Control Strategy and Comparison of Tuning Methods for Continuous Lactide Ring‐Opening Polymerization. Issue 11 (11th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Costa, Liborio I.; Trommsdorff, Ulla
• Other Names: Hinrichsen Kai‐Olaf sponsoringEditor.; Klemm Elias sponsoringEditor.
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering & technology. Volume 39:Issue 11(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 2117
• Page End: 2125
• Publication Date: 2016-10-11
• Subjects: gProms -- Loop reactor -- Polylactic acid -- Process control -- Ring‐opening polymerization; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical processes -- Periodicals; 660.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201600235
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0930-7516

Abstract

Abstract: Polylactic acid is industrially produced by ring‐opening polymerization of lactide. This reaction is extremely sensitive to the level of monomer contaminants, thus posing some challenges for the operability of continuous processes. A control strategy was designed and the corresponding controller parameters were determined using gProms simulations by applying the Ziegler‐Nichols, Tyreus‐Luyben, and Cohen‐Coon methods. The simulation results show that the proposed strategy is effective in restoring the targeted process conditions after a sudden change in the level of contaminants, with the Cohen‐Coon controller providing the best results. Additionally, the simulations demonstrate that the use of automatic process control significantly reduces the pressure rise along the reactors after a feed disturbance, thus ensuring safer plant operation. Abstract : The closed‐loop dynamics of a continuous process for the manufacturing of polylactic acid by ring‐opening polymerization is studied by simulations. A control strategy is envisioned that dampens the negative effects of variations of monomer contaminants on the process. The implementation of the proposed control strategy can improve the operability, safety, and productivity of industrial plants.