Modeling and analysis of an LDPE autoclave reactor with axial dispersion

An axial dispersion model is developed for the slim reactor employed in the LDPE autoclave process so that imperfect mixing caused by large L/D ratio (10-20) may be quantified by Peclet number. The model is then used to investigate the effect of mixing on the reactor performance represented by the monomer conversion, the reactor temperature, the molecular weight, and the polydispersity. In addition, the existence of steady state multiplicity is identified with the initiator feed concentration or the feed temperature as the bifurcation parameter. The effects of the initiator feed concentration and the feed temperature are also examined.