Method for rapid kill gas injection to gas phase polymerization reactors during power failures
AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation
InventorsJohn E. Cook, Robert O. Hagerty, Frederick W. Jacob
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a method for terminating a gas phase olefin polymerization reaction with a kill gas such as carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. The method involves the use of coast-down flow of recycle gas during a failure of the power source of a compressor to carry kill gas into the reaction medium. The method is particularly adaptable to a fluid bed reactor system.
Claims16
A method for terminating a gas phase fluid bed or stirred bed olefin polymerization reaction during a power failure, said olefin polymerization reaction taking place in the presence of a transition metal-based catalyst system in a reactor having a gas recycle line means equipped with a compressor, said compressor producing a coast-down flow of recycle gas for at least one minute during the power failure, said method comprising injecting within 10 to 30 seconds after said power failure an amount of kill gas into said recycle line means sufficient to terminate the olefin polymerization reaction, whereby said kill gas is carried into the reaction medium by said coast-down flow of the recycle gas during said power failure.
A method for rapidly terminating a gas phase olefin polymerization reaction taking place in the presence of a transition metal-based catalyst system in a fluid bed reactor system, said reactor system comprising a vertical reactor wherein said polymerization takes place and a fluidizing medium recycle line means in fluid communication with said reactor equipped with a compressor, said method being actuated in the event of failure of the power source of said compressor, said compressor producing a coast-down flow of recycle gas for at least one minute during said failure, said method comprising injecting, within 10 to 30 seconds after said failure of the power source, into said fluidizing medium recycle line means an amount of kill gas sufficient to terminate the olefin polymerization reaction, whereby said kill gas is carried into the reaction medium by the coast-down flow of recycle gas during the failure of the power source of said compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.