Systems and methods for mitigating polymer fouling

A method for reducing fouling in a polymerization system comprising a reactor coupled to a recycle system, the recycle system comprising at least one fouling-susceptible unit, the method comprising:

• inducing polymerization of a reactant with a catalyst in the reactor;
• circulating a fluidizing stream through the reactor and the at least one fouling-susceptible unit of the recycle system, the fluidizing stream comprising entrained particles;
• contacting the fluidizing stream with a catalyst poison at at least one location upstream of the at least one fouling-susceptible unit in the recycle system;
• suspending polymerization of the reactant over the catalyst;
• purging unconsumed catalyst poison from the system;
• and
• after the purging, restarting polymerization of the reactant in the reactor.

A polymerization system comprising:

• a reactor comprising a catalyst, the reactor being configured to induce polymerization of a reactant with the catalyst;
• a recycle system comprising at least one fouling-susceptible unit, the recycle system being coupled to the reactor, the recycle system being configured to circulate a fluidizing stream through the reactor and the at least one fouling-susceptible unit, the fluidizing stream comprising entrained particles;
• and
• at least one catalyst poison injection location in the recycle system and upstream of the fouling-susceptible unit, wherein the at least one catalyst poison injection location is capable of injecting a catalyst poison to an internal surface of the recycle system.