Polymerization in Multijet Tubular Reactor

Application ID: 3831


In a polymerization reactor for polyester manufacturing, the mixing in the reactor is achieved by impinging turbulent jets of reactants onto each other. The turbulence affects the reaction kinetics and quality of the polymer linkage.

Turbulent flows involving rapid reaction kinetics are quite common in the production of polymers, and the complex interplay between fluid dynamics and fast chemical reactions can significantly impact reactor performance. This can noticeably affect conversion and yield, while also influence the average length of polymer chains, the molecular weight distribution, cross-linking, and chain-branching.

In this example, a full 3D model is employed where the detailed effects of fluid dynamics and reactor geometry are taken into account.

This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products: