EP0089691A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Continuous process for the production of polymer in a fluidized bed reactor
Assignee: Union Carbide Corp
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Filing: 1983-03-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A process is described for increasing the space time yield of polymer production in a fluidized bed reactor employing an exothermic polymerization reaction by cooling the recycle stream to below its dew point and returning the resultant two-phase fluid stream to the reactor to maintain the fluidized bed at a desired temperature above the dew point of the recycle stream.
Inventors
- 👤 John Mitchell Jenkins, Iii
- 👤 Russell Lawrence Jones
- 👤 Thomas Michael Jones
- 👤 Samil Beret
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:47
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08F; C08F2/00; C08F2/34; B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/18; B01J8/1809; B01J8/1836; C08F10/00; B01J2208/00; B01J2208/00008; B01J2208/00017; B01J2208/00106; B01J2208/00168; B01J2208/00256; B01J2208/00265; B01J2208/00274; B01J2208/00292; B01J2208/00327; B01J2208/00336; B01J2208/00353; B01J2208/00371; B01J2208/00743; B01J2208/00761
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
In a continuous process for the production of polymer in a fluidized bed reactor from one or more fluid monomers by continuously passing a gaseous stream through said reactor in the presence of catalyst under reactive conditions, withdrawing polymeric product and unreacted fluids, cooling said unreacted fluids and returning said cooled fluids into said reactor together with sufficient additional monomers to replace those monomers polymerized and withdrawn as product, the improvement which comprises: cooling part or all of said unreacted fluids to form a two-phase mixture of gas and entrained liquid and reintroducing said two-phase mixture into said reactor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a continuous process for the production of polymer in a fluidized bed reactor from one or more fluid monomers by continuously passing a gaseous stream through said reactor in the presence of catalyst under reactive conditions, withdrawing polymeric product and unreacted fluids, cooling said unreacted fluids and returning said cooled fluids into said reactor together with sufficient additional monomers to replace those monomers polymerized and withdrawn as product, the improvement which comprises: cooling part or all of said unreacted fluids to form a two-phase mixture of gas and entrained liquid and reintroducing said two-phase mixture into said reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein said two-phase mixture of gas and entrained liquid is introduced into said reactor at a point below the fluidized bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein said unreacted fluids are compressed prior to cooling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein means are provided to maintain the liquid phase of said two-phase mixture entrained in the gas phase of said mixture until such time as such liquids become volatilized or enter the fluidized bed of said reactor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein the velocity of said gas stream within said reactor is at or above a level sufficient to maintain said bed in a suspended and fluidized condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein an inert condensible fluid is present in said two-phase mixture to raise the dew point of said mixture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An improved process according to claim 6 wherein said inert condensible fluid is a saturated hydrocarbon. |
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid phase of said two-phase mixture is less than about 20 percent by weight of the total weight of said two-phase mixture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid phase of said two-phase mixture is less than about 10 percent by weight of the total weight of said two-phase mixture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein the flow rate of said two-phase mixture and the ratio of liquid to gas in said mixture are maintained at a level sufficient to maintain said liquid entrained in said gas until volatilized or until said liquid enters the fluidized bed of said reactor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein said two-phase mixture is divided into at least two separate streams at least one of which is introduced into the reactor at a point below the fluidized bed and one or more of said streams is optionally introduced into said fluidized bed, provided that the velocity of all gases introduced below said fluidized bed is at least sufficient to support said bed and to maintain it in a fluidized condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein the gas stream flowing upwardly through said fluidized bed is essentially uniform in composition and moving in a manner through said bed such that the entire bed is maintained in a fluidized condition and with essentially no dead spaces through which gases do not pass.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein said additional monomers added to replace monomers polymerized and withdrawn as product, are introduced into the reactor in liquid form, below the fluidized bed and at or near the point of entry of said two-phase mixture into said reactor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein said additional monomers added to replace monomers polymerized and withdrawn as product are introduced into the recycle stream prior to entry of the said two-phase mixture into the reactor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein gas distributor means is provided immediately below the fluidized bed and above the region wherein said two-phase mixture is introduced into said reactor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein the internal pressure within said reactor is from about 100 psi to about 350 psi.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An improved process according to claim 1 wherein said monomer is an alpha olefin monomer having from two to four carbon atoms alone or in admixture with one or more other alpha olefin monomers having from two to eight carbon atoms.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for controlling the temperature of a fluidized bed during the production of polymers in a fluidized bed reactor by an exothermic polymerization reaction, which comprises continuously introducing into the bed a stream of gas cooled to below the maximum desired temperature within said bed and simultaneously or separately introducing a stream of liquid into said reactor under conditions such that an essentially uniform two-phase mixture of said gas and liquid is introduced in said bed at a level below the region of maximum desired temperature within said reactor.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for controlling the temperature of a fluidized bed during the production of polymers in a fluidized bed reactor by an exothermic polymerization reaction, which comprises continuously introducing into the bed a stream of gas cooled to below the maximum desired temperature within said bed and simultaneously or separately introducing a stream of liquid into said reactor under conditions such that an essentially uniform two-phase mixture of said gas and liquid is introduced in said bed at a level below the region of maximum desired temperature within said reactor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process for producing polymers from one or more monomers by an exothermic polymerization reaction in a fluidized bed reactor having an upper polymerization zone containing a bed of growing polymer particles and a lower gas diffusion zone, which comprises: 1) continuously introducing a two-phase gas-liquid stream containing one or more monomers into said polymerization zone with an upward velocity sufficient to maintain said particles in a suspended and gas fluidized condition; 2) continuously introducing a polymerization catalyst into said polymerization zone; 3) continuously withdrawing polymer product from said polymerization zone; and 4) continuously withdrawing unreacted gases from the said polymerization zone, compressing and cooling said gases to a temperature below the dew point of said gases.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process for producing polymers from one or more monomers by an exothermic polymerization reaction in a fluidized bed reactor having an upper polymerization zone containing a bed of growing polymer particles and a lower gas diffusion zone, which comprises: 1) continuously introducing a two-phase gas-liquid stream containing one or more monomers into said polymerization zone with an upward velocity sufficient to maintain said particles in a suspended and gas fluidized condition; 2) continuously introducing a polymerization catalyst into said polymerization zone; 3) continuously withdrawing polymer product from said polymerization zone; and 4) continuously withdrawing unreacted gases from the said polymerization zone, compressing and cooling said gases to a temperature below the dew point of said gases.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein said two-phase mixture of gas and entrained liquid is introduced into said reactor at a point below the'polymerization zone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein said unreacted fluids are compressed prior to cooling.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein an inert condensible fluid is present in said two-phase mixture to raise the dew point of said mixture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
An improved process according to claim 22 wherein said inert condensible fluid is a saturated hydrocarbon.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein the liquid phase of said two-phase mixture is less than about 20 percent by weight of the total weight of said two-phase mixture.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein the liquid phase of said two-phase mixture is less than about 10 percent by weight of the total weight of said two-phase mixture.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein the flow rate of said two phase mixture and the ratio of liquid to gas in said mixture are maintained at a level sufficient to maintain said liquid entrained in said gas until volatilized or until entry into said polymerization zone.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein the gas stream flowing upwardly through said fluidized bed is essentially uniform in composition and moving in a manner through said bed such that the entire bed is maintained in a fluidized condition and with essentially no dead spaces through which gases do not pass.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein additional quantities of one or more monomers in liquid or gaseous form are added to replace monomers polymerized and withdrawn as product, below the polymerization zone and at or near the point of entry of said two-phase mixture ° into said reactor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein additional quantities of one or more monomers are added to replace monomers polymerized and withdrawn as product by injection into the gas-liquid stream prior to entry of the said two-phase mixture into the reactor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein gas distributor means is provided immediately below said polymerization zone.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein the internal pressure within said reactor is from about 100 psi to about 350 psi.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein said . polymer is. produced by reaction of an alpha olefin monomer having from two to four carbon atoms alone or in admixture with one or more other alpha olefin monomers having from two to eight carbon atoms.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
39 words
A method for controlling the temperature of a fluidized bed during the production of polymers in a fluidized bed reactor, by an exothermic polymerization reaction, which comprises continuously introducing into said bed an essentially uniform gas-liquid mixture containing monomer.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
39 words
A method for controlling the temperature of a fluidized bed during the production of polymers in a fluidized bed reactor, by an exothermic polymerization reaction, which comprises continuously introducing into said bed an essentially uniform gas-liquid mixture containing monomer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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