SIMULATION OF A JET-ASSISTED CIRCULATION JACKETED BATCH REACTOR FOR POLYMERIZATION OF METHYLMETHACRYLATE

A simulation of a five-liter, agitated, nonisothermal, jet-assisted circulation, jacketed methylmethacrylate polymerization batch reactor considering all the available physical-chemical properties and related correlations for agitation and heat transfer coefficients is presented. From the calculated cumulative radical population, the phenomena of early runaway, thermal ignition and gel effect ignition are identified. Variations of medium viscosity over the course of the polymerization reaction affect the performance of the agitator and the overall heat transfer coefficient. The simulation results indicate that much higher heat duties can be removed by this special equipment design than in the case of a conventional vessel design.