Dynamic optimization of low-density polyethylene production in tubular reactor under thermal safety constraint
A commercial low-density polyethylene (LDPE) which is produced by the polymerization process of ethylene in the presence of initiators in a long tubular reactor is the most widely used in polymer industry. The highly exothermic nature of the LDPE polymerization process and the heating-cooling prereq...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Association of the Chemical Engineers of Serbia
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1451-9372/2021/1451-93722000027A.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818849484656869376 |
|---|---|
| author | Azmi A. Sata S.A. Rohman F.S. Aziz N. |
| author_facet | Azmi A. Sata S.A. Rohman F.S. Aziz N. |
| author_sort | Azmi A. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A commercial low-density polyethylene (LDPE) which is produced by the polymerization process of ethylene in the presence of initiators in a long tubular reactor is the most widely used in polymer industry. The highly exothermic nature of the LDPE polymerization process and the heating-cooling prerequisite in the tubular reactor can lead to various problems, particularly safety in terms of thermal runaway and productivity, i.e., decreasing monomer conversion. Therefore, model-based optimization of an industrial LDPE tubular reactor under thermal safety consideration is required to be implemented. A first principle model for this process is developed and validated using industrial data. Mass and energy balances have been derived from kinetics of LDPE polymerization. Thereafter, an expression of reactor temperature under critical condition is developed and incorporated in the reference model for the thermal safety study. In order to ensure the process is thermally safe and meets the desired product grade, the constrained dynamic optimization is proposed to maximize the conversion of the monomer using orthogonal collocation (OC). The dynamic optimization result shows that the maximum reaction temperature under critical condition constraint can be satisfied by optimizing the reactor jacket. Moreover, it is achieved without jeopardizing the monomer conversion and the product grade. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:33:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-07ff07f979184877a60b714fae9c6819 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1451-9372 2217-7434 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:33:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Association of the Chemical Engineers of Serbia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly |
| spelling | doaj.art-07ff07f979184877a60b714fae9c68192022-12-21T20:32:16ZengAssociation of the Chemical Engineers of SerbiaChemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly1451-93722217-74342021-01-01271859710.2298/CICEQ190108027A1451-93722000027ADynamic optimization of low-density polyethylene production in tubular reactor under thermal safety constraintAzmi A.0Sata S.A.1Rohman F.S.2Aziz N.3School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Penang, MalaysiaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Penang, MalaysiaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Penang, MalaysiaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Penang, MalaysiaA commercial low-density polyethylene (LDPE) which is produced by the polymerization process of ethylene in the presence of initiators in a long tubular reactor is the most widely used in polymer industry. The highly exothermic nature of the LDPE polymerization process and the heating-cooling prerequisite in the tubular reactor can lead to various problems, particularly safety in terms of thermal runaway and productivity, i.e., decreasing monomer conversion. Therefore, model-based optimization of an industrial LDPE tubular reactor under thermal safety consideration is required to be implemented. A first principle model for this process is developed and validated using industrial data. Mass and energy balances have been derived from kinetics of LDPE polymerization. Thereafter, an expression of reactor temperature under critical condition is developed and incorporated in the reference model for the thermal safety study. In order to ensure the process is thermally safe and meets the desired product grade, the constrained dynamic optimization is proposed to maximize the conversion of the monomer using orthogonal collocation (OC). The dynamic optimization result shows that the maximum reaction temperature under critical condition constraint can be satisfied by optimizing the reactor jacket. Moreover, it is achieved without jeopardizing the monomer conversion and the product grade.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1451-9372/2021/1451-93722000027A.pdflow-density polyethylenetubular reactordynamic optimizationthermal safety |
| spellingShingle | Azmi A. Sata S.A. Rohman F.S. Aziz N. Dynamic optimization of low-density polyethylene production in tubular reactor under thermal safety constraint Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly low-density polyethylene tubular reactor dynamic optimization thermal safety |
| title | Dynamic optimization of low-density polyethylene production in tubular reactor under thermal safety constraint |
| title_full | Dynamic optimization of low-density polyethylene production in tubular reactor under thermal safety constraint |
| title_fullStr | Dynamic optimization of low-density polyethylene production in tubular reactor under thermal safety constraint |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamic optimization of low-density polyethylene production in tubular reactor under thermal safety constraint |
| title_short | Dynamic optimization of low-density polyethylene production in tubular reactor under thermal safety constraint |
| title_sort | dynamic optimization of low density polyethylene production in tubular reactor under thermal safety constraint |
| topic | low-density polyethylene tubular reactor dynamic optimization thermal safety |
| url | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1451-9372/2021/1451-93722000027A.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT azmia dynamicoptimizationoflowdensitypolyethyleneproductionintubularreactorunderthermalsafetyconstraint AT satasa dynamicoptimizationoflowdensitypolyethyleneproductionintubularreactorunderthermalsafetyconstraint AT rohmanfs dynamicoptimizationoflowdensitypolyethyleneproductionintubularreactorunderthermalsafetyconstraint AT azizn dynamicoptimizationoflowdensitypolyethyleneproductionintubularreactorunderthermalsafetyconstraint |