Polymerization Kinetics Study, Modeling and Predictive Control of Chemical Reactors

本研究计划的目标是进行聚合动力学、过程建模和聚合物反应器非线性控制的研究。研究活动的一部分将集中在实验研究苯乙烯及其共聚单体的氮氧化物介导聚合（NMP），其基本特征是生产低分子量聚合物。学术界和工业界对这种特殊聚合的兴趣已经扩展到不同的途径：动力学研究，新引发剂/烷氧基胺的设计和工业应用。公开文献表明，需要更多的动力学研究来进一步了解过程行为。我们的实验室配备了一个安瓿实验装置进行聚合动力学研究和一个2L反应器容器用于中试工厂工艺开发。实验研究的目的是阐明这种特殊聚合的物理化学现象，并建立一个综合的动力学模型，该模型将通过本研究收集的数据进行验证。将对聚合物样品进行表征，以揭示聚合物的分子量分布、链长和分支。过程建模将有助于解释实验结果，揭示影响最终用途聚合物性能和聚合物结构链长的主要因素。数据验证的动力学模型也可用于改进聚合物反应器在连续和半连续模式下的操作。此外，动态建模的好处可以用来解决无法在线测量聚合物分子量的问题，在学术和工业水平上加强工艺设计和过程控制。拟议的研究项目最终旨在促进瑞尔森大学聚合物反应工程的创新和研究计划，并为加拿大工业培养高素质人才。

The goal of this research proposal is to carry out studies on polymerization kinetics, process modeling and nonlinear control of polymer reactors. One part of the research activity will focus on studying experimentally nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP) of styrene and its comonomers, which fundamental characteristics is to produce polymers with low molecular weights. Academic and industrial interests in this particular polymerization have expanded in different avenues: kinetics studies, design of new initiators/alkoxyamines and industrial applications. Open literature shows that more kinetics studies are required for further understanding of the process behavior. Our lab is equipped with an ampoule experimental set-up to carry out polymerization kinetics study and a 2L reactor vessel for pilot-plant process development. The purpose of the experimental investigation is to elucidate the physico-chemical phenomena of this particular polymerization and develop a comprehensive kinetic model that will be validated with the data collected in this study. Characterization of the polymer samples will be conducted to reveal the molecular weight distribution, chain length and branching of the polymer. The process modeling will help to interpret the experimental findings and reveal the main factors affecting the end-use polymer properties and chain length of polymer structures. Data-validated kinetic models can also be used to improve the operation of polymer reactors in continuous and semi-continuous modes. Further, the benefit of dynamic modeling can be employed to address the issue of unavailable online measurements of polymer molecular weight, enhance process design and process control at both the academic and industrial levels. The proposed research project is ultimately intended to promote innovation and a research program in polymer reaction engineering at Ryerson as well as train highly qualified personnel for Canadian industries.