On-line optimal operating policy and control of a batch free-radical polymerization process

摘要

An on-line optimizing control scheme that ensures the satisfaction of polymer property specifications under the influence of time-varying model parameters and unknown initial conditions is developed for the free-radical polymerization of methyl-methacrylate in a batch reactor. The control scheme combines a state/parameter estimation step based on on-line measurements of process variables that updates the values of model parameters with an optimization step that calculates the optimal operating policy. The control objectives require the satisfaction of quality specifications based on molecular weight properties (e.g. average molecular weights) of the final polymer product subject to time-varying kinetic parameters and unknown initial level of impurities in the reactor.