| Abstract: | To satisfy the diverse product quality specifications required by the broad range of polyethylene applications, polymerization plants are forced to operate under frequent grade transition policies. During the grade transition, the reactor temperature must be kept within the narrow range between the gas dew point and the polymer melting point, otherwise the particles melt or agglomerate inside the reactor. In the present study, a dynamic well‐mixed reactor model is used to develop a grade transition strategy to prevent melting and agglomeration of particles in an ethylene polymerization reactor. The model predicts the conditions under which the temperature of the reactor is outside the allowable range in continuous grade transition. Manipulation of feed flow and cooling water flow rates has shown that the reactor temperature cannot be maintained within the allowable range. Hence, a semi‐continuous grade transition strategy is used for this case so that the temperature is maintained within the allowable range. In addition, several continuous and semi‐continuous grade transition strategies for the production of linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), and high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) are compared. |
