Abstract: A polymer reaction and quality optimizer that optimally determines all factors affecting the finished polymer prior to initiating the batch, uses the optimized parameters in setting up and starting the batch, in an on-line procedure for correcting assumptions made in the optimal determination based upon measurement responses from batch startup, and in an on-line procedure that periodically executes to determine and adapt reactor temperature control profiles across the remaining life of the batch to achieve the desired polymer properties and optimal polymer yield. The reaction and quality optimizer also determines at the end of a batch using several criteria if any of the equipment used within the process such as the reactor should be cleaned.

Abstract: A framework which allows a user to build a general purpose process flowsheet that represents a model of a process and by an interpreter generates from the flowsheet the model which can be used to execute applications selected from simulation, estimation and optimization. The framework includes various editors including a flowsheet editor and simulation, estimation and optimization activity editors. The framework also includes a task scheduler which commands simulation, estimation and optimization input generators to collect information from the flowsheet database and model library files and present them to the solution engine for solving the system of flowsheet models and equations. The single process model can be used in a number of on-line and off-line applications and the applications may be either dynamic or steady state. The process may be a batch process or a continuous process or any other kind of process.

Abstract: The cubic equations of state (CEOS) relate pressure, temperature and molar volume of a mixture. The deviation of the physical properties of a mixture from ideality is expressed by the compressibility factor. The compressibility factor is calculated from the CEOS. There is described a solution to the CEOS which provides a continuous solution for compressibility factors over the entire range of operating conditions. This solution avoids the non-unique roots, trivial roots and singularities that are present in the prior art solutions of the CEOS.