribution of droplets and no smooth distribution of the initiator in those decrease the process efficiency.
Highlights
Suspension polymerization is used for commercial manufacture of many important polymers including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethyl methacrylate and polystyrene
The aim of the present paper is to model and analyse a suspension polymerization process of vinyl chloride in which beside the polymerization reactions inside the droplets only collision induced heat exchange occurs between the colliding droplets
Denoting the finite total concentration of the infinite number of live polymer radicals as monomer, T is the temperature of droplet, cp denotes the heat capacity of droplet, ρ denotes its density, Qreaction represents the heat produced by exothermic polymerization reactions and Qtrans f er is the heat removed to the continuous phase
Summary
Suspension polymerization is used for commercial manufacture of many important polymers including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethyl methacrylate and polystyrene. The aim of the present paper is to model and analyse a suspension polymerization process of vinyl chloride in which beside the polymerization reactions inside the droplets only collision induced heat exchange occurs between the colliding droplets.
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