Abstract
In the earlier chapters, the simulation of step growth polymerization in ideal (batch, plug flow or homogeneous, continuous flow stirred tank) reactors has been discussed. In order to simulate real reactors, the effects of several factors like residence time distribution in a continuous flow stirred tank reactor (for the case of perfect macromixing, Section 2.8), recycle in a plug flow reactor (Section 2.7), mass transfer limitations (Chapter 5), etc., were also investigated. It was shown that these variables have considerable effect on the performance of the reactor. In this chapter, attention is focused on the optimal control and operation of ideal reactors (PFRs and HCSTRs). For a given residence time of a batch reactor or an HCSTR, the variables that can be independently changed (degrees of freedom) are (a) the time history of the reactor temperature and (b) feed composition. Optimal conditions for these independent (or control) variables are determined in this chapter for simple ARB systems in order to establish the principles used. Optimization of industrially important systems like nylon 6 or PET polymerization is discussed in later chapters.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
W. H. Ray and J. Szekely, Process Optimization ,1st ed., Wiley, New York (1973).
M. M. Denn, Optimization by Variational Methods ,1st ed., McGraw-Hill, New York (1969).
A. E. Bryson and Y. C. Ho, Applied Optimal Control ,1st ed., Blaisdell, Waltham, Massachusetts (1969).
L. Lapidus and R. Luus, Optimal Control of Engineering Processes ,1st ed., Blaisdell, Waltham, Massachusetts (1967).
A. Ramagopal, A. Kumar, and S. K. Gupta, Computational scheme for the calculation of molecular weight distributions for nylon-6 polymerization in homogeneous, continuous-flow stirred-tank reactors with continuous removal of water, Polym. Eng. Sci. 22, 849–856 (1982).
J. Hicks, A. Mohan, and W. H. Ray, The optimal control of polymerization reactors, Can. J. Chem. Eng. 47, 590–597 (1969).
W. H. Ray, Periodic operation of polymerization reactors, Ind. Eng. Chem., Proc. Des. Dev. 7, 422–426 (1968).
C. K. Lee and J. E. Bailey, Influence of mixing on the performance of periodic chemical reactors, AIChE J. 20, 74–81 (1974).
S. K. Gupta, S. Nath, and A. Kumar, Forced oscillations in CFSTRs with nonlinear step growth polymerization, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 30, 557–569 (1985).
G. R. Meira, Forced oscillations in continuous polymerization reactors and molecular weight distribution control. A survey, J. Macromol. Sci. Rev. Macromol. Chem. C 20(2), 207–241 (1981).
C. Kiparissides and S. R. Ponnuswamy, Hierarchial control of a train of continuous polymerization reactors, Can. J. Chem. Eng. 59, 752–759 (1981).
T. A. Kenat, R. I. Kermode, and S. L. Rosen, Dynamics of a continuous stirred-tank polymerization reactor, Ind. Eng. Chem., Proc. Des. Dev. 6, 363–370 (1967).
R. B. Warden and N. R. Amundson, Stability and control of addition polymerization reactions. A theoretical study, Chem. Eng. Sci. 17, 725–734 (1962).
S. L. Liu and N. R. Amundson, Polymerization reactor stability, Z. Elektrochem. 65,276–282 (1961).
R. P. Goldstein and N. R. Amundson, Analysis of chemical reactor stability and control. Xa. Polymerization models in two immiscible phases in physical equilibrium; Xb. Poly-merization models in two immiscible phases with interphase heat and mass transfer resistances; XL Further considerations with polymerization models; XII. Special problems in polymerization models, Chem. Eng. Sci. 20,195–236,449–476, 477–499, 501–527 (1965).
P. J. Hoftyzer and T. N. Zwietering, The characteristics of a homogenized reactor for the polymerization of ethylene, Chem. Eng. Sci. 14, 241–251 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1987 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gupta, S.K., Kumar, A. (1987). Optimal Control of Step Growth Polymerizations. In: Reaction Engineering of Step Growth Polymerization. The Plenum Chemical Engineering Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1801-9_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1801-9_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9008-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-1801-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive