Patent ID: 8140307

Claim:
A devolatilization simulation apparatus for screw extruders, comprising: a memory that stores: instructions for determining parameters inside of a screw extruder from a configuration of the extruder, operating conditions of the extruder and physical properties of a resin inside the extruder comprising a concentration of volatile components; and instructions for simulating a flash devolatilization process for the volatile components based at least in part on the parameters, wherein the concentration of the volatile components gradually decreases as the volatile components undergo the devolatilization process, wherein the instructions for simulating the flash devolatilization process comprise: C DEV =( X/ 100) Q−C OUT , ρ A □=ρ AR x ω, ρ□=1/[(1− x/ 100)/ρ p ]+( x/ 100)(1/ρ A ), and C A0 =( P A /S A )(ρ A /ρ)/exp(1+χ), where C out is a quantity of the volatile components that flow out, C AO is an equilibrium concentration, C DEV is a quantity of discharged volatile components, ω is an expansion factor, ρ is a density of a mixture solution, ρ AR is a density of the volatile components at a reference temperature, ρ A is a density of the volatile components in the mixture solution, ρ p is a density of the resin, S A is a saturated vapor pressure of the volatile components, P A is a partial pressure of the volatile components and X is a mutual interference coefficient of the volatile components; and a processor that executes the instructions for determining and the instructions for simulating.