Self cleaning reactor system
AssigneeNOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
InventorsStephen Brown, Peter Zoricak, Eric Clavelle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a self cleaning reactor and to a process for the oligomerization of ethylene that employs a self-cleaning reactor. The reactor includes a mass of inert, particulate cleaning bodies that are entrained by the liquid in the reactor and scour the internal surfaces of the reactor during normal operation. This scouring action reduces the level of fouling on the reactor surfaces. Foulant material (polyethylene) is removed from the process on a continuous basis but the cleaning bodies remain within the reactor.
Claims10
A process for the removal of by-product polyethylene from a continuous flow, mixed, oligomerization reactor, said process comprising:
- a) providing input flows comprising ethylene, solvent, and an oligomerization catalyst system to said reactor;
- b) oligomerizing ethylene under continuous flow conditions within said reactor;
- and
- c) providing a discharge stream from said reactor comprising solvent, oligomer product and polyethylene by-product;
- characterized in that said process is conducted in the presence of a mass of reactor cleaning bodies, with the proviso that substantially all of said cleaning bodies remain within said reactor during said process,
- wherein:
- each of the reactor cleaning bodies has a particle size of from about 2 millimeters to about 2 centimeters,
- the cleaning bodies have a specific gravity that is greater than a specific gravity of the discharge stream, and
- the reactor comprises an agitator operated under conditions that are sufficient to suspend at least a portion of the cleaning bodies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.