Calorimetric Estimation Employing the Unscented Kalman Filter for a Batch Emulsion Polymerization Reactor

摘要

Reaction calorimetry is a very useful tool to monitor exothermic polymerization reactions as it is based on the estimation of the heat generated by the reaction. The objective of this work is to analyze the performance of an unscented Kalman filter (UKF) for online monitoring of batch vinyl acetate emulsion polymerization reactions. Reactions are performed in isoperibolic and isothermal conditions. The UKF is compared to an extended Kalman filter that has a very poor performance. The results show that the UKF is able to provide good estimates for the conversion, for the reactor and jacket temperatures, for the overall heat transfer coefficient between the reaction medium and the jacket, and for the heat loss from the jacket to the surroundings.