Applications of Multi-Layer Perceptron Artificial Neural Networks for Polymerization of Expandable Polystyrene by Multi-Stage Dosing Initiator

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, I.R. IRAN

2 Department of Chemistry, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, I.R. IRAN

Abstract

In this research, Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) polymerization with conventional and Multi-stage Initiator Dosing (MID) methods is simulated by Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). In order to optimize MID method, an efficient algorithm was employed for optimal training of the neural network. An algorithm was used to train the MLP networks more rapidly and efficiently than the conventional procedures. The main objective of MID method implementation is to reduce the time of the polymerization and because of that, by having different tests (first stage polymerization at 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5 hours and different amounts of used initiator at common state 100, 80, 75, 70 percent and the different number of dosings 12, 10, 8, 6) it was found that in an optimal state, the first stage polymerization time can be 3 hours and amount of the used initiator can be reduced to 70% in comparison to common state and number of dosings can be 6 times. The results of the simulation showed that the time of the first step of the polymerization has been reduced, the amount of the used initiator has been optimized and the count of the dosing times reduced to half, and therefore the time of the EPS polymerization is reduced to 60% of the conventional method.

Keywords

Main Subjects


[1] Wang L., Wang C., Liu P., Jing Z., Ge X., Jiang Y., The Flame Resistance Properties of Expandable Polystyrene Foams Coated with Cheap and Effective Barrier Layer, Construction and Building Materials Elsevier, 176: 403-414 (2018).
[2] Huang J., Zhao Z., Chen T., Zhu Y., LV Z., Gong X., Niu Y., MA B., Preparation of Highly Dispersed Expandable Graphite/Polystyrene Composite Foam via Suspension Polymerization Non-Covalently Compatibilized by Polystyrene with Enhanced Fire Retardation, Carbon 13944, (2019). Doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2019.02.029.
[3] Yuan B., Wang G., Bai S., Liu P., Preparation of Halogen-Free Flame-Retardant Expandable Polystyrene Foam by Suspension Polymerization, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 136(29): 47779 (2019). Doi: 10.1002/app.47779.
[4] Kannan P., Biernacki J. J., Visco Jr D. P., Lambert W., Kinetics of the Thermal Decomposition of Expandable Polystyrene in Different Gaseous Environments, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis Elsevier, 84:139-144 (2009)
[6] Kwak J. I., An Y. J., Iced Block Method: An Efficient Method for Preparation of Micro-Sized Expanded Polystyrene Foams, Journal of Environmental Pollution Elsevier, 263: 114387(2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114387
[7] Battulga B., Kawahigashi M., Oyuntsetseg B., Behavior and Distribution of Polystyrene Foams on the Shore of Tuul River in Mongolia, Environmental Pollution Elsevier, 260: 113979 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113979
[8] Scheirs J., Priddy D., “Modern Styrenic Polymers”, Wiley Series in Polymer Science, England, (2003).
[9] Derakhshanfard F., Vaziri A., Fazeli N., Heydarinasab A., Optimization of Synthesis of Expandable Polystyrene by MultiStage Initiator Dosing, Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 13 (1): 20-31(2016).
[10] Herman H. A., Enschede O., Bart F., et al US Pat. 069983 (2011).
[11] Moghaddam H., Sargolzaei J., Asl M. H., Derakhshanfard F., Effect of Different Parameters on WEPS Production and Thermal Behavior Prediction Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Journal of Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 51: 480–486 (2012). DOI: 10.1080/03602559.2011.651243.
[12] Sun Q., Ertekin T., Screening and Optimization of Polymer Flooding Projects Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Based Proxies, Journal of Petroleum Science & Engineering, 185: 106617 (2019). Doi: 10.1016/j.petrol.2019.106617.
[13] Bispo V.D.D.S., Scheid C.M., Calcada L.A., Meleiro L.A.D.C., Development of an ANN-Based Soft-Sensor to Estimate the Apparent Viscosity of Water-Based Drilling Fluids, Journal of Petroleum Science & Engineering, 150: 69-73 (2017). Doi: 10.1016/j.petrol.2016.11.030.
[14] Babakhani S. M., Bahmani M., Shariati J., Badr K., Balouchi Y., Comparing the Capability of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and CSMHYD Program for Predicting of Hydrate Formation Pressure In Binary Mixtures, Journal of Petroleum Science & Engineering, 136: 78-87 (2015). Doi: 10.1016/j.petrol.2015.11.002.
[15] Shahsavand A., Ahmadpour A., Application of Optimal RBF Neural Networks for Optimization and Characterization of Porous Materials, Computers & Chemical Engineering, 29: 2134-2143 (2005).
[16] Ketabchi N., Naghibzadeh M., Adabi M., Esnaashari S.S., Faridi-Majidi R., Preparation and Optimization of Chitosan/Polyethylene Oxide Nanofiber Diameter Using Artificial Neural Networks, The Natural Computing Applications Forum, 28: 3131-3143 (2017). DOI: 10.1007/s00521-016-2212-0.
[17] Adibifard M., Tabatabaei-Nejad S.A.R., Khodapanaz E., Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to Estimate Reservoir Parameters in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs Using Well Test Data, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 122: 585-594 (2014).
[18] Hanna P., Hazaimeh H., Cotton W., Brooks J., Process for Making Gray Expanded Polystyrene, US Pat. 20190112447A1 (2007).
[20] Yang J., Yen S., Chiou N., Gou Z., Daniel T., Lee L.J., Synthesis and Foaming of Water Expandable Polystyrene-Activated Carbon (WEPSAC), Journal of Polymer, 50(14): 3169-3173 (2009). Doi: 10.1016/j.polymer.2009.05.007.
[21] Derakhshanfard F., Fzeli N., Vaziri A., Heydarinasab A., Kinetic Study of the Synthesis of Expandable Polystyrene via “Multi-Stage Initiator Dosing Method,  J. Polym. Res, 22: 118 (2015). DOI: 10.1007/S1096-015-0766-7.
[22] Bijhanmanesh M. J., Etesami N., Esfahany M. N., Continuous Dosing of Fast Initiator During Suspension Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride for Enhanced Productivity, “Mathematical Modeling and Experimental Study, Chemical Engineering Communications”, Tylor & Francis Group (2016). Doi: 10.1080/00986445.2016.1205981.
[23] Meulenbrugge L., Swieten A. P. V., Vanduffel, K. A. K., Westmije H., Polymerization Process Involving the Dosing Initiators, US Pat. 7173095B2 (2006).
[24] Littmann D., Finette A.A., Mohrbutter J.P., Wolfram S.G., Ethylene Polymerization in a High-Pressure Reactor with Improved Initiator Feeding, US Pat. 8217124B2 (2010).
[25] Derakhshanfard F., Mehralizadeh A., Application of Artificial Neural Networks for Viscosity of Crude Oil-Based Nanofluids Containing Oxide Nanoparticles, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 168: 263-272 (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.petrol.2018.05.018.
[26] Shahsavand A., DerakhshanFard F., Sotoudeh F., Application of Artificial Neural Networks for Simulation of Experimental CO2 Absorption Data in a Packed Column, Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 3(3): 518-529 (2011).
Agwu O E., Akpabio J.U., Alabi S.B., Dosunmu A., Artificial Intelligence Techniques and Their Applications in Drilling Fluid Engineering: A Review, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 167: 300-315 (2018). doi: 10.1016/j.petrol.2018.04.019.
[28] Enab K., Ertekin T., Artificial Neural Network-Based Design for Dual Lateral Well Applications, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 123: 84-95 (2014).  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2014.09.004
[29] Moradi G., Nazari M., Sahraei S., Investigation of Various Characterization Methods Using Generalized Distribution Model and Artificial Neural Network, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 127: 286-296 (2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2015.01.002.
[30] Girosi F., Poggio T., Networks and the Best Approximation Property, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Center for Biological Information Processing“, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, NA 02139, USA, (1989).