Reactor system for rapid kill gas injection to gas phase polymerization reactors

In a fluid bed reactor system for polymerizing olefin monomers to a polymer in the presence of a catalyst comprising a vertical gas phase reactor means which comprises:

• a reactant inlet means at a first end of the reactor means and a venting means, comprising a first valve means, at a second end thereof,
• a fluidizing medium recovery means comprising a recycle line means, which contains a second valve means, in gas communication with said reactor means adapted to recover a fluidizing medium from an upper section of said reactor means and to recycle it to a lower section of said reactor means,
• a compressor means powering said fluidizing medium recovery means, and
• a kill gas injection means for terminating the reaction under emergency conditions to maintain the temperature in the reactor means below the sintering temperature of the polymer,
• an improvement comprising a means of increasing the rate of penetration of the kill gas through the reactor means which comprises a means defining and containing a supply of a carrier gas, which is not a poison for the catalyst, connected to the kill gas injection means, the kill gas and the carrier gas being injected into the reactor at the first end thereof, and a compressor failure sensing means in operative connection with:
• said first valve means;
• said second valve means;
• said venting means and said means defining and containing the carrier gas.