Parameter estimation in a dynamic model of a copolymerization process

This paper presents the development of a mathematical model for a copolymerization process. The process model consists of the material balances for the reactor and simplified dynamics for the downstream separator. The dynamic model of the reactor consists of material balances including expressions for reaction kinetics. The kinetic expressions are simplified by using the quasi-steady-state assumption for active polymer chains and the moments of chain length distribution for the active and dead polymer chains. The model parameters are estimated using the maximum likelihood method. This model is augmented with an output disturbance model to obtain a closer representation of the actual polymerization process.