THE EFFECT OF PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION ON THE OLEFIN POLYMER REACTOR DYNAMICS

Mass and energy balances in a reactor have been derived to study the e ffect of particle size distribution (PSD) for each reaction mechanism on the reactor dynamics. It was observed that the PSD affects both bed height and particle volume. A feasible region for reactor operation h as been calculated by using physical constraints. In a nonisothermal p oIymerization system, the reactor temperature does not change apprecia bly as catalyst injection rate increases. A unique steady stare soluti on is found in a gas-phase continuous stirred-bed propylene polymeriza tion reactor. The eigenvalues of the system of equations indicate that the steady state is unstable. A comparison with published data allows the observation that the actual reactor dynamics may de readily expla ined by using only the PSD derived from a simple reaction mechanism.