Abstract:
Process for the polymerization of ethylene or of ethylene with further 1 -olefins, in which the ethylene is polymerized in the presence of a catalyst in a gas-phase reactor and reaction gas comprising propane and unpolymerized ethylene is circulated to remove the heat of polymerization, wherein the polymer particles are discharged continuously or discontinuously from the reactor, the polymer particles are separated from the major part of the concomitantly discharged gas and the polymer particles are degassed, the gas is freed of entrained fine particles and is separated from a low-boiling fraction comprising ethylene or from a high boiling fraction containing further 1-olefins or alkanes having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms in a first separation stage, a propane fraction is separated off in a second separation stage and this propane fraction is used for degassing the polymer particles discharged from the reactor, with the proportion of ethylene in the propane fraction being less than 1 mol% and the proportion of 1-olefins and alkanes having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms in the propane fraction being less than 4 mol%, in each case based on the total propane fraction. Furthermore, an apparatus for carrying out the process. In this way, a high heat discharge from the reactor, satisfactory degassing of the discharged polymer particles and recovery of the reaction gas discharged together with the polymer particles and also the gas used for degassing the polymer particles are made possible.
Abstract:
A method of discharging polymer from a continuously operated polymerization reactor, wherein at least a monomer is polymerized to form polymer particles, the method comprising adjusting the discharge rate of the polymer particles by means of a piston valve having a piston element connected to an actuator, said actuator being able to modulate the piston stroke inside said piston valve.
Abstract:
A continuous process for the olefin polymerization in a fluidized bed reactor, said process comprising continuously passing a gaseous stream comprising one or more α-olefin monomers through the fluidized bed in the presence of a polymerization catalyst under reactive conditions, withdrawing polymeric product and unreacted fluids from the reactor, cooling part of said unreacted fluids below the dew point to form a two-phase mixture of gas and condensed liquid and reintroducing said two-phase mixture into the reactor, the process being characterized in that said twophase mixture is reintroduced under the distribution plate of the reactor so that a part of condensed liquid is separated from the gas and is successively fed above the fluidized bed through an external pipe connecting the bottom of the reactor to a point situated above the upper limit of the fluidized bed of polymer particles.
Abstract:
A process for the gas-phase polymerization of α-olefms carried out in two interconnected polymerization zones, wherein the growing polymer particles flow through the first of said polymerization zones (riser) under fast fluidization conditions, leave said riser and enter the second of said polymerization zones (downcomer) through which they flow downward in a densified form, the process being characterized in that: (a) the gas mixture present in the riser is totally or partially prevented from entering the downcomer by introducing into the upper part of said downcomer a liquid stream LB having a composition different from the gaseous mixture present in the riser; (b) the ratio R between the flow rate F p of polymer circulated between said downcomer and said riser and the flow rate LB of said liquid being adjusted in a range from 10 to 50.
Abstract:
A process to perform the finishing of polyolefins produced by gas-phase catalytic polymerization of one or more α-olefms in the presence of a polymerization diluent selected from a C 3 -C 5 alkane, wherein the polyolefm granules discharged from the gas-phase reactor are subjected to: (1) a first degassing step in which said polyolefm is counter-currently contacted with a gaseous stream containing at least 85% by mol of a stripping agent selected from a C 3 -C 5 alkane, said gaseous stream being continuously derived from the monomer recovery section of the polymerization plant; (2) a second degassing step in which said polyolefm is counter-currently contacted with steam, the amount of steam being from 10 to 200 Kg per 1000 kg of polyolefin.
Abstract:
A process to perform the finishing of polyolefins produced by gas-phase catalytic polymerization of one or more a-olefms in the presence of a polymerization diluent selected from a C 3 -C 5 alkane, wherein the polyolefm granules discharged from the gas-phase reactor are subjected to: (1) a first degassing step in which said polyolefm is counter-currently contacted with a gaseous stream containing at least 85% by mol of a stripping agent selected from a C 3 -C 5 alkane, said gaseous stream being continuously derived from the monomer recovery section of the polymerization plant; (2) a second degassing step in which said polyolefm is counter-currently contacted with steam, the amount of steam being from 10 to 200 Kg per 1000 kg of polyolefin.
Abstract:
A gas-phase process for polymerizing one or more α-olefins in a fluidized bed reactor in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, said fluidized bed reactor being equipped with a fluidization grid arranged at its base, and external means for recycling and cooling the unreacted gas from the top of said reactor to said fluidization grid, the process being characterized by: (i) a continuous pneumatic recycle of polymer by means of a circulation loop connecting said fluidization grid to the upper region of the fluidized bed reactor; (ii) a continuous discharge of polymer from a zone of said circulation loop having a polymer concentration higher than the polymer concentration inside the fluidized polymer bed.
Abstract:
Method for continuously removing the unreacted butene-1, and optionally other volatile components, from a polymeric solution obtained by liquid phase (co)polymerization of butene-1, the method comprising the steps of: subjecting the polymeric solution to heating and mixing conditions such that a mixture is formed consisting substantially of: (1) a polybutene melt containing entrapped butene-1 and (2) supercritical gaseous butene-1; subjecting the above mixture to a sequence of devolatilization steps operating at decreasing pressures.
Abstract:
Continuous process for the gas phase polymerization of one or more olefins CH2=CHR, carried out in one or more fluidised-bed reactors comprising a polymerization zone and a gas velocity reduction zone situated above the bed. The fluidised bed reactor is joined to a gas recycle line, which include at least a compressor and at least a cooling device, by means of which the gas exiting at the top of the reactor is compressed, cooled and again sent to the reactor at a point below the reaction zone. The process is characterized by the fact that the make-up monomer or monomers are directly sent to the fluidised bed reactor in one or more points above the fluidised bed.
Abstract:
A process to perform the finishing of a polyolefin produced by polymerization of one or more α-olefins, the process comprising: (1) contacting a polyolefin discharged from a polymerization reactor with a counter-current flow of saturated steam, so as to strip away the gases from said polyolefin and to form condensed steam on the particles of said polyolefin; (2) drying the polyolefin particles by means of a counter-current flow of a dry inert gas, said flow of dry inert gas maintaining the polyolefin particles in fluidization conditions, the evaporation of said condensed steam cooling the polyolefin.