Autorefrigeration process and apparatus
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsStuart B. Smith, James J. McAlpin, Jose M. A. Peruyero, Ronald L. Hazelton, Edward F. Upchurch
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Abstract
The fouling of autorefrigeration polymerization systems because of entrained particles in the vaporized solvent-diluent is substantially reduced by returning the recycle solvent-diluent into the reaction zone through nozzles which provide a solvent-diluent spray of an average droplet size of less than 1000 microns, preferably between about 225 and 300 micron average particle size, which spray removes major amounts of entrained particles down to 5 microns in size. The solvent diluent may be an inert material or unreacted alpha-olefin, such as propylene.
Claims7
In an autorefrigeration reaction of alpha-olefins to produce polymers comprising reacting C.sub.2 to C.sub.8 alpha-olefins in the presence of a catalyst at temperatures in the range of 20.degree. to 80.degree. C in a solvent-diluent in liquid phase in a reaction zone, vaporizing a portion of said solvent-diluent from the liquid phase in said reaction zone, said vaporized solvent-diluent containing entrained polymer particles in the range of 3 to 15 microns, removing, condensing said solvent-diluent, and returning a portion of said solvent-diluent to said reaction zone, wherein the improvement comprises returning condensed, solvent-diluent to said reaction zone as a spray, having a drop average particle size of less than 1000 microns, said vaporized solvent-diluent passing through said spray whereby over 50 weight % of said entrained polymer particles of 5 microns and larger are removed from said vaporized solvent-diluent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.