| Abstract
| - Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used in this study to model low-density polyethylene(LDPE) tubular and autoclave reactors. A polymerization reaction model is developed using themethod of moments. The model includes six steps: initiator decomposition, chain initiation,propagation, chain transfer to monomer, disproportionation termination, and combinationtermination. Coupling of the reaction modeling with the simulation of the flow field is used topredict monomer conversions, polydispersities, radical distributions, and molecular weightdistributions. The viscosity of LDPE is defined as a function of the molecular weight and thetemperature. Results are obtained for a two-dimensional tubular reactor and a three-dimensionalautoclave reactor. The predictions are compared with those of previously published work. Finally,the influence of initiator concentrations and inlet temperatures on monomer conversion andpolydispersity is discussed. A sensitivity analyses is used to understand the impact of chemicalkinetics on monomer conversion.
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