Modeling of a fluidized bed reactor for the ethylene-propylene copolymerization

Abstract

A mathematical model for the ethylene - propylene copolymerization with a Ziegler - Natta catalyst in a gas phase fludized bed reactor is presented. The model includes a two active site kinetic model with spontaneous transfer reactions and site deactivation. Also, it is studied and simulated the growth of a polymeric particle which is exposed to an outside atmosphere (monomers concentrations and temperature) that represent the emulsion phase conditions of the reactor. Particle growth model is the basis for the study of the sizes distribution into the reactor. Two phase model of Kunii-Levenspiel is the basis for the modelling and simulation of the fluid bed reactor, the models developed consider two extreme cases for the gas mixed grade in emulsion phase (perfectly mixed and plug flow). The solution of the models includes mass (for the two monomers) and energy balances, coupled with the particle growth and residence time distribution models.

Keywords

• modelling simulation
• fluidized bed reactor
• Zielger-Natta catalyst
• kinetic
• active sites
• deactivation
• growth
• emulsion
• bubie
• size distribution
• perfectly mixed
• plug flow