Method of feeding dry catalyst to a polymerization reactor
AssigneeEquistar Chemicals, LP
InventorsThomas A. Glenn, Nadim F. Yaacoub, Joel A. Mutchler, Charles S. Holland, Dennis D. Gottschalk
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Abstract
A device and method allow a dry catalyst to be delivered to a liquid-filled polymerization reactor, thus avoiding problems associated with catalyst-liquid contact or with undesired addition of gases to the reactor. A quantity of dry catalyst is transferred from a catalyst reservoir maintained under dry conditions to a catalyst chamber. An inert fluid then enters the chamber to flush the catalyst charge toward the reactor. Optional embodiments include means for precontacting the dry catalyst with a modifier and for removing gas from the fluid line.
Claims22
A method of feeding dry catalyst to a polymerization reactor comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing an inert liquid hydrocarbon into a liquid-filled polymerization reactor through a liquid hydrocarbon feed line, said hydrocarbon feed line having two intersections with a bypass loop, a first upstream intersection and a second downstream intersection;
- (b) venting said bypass loop to the atmosphere while introducing said liquid hydrocarbon into said polymerization reactor through said liquid hydrocarbon feed line wherein said first and second intersections with said bypass loop are blocked;
- (c) introducing a quantity of dry catalyst through a catalyst inlet into a catalyst reservoir and thereafter into a catalyst chamber, said catalyst chamber in alternate flow communication with said catalyst reservoir and a section of said bypass loop;
- (d) flushing said dry catalyst into said polymerization reactor from said catalyst chamber by blocking catalyst flow from said catalyst reservoir, unblocking said first and second intersections of said hydrocarbon feed line with said bypass loop and blocking said venting to the atmosphere and said hydrocarbon feed line at a point intermediate between said first and second intersections of said hydrocarbon feed line with said bypass loop;
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- (e) blocking said first and second intersections or said hydrocarbon feed line with said bypass loop and unblocking said hydrocarbon feed line intermediate said first and second intersections with said bypass loop whereby hydrocarbon flow through said hydrocarbon feed line is resumed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.