Reactor modeling of fluidized bed ethylene polymerization using dynamic two phase behavior

Ali Kiashemshaki, University of Tehran
Rahmat Sotudeh-Gharebagh, University of Tehran
Navid Mostoufi, University of Tehran

Abstract

A two phase model is proposed for describing the behavior of fluidized bed reactor of polyethylene production. In the proposed model the bed is divided into several serial sections. The flow of the gas is considered as plug flow through the bubbles and perfectly mixed through the emulsion phase in each section. Polymerization reactions occur not only in the emulsion phase but also in the bubble phase. The concentrations of particles in the emulsion and bubble phase are estimated from the dynamic two phase hydrodynamic model. The kinetic model are employed in this study is based on the moment equations. The results of the simulation are compared with experimental data in terms of melting index of the product. A good agreement was observed between the simulation results and the actual data.