CONTROL OF POLYMERIZATION REACTORS

For the control of polymerization processes, fundamental models play a very important role. This is due to a number of reasons: the lack of available on- line sensors, the complexity of the polymerization process, and the nonlinear operating space of batch and semi-batch reactors. Most early research on polymerization reactor control centered around simulation and open-loop optimal control policies using these models. Recently, significant progress in modelling, sensor development, and nonlinear control methods has opened the way for closed- loop control of some fundamental polymer quality variables.This paper will highlight some of the most important past theoretical and practical developments, and will discuss some future directions for research.