Date of Last Revision
2023-05-02 14:10:28
Major
Chemical Engineering - Cooperative Education
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2015
Abstract
The project premise was to create a new temperature control scheme for an emulsion polymerization process at the pilot scale with intentions of implementing the system into a production facility in the near future. The data was collected using electronic instrumentation at a current emulsion polymerization pilot plant facility in real-time and saved in a Microsoft Excel format. The control scheme was based on three parameters: the rate of change, temperature dead band around the set point to determine heating or cooling, and a jacket fluid clamp temperature. After research and experimentation on actual emulsion polymerization batches it was determined that a rate of change of +/- 1°F/minute was ideal. The dead band was set at +/- 2°F of the set point and the jacket was clamped at +/- 17° F of the set point. Accurately controlling the temperature of incremental emulsion polymerization batches helps to improve particle size control and product quality.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Edward Evans
First Reader
Dr. Brian Doucet of OMNOVA Solutions
Second Reader
Dr. Lingyun Liu
Recommended Citation
Arnold, Evan M., "Temperature Control of an Emulsion Polymerization Process" (2015). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 106.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/106