Abstract:
A method is described that includes contacting an olefin with a catalyst in a polymerization reactor, polymerizing at least a portion of the olefin to form an alpha olefin reaction product, detecting a condition within the polymerization reactor, determining an average temperature of at least one olefin product particle based on the condition, determining an operating particle temperature threshold using a foul curve, comparing the average temperature of the polymer particle to the operating particle temperature threshold, changing one or more operating parameters in response to the comparing, and maintaining the average temperature of the olefin polymer particle at or below the operating particle temperature threshold in response to changing the one or more operating parameters. The alpha olefin reaction product includes a plurality of olefin polymer particles, and the polymerization reactor includes a reaction mixture that includes the olefin, the catalyst, a diluent, and the alpha olefin reaction product.
Abstract:
Methods for producing polyolefin polymers may use a predictive melt index regression to estimate the melt index of the polyolefin during production based on the composition of the gas phase and, optionally, the concentration of catalyst in the reactor or reactor operating conditions. Such predictive melt index regression may include multiple terms to account for concentration of ICA in the reactor, optionally concentration of hydrogen in the reactor, optionally concentration of comonomer in the reactor, optionally the catalyst composition, and optionally reactor operating conditions. One or more terms may independently be represented by a smoothing function that incorporates a time constant.
Abstract:
The catalyst productivity of a polyolefin catalyst in the methods disclosed herein may be increased by increasing the concentration of an induced condensing agent (ICA) in the reactor system. The effect the increased ICA concentration may have on a melt index may be counteracted, if necessary, in various ways.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process for maintaining a continuous gas-phase (co-) polymerisation of olefins in a large fluidised bed reactor in a homogeneous mode whilst operating at high space time yield and condensation rate in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst.
Abstract:
Described herein are methods for monitoring and restoring electrical properties of polymerization reactor wall films. The method may comprise using a reactor wall monitor to monitor and determine an electrical property, such as the bed voltage or breakdown voltage, of the wall film. The method may further comprise adding continuity additive to the reactor and/or adjusting the feed rate of continuity additive being added to the reactor in response to the measured electrical property.
Abstract:
Techniques and systems for producing a polyolefin using reactors in series are described. Described embodiments include techniques and systems for polymerizing a monomer in a first polymerization reactor to form a first polyolefin, discharging a first slurry continuously from the first polymerization reactor to a second polymerization reactor, and discharging a second slurry continuously from the second polymerization reactor. Using continuous take-off devices disposed on either or both reactors, pressure control may be attained such that the rate of transfer between and withdrawal from both reactors are within a desired range.
Abstract:
Process for the preparation of ethylene homopolymers or copolymers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiator at from 100°C to 350°C and pressures in the range of from 160 MPa to 350 MPa in a high-pressure polymerization unit comprising a high-pressure reactor with one or more reaction zones, to each of which free-radical polymerization initiator is fed, which is controlled by a model based predictive controller carrying out the steps a) feeding target values for density and melt flow rate (MFR) of the ethylene homopolymer to be prepared as setpoint ranges to the controller if an ethylene homopolymers is prepared or feeding target values for density, MFR and copolymer composition of the ethylene copolymer of to be prepared as setpoint ranges to the controller if an ethylene copolymer is prepared; b) measuring data in the high-pressure polymerization unit and calculating by means of a model based on these data a value for the density of the ethylene homopolymer or copolymer currently prepared in the high-pressure reactor; c) independently of step b), measuring data in the high-pressure polymerization unit and calculating by means of a model based on these data a value for the MFR of the ethylene homopolymer or copolymer currently prepared in the high-pressure reactor; d) if an ethylene copolymer is prepared, independently of steps b) and c), measuring data in the high-pressure polymerization unit and calculating by means of a model based on these data a value for the copolymer composition of the ethylene copolymer currently prepared in the high-pressure reactor; e) feeding the calculated values for the density, for the MFR and, if an ethylene copolymer is prepared, for the copolymer composition as controlled variables to the controller; and f) measuring data in the high-pressure polymerization unit and calculating by means of the controller based on these measured data, the setpoint ranges fed in step a) and the values calculated in steps b), c) and d) as outputs setpoint ranges for manipulated variables of the high-pressure polymerization unit including setpoint ranges for feeding the free-radical polymerization initiator, wherein the calculation of the setpoint ranges for feeding the free-radical polymerization initiator is repeated at least every 3 minutes, method of controlling a process for the preparation of ethylene homopolymers or copolymers in a high-pressure reactor and method for transitioning from one grade to another in a process for the preparation of ethylene homopolymers or copolymers in a high-pressure reactor.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for monitoring a polymerization reactor are provided. The method can include estimating an acoustic condition of a polymer produced in a reactor. The method can also include estimating a stickiness control parameter of the polymer produced in the reactor. The method can further include pairing the acoustic condition with the stickiness control parameter to provide a paired acoustic condition and stickiness control parameter.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a propylene copolymer P1 having ethylene-derived comonomer units, which comprises the following steps: (i) introducing propylene, ethylene, and hydrogen into a polymerisation reactor R1, wherein the ethylene is fed to the polymerisation reactor R1 in a periodically varying amount, (ii) preparing the propylene copolymer in the polymerisation reactor R1 in the presence of a catalyst.