Inlet distribution device for upflow polymerization reactors

A polyethylene polymerization process, comprising;

• passing a ethylene feed stream comprising a liquid and gas mixture that includes ethylene monomers through a feed stream inlet disposed proximate an upflow polymerization reactor;
• passing the ethylene feed stream through a member configured to impart an angular velocity to the ethylene feed stream and further mix the liquid in the gas, providing an entrained ethylene feed stream;
• and
• contacting the entrained ethylene feed stream with a catalyst to polymerize the monomers and to form polyethylene.

An upflow polymerization reactor, comprising:

• a housing having a lower region and an upper region, the upper region and lower region being separated by a catalyst bed;
• a feed stream inlet disposed proximate the lower region of the housing configured to pass a feed stream therethrough comprising liquid and gas;
• a fluid outlet disposed proximate the upper region of the housing;
• and
• a member mounted in the housing between the feed stream inlet and the catalyst bed comprising a plurality of apertures positioned at an angle of greater than about 0 degrees and less than about 90 degrees from horizontal.