A STUDY OF THE HIGH PRESSURE POLYETHYLENE TUBULAR REACTOR

As an example of the free radical polymerization reactor we have conducted a theoretical study of the high pressure polyethylene tubular reactor with cooling from the jacket. The plug flow model including the axial dispersion is considered with as well as without the steady state assumption for the active intermediates. We observe that the axial dispersion has negligible effect on the reactor performance and that the steady slate assumption is quite reasonable. The performance of the reactor is characterized by the exit monomer conversion, the peak temperature and the number and weight average degrees of polymerization, and the effects of various operating conditions are extensively investigated. Finally, an optimal temperature policy that would maximize the exit monomer conversion is determined by means of the Maximum Principle.