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Modeling and Simulation of Particle Size Distribution of Polystyrene in a Semibatch Suspension Polymerization

Farahzadi, Hamzeh | 2009

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 40246 (06)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Shahrokhi, Mohammad
  7. Abstract:
  8. Suspension polymerization is an important industrial process. Product of this process is particulate polymers that have a widely use in human lives. An important property of suspension polymerization process is the particle size distribution (PSD), which affects the end-use properties of the products. Therefore, the evolution of PSD is a major concern in the design of a suspension polymerization process. In a suspension polymerization reactor the evaluation of particle size distribution is the result of the interaction of the mixing conditions and the kinetics of the polymerization reactions. Mathematical modeling of particle size distribution in suspension polymerization processes should account for the mixing parameters, kinetic and rheological behaviors of the system. The model used in this project for evolution of PSD consisted of two main parts; the kinetic model and the population balance model. The kinetic model predicts the time evolution of conversion and the polymer average molecular weights using the method of moments. The population balance model which describes a mechanism involving the PSD in disperse systems leads to an integro-differential equation. The Cell Average technique was applied for solving the population balance equation. In the present study, Modeling of suspension polymerization of styrene was carried out to elaborate on the evolution of particle size average and distribution in the course of polymerization. The effects of stabilizer and initiator concentrations, reaction temperature and agitation speed on the particle size average and distribution was studied and some of the simulation results comparison with experimental data, which exist in literature
  9. Keywords:
  10. Particles Size Distribution ; Population Balance ; Styrene ; Styrene Polymerization ; Free Radicals Polymerization ; Suspension Polimerization ; Cell Average Technique

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