Method for carrying out polymerization processes

Claim 1

A CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR POLYMERIZING A MONOMERIC GASEOUS REACTANT IN THE PRESENCE OF A SOLID AND FINELY GRAINED CATALYST WHEREBY A POLYMER IS FORMED IN A PULVERULENT TO FINELY GRANULAR STATE WHICH COMPRISES: INTRODUCING AN EXCESS OF SAID GASEOUS REACTANT INTO A REACTION ZONE WITH A THROTTLED EXPANSION FROM A PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THE PRESSURE WITHIN SAID REACTION ZONE SUCH THAT THE SOLID POLYMER IS MAINTAINED IN A FLUIDIZED STATE AND THE COMPRESSION-REFRIGERATOR COOLING PRINCIPLE IS EMPLOYED TO COOL SAID THROTTLED GASEOUS REACTION SUFFICIENTLY TO NEUTRALIZE THE EXCESS EXOTHERMIC HEAT OF POLYMERIZATION, WITHDRAWING THE EXCESS UNPOLYMERIZED GASEOUS REACTANT FROM THE REACTION ZONE, RECOMPRESSING SAID EXCESS UNPOLYMERIZED GASEOUS REACTANT TO A PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THE PRESSURE WITHIN THE REACTION ZONE, COOLING AND RECYCLING SAID EXCESS UNPOLYMERIZED GASEOUS REACTANT AND RE-EXPANDING SAID GASEOUS REACTANT THROUGH A THROTTLE VALVE INTO SAID REACTION ZONE, SAID MONOMERIC GASEOUS REACTANT BEING EXPANDED INTO THE LOWER REGIUON OF THE REACTION ZONE THROUGH OPENINGS IN A HOLLOW SHAFT EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH SAID REACTION ZONE, SAID SHAFT BEING ROTATED SO AS TO PRODUCE ROTATING JETS OF SAID MONOMERIC GASEOUS REACTANT, AND MECHANICALLY AGITATING THE MIXTURE OF PULVERULENT POLYMER PRODUCED IN SAID REACTION ZONE AND SAID GRANULAR CATALYST WHEREBY AN INTIMATE MIXING IS PRODUCED IN THE REACTOR OF SAID GASEOUS MONOMERIC REACTANT AND SAID GRANULAR CATALYST.