4/30/2019 AspenTech: Knowledge Base

Is it possible to simulate the pyrolysis of high density

polyethylene (HDPE)?
Products: Aspen Plus, Aspen Polymers
Last Updated: 20-Jan-2017
Versions: Multiple, V7.3, V7.3.2, V8.0, V8.2, V8.4, V8.6, V8.8, V9.0
Article ID: 000026173
Primary Subject: Application
Attachments (2)

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Problem Statement
Is it possible to simulate the pyrolysis of high density polyethylene (HDPE)? What thermodynamic model should be
used?

Solution
Attached is a model of HDPE pyrolysis in Aspen Plus.

1.     Open a new le and start with polymer template,

2.     Add PC-SAFT to the database on the Components | Speci cations | Enterprise Database sheet.

3.     Specify HDPE to have a type of "oligomer" and ETHYLENE-R as "segment" on the Components | Speci cations |
Selection sheet. Include any other components desired in the simulation such as PROPANE, PROPYLENE, ETHANE,
ETHYLENE, METHANE, HYDROGEN, and ACETYLENE.

4.     On the Components | Polymers | Characterization form, specify that the ETHYLENE-R segment is of a type
"REPEAT" on the Segments sheet and specify that there are 1000 ethylene repeat units on the Oligomers sheet.

5.     Specify atom number NATOM on the Parameters | Pure Component form for HDPE as C=2, H=4 (repeat unit
basis)

6.     Set the property method to PC-SAFT on the Methods | Speci cations | Global sheet.

7.     In the Simulation Environment on the PFD, add an RGIBBS with one feed and one product.

8.     Specify polymer feed rate and thermodynamic conditions for the feed stream.

9.     Enter the RGIBBS temperature and pressure on the block's Setup | Speci cations sheet. De ne RGIBBS
products on the Setup | Products sheet explicitly as all components except the polymer.

The Model shows reasonable product distribution which depends on temperature

Temp Deg C 500 600 700 800 900 1000

PROPANE 0.012 0.017 0.019 0.016 0.011 0.006

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PROPYLEN 21.168 18.211 13.958 9.234 5.29 2.73

ETHANE 0.038 0.09 0.155 0.205 0.212 0.181
ETHYLENE 3.271 6.297 9.711 12.19 12.744 11.598
METHANE 0.343 1.206 3.08 6.017 9.296 11.808
H2 < 0.001 0.002 0.021 0.131 0.571 1.864
ACETYLEN 0.394 1.315 3.275 6.368 10.09 13.859
 
 

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Attachments

Filename Date Added

HDPE pyrolysisV73.bkp (/FileAttachment?id=a0g0B00000GfJgi) 18-Jan-2017

HDPE pyrolysisV732.bkp (/FileAttachment?id=a0g0B00000GfJgj) 18-Jan-2017

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