Fluidized bed polymerization reactor with multiple fluidization grids
AssigneeUnion Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
InventorsRobert James Jorgensen, Steven Paul Sawin
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Abstract
The invention teaches a novel design for a fluidized bed polymerization reactor which utilizes a primary fluidization grid to provide mixing and fluidization of the polymer and at least one secondary distribution plate located above the first distribution plate to promote segregation of polymer particles by size, the larger particles falling into the lower fluidization zone and the smaller particles being entrained up from the primary fluidization grid and through the secondary distribution grid into an upper reaction zone.
Claims10
A gas-phase polymerization reactor comprising a housing having disposed therein cylindrical reaction zones of diameter D and a transport disengaging section having a diameter greater than D, said housing comprising:
- a. a primary fluidization grid disposed within said housing, the primary fluidization grid having means to provide mixing and fluidization of granular polymer particles;
- b. at least one secondary fluidization grid above the primary fluidization grid, the secondary fluidization grid having means to promote segregation of granular polymer particles and to allow polymer particles to fall through the at least one secondary fluidization grid;
- c. a primary reaction zone above the at least one secondary fluidization grid having diameter D, the primary reaction zone including a fluidized bed containing growing granular polymer particles and catalyst;
- d. a secondary reaction zone below the at least one secondary fluidization grid having diameter D, the secondary reaction zone including a fluidized bed containing growing granular polymer particles and catalyst;
- e. the transport disengaging section above the primary reaction zone, whereby the diameter of the transport disengaging section is greater than D;
- and
- f. a recycle system disposed outside the housing and containing a compressor and a heat exchanger, whereby the recycle system withdraws effluent from the housing, and returns at least a portion of the effluent to the housing,
- wherein the primary reaction zone and the secondary reaction zone are in fluid communication with one another to allow for downflow of solids and upflow of gases and liquids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.