Systems and techniques for heat removal in gas phase polymerization

Abstract

A technique of operating a gas phase fluidized bed polymerization reactor system may include feeding an olefin monomer and catalyst to a polymerization reactor. The monomer and the catalyst are contacted in a fluidized bed in the reactor to form a product including a polyolefin. A heat of polymerization is extracted from the reactor by recycling an inert condensable agent through the fluidized bed and condensing the inert condensable agent. The product is discharged from the reactor. The inert condensable agent includes propane, n-butane, or isobutane in a total mole fraction of greater than or equal to 0.50 of the inert condensable agent. A system including a gas phase fluidized bed polymerization reactor system may include a source of propane, n-butane, or isobutane for introduction into the polymerization system as an inert condensable agent. A loop slurry polymerization reactor system outlet may be the source of isobutane or propane.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.