Processes for producing poly alpha olefins and method of analysis and apparatuses therefor

A process to produce a poly alpha olefin, the process comprising:

• introducing a first olefin monomer to a first catalyst and an activator in a first reactor to form a first reactor effluent comprising olefin dimers;
• introducing the first reactor effluent to a distillation unit to form a distillation effluent comprising olefin dimers;
• introducing the distillation effluent to a second catalyst and a second olefin monomer in a second reactor to form a second reactor effluent comprising the poly alpha olefin, wherein the poly alpha olefin comprises olefin trimers;
• removing a first sample from a first line extending between the first reactor and the distillation unit and removing a second sample from a second line extending between the distillation unit and the second reactor;
• measuring an amount of the olefin dimers in each of the first and second samples in one or more gas chromatographs in substantially real-time, wherein the olefin dimers comprise vinylidene dimers and/or trisubstituted dimers, wherein the trisubstituted dimers comprise cis-trisubstituted dimers and/or trans-trisubstituted dimers;
• and
• adjusting one or more process conditions to increase an amount of the trisubstituted dimers, wherein adjusting the one or more process conditions comprises adjusting one or more reactor conditions for the first reactor, adjusting one or more distillation conditions of the distillation unit, heating the first reactor effluent flowing through the first line, and/or heating the distillation effluent flowing through the second line.