A polymer is produced by the emulsion polymerization of acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate in a stirred vessel. The monomers and an aqueous solution of catalyst are fed to the polymerization reactor continuously. The product is withdrawn from the base of the vessel as a slurry.
Devise a control system for this reactor, and draw up a preliminary piping and instrument diagram. The following points need to be considered:
1. Close control of the reactor temperature is required.
2. The reactor runs 90% full.
3. The water and monomers are fed to the reactor separately.
4. The emulsion is a 30% mixture of monomers in water.
5. The flow of catalyst will be small compared with the water and monomer flows.
6. Accurate control of the catalyst flow is essential.