(78d) Numerical Analysis of Temperature Distributions in a Gas-Phase Polypropylene Reactor with a Single Helical Ribbon Agitator

A numerical simulation method was developed for estimating the temperature distribution in a commercial scale gas-phase polypropylene reactor with a single helical ribbon agitator. The local velocities of particle phase which needed for calculation were decided by locally averaging the individual particle velocity obtained by means of the DEM (Discrete Element method) simulation code developed by Kaneko et al. (2000, Powder Technology, 108, 55-64). The particle temperature distribution predicted by the present simulation was in good agreement with that obtained in the commercial scale reactor under high pressure condition. The high temperature region was found to form near the inner side of the agitator. The effects of some operating conditions on the temperature distribution were studied. It was found that the temperature distribution became wide with an increase in the production rate and a decrease in the rotational speed of the agitator.