PRODUCT DESIGN THROUGH MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL-ANALYSIS OF PROCESS DATA

A methodology is developed for finding a window of operating condition s within which one should be able to produce a product having a specif ied set of quality characteristics. The only information that is assum ed to be available is that contained within historical data on the pro cess obtained during the production of a range of existing product gra des. Multivariate statistical methods are used to build and to invert an empirical model of the existing plant operations to obtain a window of operating conditions that are capable of yielding the desired prod uct, and that are still consistent with past operating procedures and constraints. The methods and concepts are illustrated using a simulate d high pressure tubular reactor process for producing low density poly ethylene.