Effect of modeling of molecular weight distribution on the linear rheology and polymerization in a pipe-flow reactor

• Main Authors: Mu-Gen Chang, 張木根
• Other Authors: C. C. Hua
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2002
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/30457527614982715980

碩士 === 國立中正大學 === 化學工程研究所 === 90 === The traditional way of modeling the polymerization processes relies largely on empiricisms for obtaining the transport properties, such as viscosity and heat conductivity. In this work, we consider the polymerization of ethylene in a tubular reactor. While all other aspects in the modeling remain unchanged from traditional approaches, the polymer viscosity is estimated from a molecular, rheological theory using two different types of molecular weight distributions that bear the average number and weight molecular weights solved from traditional moment equations describing the mass balance during polymerization. The simulation results show that differential assumptions for the molecular weight distribution indeed have apparent effects on the predicted viscoelastic properties as well as the polymerization conditions, such as the yield and the temperature profile. The significance of the current finding is briefly discussed.