IMPERFECT INCOMPLETE MICROMIXING EFFECTS ON COPOLYMERIZATION IN A PREMIXED-FEED STIRRED-TANK REACTOR

The effects of varying degrees of micromixing on overall conversion, a verage copolymer composition and copolymer composition distributions i n a premixed feed-stirred tank reactor have been theoretically analyze d. The analysis is based on kinematical considerations from continuum mechanics and the Atiqullah-Nauman micromixing model. The calculated, macroscopic composition distributions widen with the increase in segre gation number N(seg). However, the overall conversion and average copo lymer composition remain relatively unaffected. The study also shows h ow the micromixing parameter, that is, the striation thickness s0, can be calculated from the measured- and model-predicted composition dist ributions, and N(seg).