Implementation
The cost of the implementation is dependent on the plant inventory at the commencement of the project. Some plants, in the range of PP, LLDPE and HDPE, may require dedicated ex-reactor samplers and powder analysers as shown in Schematic above. Otherwise a finished sample stream will suffice. In the cases of LDPE, PS, PU and PET the reaction properties can be measured on the finished product, thus saving the cost of a separate Analyser.
Notes
- MFI & Density measurements can be made at a relatively low frequency and still be effective in APC Control. However, the ‘Rheology’ route to corrective control and ‘No-Fail’ QC requires automated, high frequency, high precision and full-time calibration of the rheometer.
- MCS is active in the development of rheometer techniques, with the long-term objectives to eliminate the need for laboratory MFI measurement and to promulgate the advancement of rheology in process control.
- OCS has taken on the manufacture and sales of rheometers originally developed by Porpoise. The optical measurement equipment is complemented by rheometers in the world renowned Integrated Platform – the benchmark for the Polymer Industry test facility.