New emulsion polymerization tubular reactor with internal angular baffles: Reaction temperature effect

Abstract

Deterministic models of physicochemical, mathematical, and computational sciences were used for modeling and simulation of emulsion homopolymerization process of styrene with baffles into tubular reactor (TR) as static mixer. Modeling and simulation were approximate to steady state, cylindrical one-dimensional model, fully developed laminar plug flow, and they were solved with finite volume method and programmed with Fortran language. Also, the Smith-Ewart model was considered to estimate the monomer conversion and Arrhenius chemical kinetics was considered as laminar finite-rate model to compute chemical source. The experimental-inductive and mathematical-deductive methods were applied for obtaining mass balance results and properties characterization. The objective is to model, to simulate, and to analyze the emulsion polymerization reactor performance with internal-inclined angular baffles, and to compare with continuous TR in variable reaction temperature. The predictions were validated with experimental results for the isothermic and TR, with a good concordance. The results in no isothermal conditions without and with baffles were better than in isothermal conditions without and with baffles in relation to the desired properties. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.