This paper presents a feasibility study of the broadening of polyethylene molecular weight distribution produced using a multisite Ziegler-Natta catalyst in a fluidized-bed reactor. A nonlinear model predictive control algorithm, applied to a validated model of the reactor, is used for the on-line control of the entire molecular weight distribution of the produced polymer. Control of a target chain-length distribution is achieved by selecting a collection of points in the distribution and using them as set points for the control algorithm. An on-line Kalman filter is used to incorporate infrequent and delayed off-line molecular weight measurements. Through simulation the control algorithm is evaluated, under tracking conditions as well as plant-model mismatch. The results demonstrate that the control algorithm can regulate the entire molecular weight distribution with minimum steady state error. However, the efficiency of this approach is highly dependent on the dynamics of hydrogen inside the reactor.

Molecular Weight Distribution Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Polymerization Reactor Control Polyethylene Fluidized-bed Reactor

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