US 3,944,534 A · Gaseous-phase polymerization of olefins

Abstract

Gaseous-phase polymerization of an .alpha.-olefin with a catalyst and without a liquid dispersant is carried out under the following conditions: 1. A solid phase comprising said catalyst and particulate olefin polymer is caused principally by mechanical agitation to undergo circulation in the up-and-down directions within a reaction chamber of substantially vertical-cylinder type, a reaction bed being formed by said circulating solid phase; 2. The ratio of the diameter to height of said reaction bed is of the order of from 1 : 0.5 to 1 : 3; 3. The starting-material .alpha.-olefin is supplied in liquid state into the reaction chamber from a point above the reaction bed and vaporized within the reaction chamber; and 4. Heat of polymerization reaction is removed principally by the latent heat of vaporization absorbed by said vaporization of the liquid .alpha.-olefin.

Claims13

Dependent claims

In the production of an olefin polymer by contacting an .alpha.-olefin in a gaseous phase with a polymerization catalyst substantially in the absence of a liquid dispersing agent thereby to casue said .alpha.-olefin to undergo gaseous-phase polymerization, the improved process wherein said polymerization is carried out under the following conditions:

1. a solid phase comprising said catalyst and particulate olefin polymer is caused principally by mechanical agitation to undergo circulation in the up-and-down directions within a reaction chamber of substantially vertical-cylinder type, a reaction bed being formed by said circulating solid phase;
2. the ratio of the diameter to height of said reaction bed is of the order of from 1 :
0.5 to 1 :
3
3. substantially all the starting-material .alpha.-olefin is supplied in a liquid state into the reaction chamber from a point above the reaction bed and vaporized within the reaction chamber;
and
4. heat of said polymerization reaction is removed principally by the latent heat of vaporization absorbed by said vaporization of the liquid .alpha.-olefin.

4 more elements

Apparatus for gaseous-phase polymerization of olefins comprising a reaction chamber of substantially vertical cylinder type for effecting contact between a gaseous-phase .alpha.-olefin and a solid-phase comprising a polymerization catalyst and a particulate olefin polymer;

a solid-phase circulation mechanism for circulating said solid phase in the up-and-down directions within said reaction chamber, said mechanism not extending to the top part of the reaction chamber;
a device for supplying liquid .alpha.-olefin to said solid-phase, provided within the reaction chamber, spaced above said solid-phase circulation mechanism out of contact therewith, said device for supplying liquid .alpha.-olefin being comprised of at least one nozzle provided with a plurality of small orifices so directed that the olefin thus supplied is dispersed and contacts the reaction bed substantially in the liquid state;
an extraction device disposed in said reaction chamber above the level of said device for supplying liquid .alpha.-olefin for extracting gaseous-phase .alpha.-olefin from the reaction chamber, whereby extraction of said solid phase with said gaseous .alpha.-olefin is substantially avoided and a device disposed in said reaction chamber for supplying said cataylst to said solid phase disposed in the top and/or a side wall of said reaction chamber.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gaseous-phase polymerization of olefins

Life of this patent

Gaseous-phase polymerization of olefins

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13