Quantifying the Effects of Spatial Inhomogeneity in an Autoclave LDPE Reactor Using CFD.
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| Title: | Quantifying the Effects of Spatial Inhomogeneity in an Autoclave LDPE Reactor Using CFD. |
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| Authors: | Yoder, Elijah1 (AUTHOR) epyoder@liberty.edu, Strasser, Wayne1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Macromolecular Reaction Engineering. Apr2026, Vol. 20 Issue 2, p1-16. 16p. |
| Subjects: | Computational fluid dynamics, Spatial variation, Polymerization, Polymerization reactors, Addition polymerization |
| Abstract: | Fluid simulations are cost‐effective and zero‐waste alternatives for research and development of polymer reactors. However, many polymer‐specific simulation software packages assume a homogeneous reactant mixture, overly simplifying the physics. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations provide more insight into this process but are difficult to utilize with detailed chemistry mechanisms. This work seeks to verify the implementation of free radical polymerization chemistry into a plant‐scale CFD reactor model for Low‐Density Polyethylene (LDPE) to investigate spatial gradients and their impact on the system. The process resulted in the most accurate CFD polymer reactor simulation to date, known to the authors, and sets a precedent for the verification and validation of other reactor models. It was found that the axial flow profiles formed distinct regions within the reactor wherein there were unmixed polymer properties. Significantly more variability was also found in the upstream‐most reactor zone compared to a downstream zone, exemplified by a coefficient of variation of 447% in the former and 0.372% in the latter for the polydispersity index on a central plane of the reactor. Additionally, noticeable differences in properties were found between the inside and outside of the mixing shaft, which were only fractions of a percent different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Macromolecular Reaction Engineering is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 193086567 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Quantifying the Effects of Spatial Inhomogeneity in an Autoclave LDPE Reactor Using CFD. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yoder%2C+Elijah%22">Yoder, Elijah</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> epyoder@liberty.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Strasser%2C+Wayne%22">Strasser, Wayne</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Macromolecular+Reaction+Engineering%22">Macromolecular Reaction Engineering</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 20 Issue 2, p1-16. 16p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computational+fluid+dynamics%22">Computational fluid dynamics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spatial+variation%22">Spatial variation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polymerization%22">Polymerization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polymerization+reactors%22">Polymerization reactors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Addition+polymerization%22">Addition polymerization</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Fluid simulations are cost‐effective and zero‐waste alternatives for research and development of polymer reactors. However, many polymer‐specific simulation software packages assume a homogeneous reactant mixture, overly simplifying the physics. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations provide more insight into this process but are difficult to utilize with detailed chemistry mechanisms. This work seeks to verify the implementation of free radical polymerization chemistry into a plant‐scale CFD reactor model for Low‐Density Polyethylene (LDPE) to investigate spatial gradients and their impact on the system. The process resulted in the most accurate CFD polymer reactor simulation to date, known to the authors, and sets a precedent for the verification and validation of other reactor models. It was found that the axial flow profiles formed distinct regions within the reactor wherein there were unmixed polymer properties. Significantly more variability was also found in the upstream‐most reactor zone compared to a downstream zone, exemplified by a coefficient of variation of 447% in the former and 0.372% in the latter for the polydispersity index on a central plane of the reactor. Additionally, noticeable differences in properties were found between the inside and outside of the mixing shaft, which were only fractions of a percent different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Macromolecular Reaction Engineering is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1002/mren.70015 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 16 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Computational fluid dynamics Type: general – SubjectFull: Spatial variation Type: general – SubjectFull: Polymerization Type: general – SubjectFull: Polymerization reactors Type: general – SubjectFull: Addition polymerization Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Quantifying the Effects of Spatial Inhomogeneity in an Autoclave LDPE Reactor Using CFD. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Yoder, Elijah – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Strasser, Wayne IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 1862832X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 20 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Macromolecular Reaction Engineering Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
