| abstract |
The properties of a resinous material product are controlled in a manufacturing system by online process parameter monitoring and control. The online monitoring and control incorporates an in situ measurement system that can monitor product in the process by use of a side stream ultrasonic device. The side stream device advantageously provides online real-time measures of the product's acoustical properties (for example, velocity, attenuation) under conditions that are independent of process-stream conditions. THe side stream device controls the product temperature, pressure, and flow rate while inside the side stream device and the velocity and attenuation are measured under these predetermined temperature, pressure, and flow rate conditions. The acoustical properties (for example, velocity, attenuation) of the product, are used to predict the properties of the product, and provides the process control system with analysis of the acoustical properties using derived relationships between the physical properties of the product and the acoustical properties. Differences between the predicted and desired product properties are used to control process parameters. The process can be used for a variety of chemical process plants. |