Emergency relief adequacy for acrylic polymerization processes

Acrylic polymerizations are highly exothermic processes which must be caref ully evaluated to ensure safe manufacture. In particular, failure to remove the heat of reaction can lead to runaway polymerizations, characterized by sudden and rapid increases in reaction rate, temperature, and pressure. If not adequately vented, runaway polymerization can quickly lead to reactor overpressure, possible vessel rupture, and release of flammable or toxic ma terials. Because of complex polymerization kinetics and the large number of industri al acrylic polymer processes, practical application of DIERS two-phase flow methodology for sizing reactor emergency vents required development of a c omputer model to simulate specific commercial polymerization. This model is currently used to determine the emergency vent adequacy of reactors prior to manufacture of new resins in existing equipment, as well as to assist in design of new reactor systems. The purpose of this paper is to discuss pra ctical applications of DIERS technology for ensuring safe acrylic resin man ufacture through use of computer simulation.