Phase-stabilized ethylene alpha olefin copolymerization process

A method for maintaining an intermediate polymer solution in a solution polymerization reactor (1) in a single phase or for maintaining an effluent stream originating from the solution polymerization reactor in a single phase, comprising:

• feeding an inert hydrocarbon to the solution polymerization reactor (1);
• wherein the intermediate polymer solution is obtained by copolymerizing ethylene and at least one C3 to C8 alpha olefin copolymer in the solution polymerization reactor (1);
• and
• wherein the intermediate polymer solution comprises between 0.05 and 30 wt. % of the inert hydrocarbon, based on a total weight of the intermediate polymer solution;
• and
• wherein the inert hydrocarbon has a boiling point T(BP) that fullfills an inequality 90° C.<T(BP)<130° C.

A method for maintaining a heated effluent stream heated in a heat exchanger (2) in a single phase, comprising:

• copolymerizing ethylene and at least one C3 to C8 alpha olefin in a solvent in a solution polymerization reactor (1) to obtain an intermediate polymer solution;
• discharging an effluent stream from the intermediate polymer solution into a heat exchanger (2);
• feeding an inert hydrocarbon having a boiling point T(BP) fulfilling 90° C.<T(BP)<130° C. to the effluent stream discharged from the solution polymerization reactor (1) into the heat exchanger (2);
• and
• setting a temperature of the effluent stream in the heat exchanger (2) to obtain the heated effluent stream;
• wherein the intermediate polymer solution comprises between 0.05 and 30 wt. % of the inert hydrocarbon having a boiling point T(BP) fulfilling 90° C.<T(BP)<130° C., based on a total weight of the intermediate polymer solution.