Numerical analysis of temperature distributions in a gas-phasepolypropylene reactor with a single helical ribbon agitator

摘要

A numerical simulation method was developed for estimating the temperature distribution in acommercial-scale gas-phase polypropylene reactor with a single helical ribbon agitator. The localvelocities of particle phase needed for calculation were determined by local averaging of theindividual particle velocities obtained by means of the DEM (Discrete Element Method) simulationcode that was developed by Kaneko et al. (2000, Powder Technology, 108, 55-64). The particletemperature distribution predicted by the present simulation was in good agreement with thatobtained in a commercial-scale reactor under high-pressure condition. A high temperature regionwas found to form near the inner side of the agitator. The effects of some operating conditions onthe temperature distribution were studied using this simulation method. It was found that thetemperature distribution became broader with increased production rate and with decreasedrotational speed of the agitator.