Component Separations in Polymerization

A process for component separation in a polymer production system, comprising:

• separating a polymerization product stream into a gas stream and a polymer stream, wherein the gas stream comprises ethane and unreacted ethylene;
• distilling the gas stream into an intermediate hydrocarbon stream and a first bottoms stream, wherein the intermediate hydrocarbon stream comprises ethane, ethylene, and isobutane;
• distilling the intermediate hydrocarbon stream into a light hydrocarbon stream and a second bottoms stream, wherein the light hydrocarbon stream comprises ethane and ethylene;
• contacting the light hydrocarbon stream with an absorption solvent system, wherein at least a portion of the unreacted ethylene from the light hydrocarbon stream is absorbed by the absorption solvent system;
• and
• recovering a waste gas stream from the absorption solvent system, wherein the waste gas stream comprises ethane, hydrogen, or combinations thereof.

A process for component separation in a polymer production system, comprising:

• polymerizing olefin monomers in a first polymerization reactor to yield a mid-polymerization product stream;
• separating the mid-polymerization product stream into a mid-gas stream and a mid-polymer stream, wherein the mid-gas stream comprises ethane, unreacted ethylene, and hydrogen;
• and
• polymerizing the mid-polymer stream in a second polymerization reactor.

A process for component separation in a polymer production system, comprising:

• polymerizing olefin monomers in a first polymerization reactor;
• separating a mid-polymerization product stream into a mid-gas stream and a mid-polymer stream, wherein the mid-gas stream comprises ethane and unreacted ethylene;
• polymerizing the mid-polymer stream in a second polymerization reactor;
• and
• introducing a scavenger prior to the second polymerization reactor.

A process for component separation in a polymer production system, comprising:

• polymerizing olefin monomers in a first polymerization reactor to yield a mid-polymerization product stream;
• degassing at least a portion of hydrogen from the mid-polymerization product stream to yield a hydrogen-reduced product stream;
• separating the hydrogen-reduced product stream into a mid-gas stream and a mid-polymer stream, wherein the mid-gas stream comprises ethane and unreacted ethylene;
• and
• polymerizing the mid-polymer stream in a second polymerization reactor.