Method and apparatus for monitoring polyolefin production
AssigneeChevron Philips Chemical Company LP
InventorDavid R. Battiste
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present technique provides for the use of spectroscopic probes, such as Raman probes, within the conduits of a polyolefin production system. The Raman probe or other spectroscopic probes may be used to obtain spectroscopic measurements of the contents of the conduits. The spectroscopic measurements may be processed and analyzed to determine the composition of the conduit contents. In addition, the spectroscopic measurements may be used in conjunction with correlations or other statistical models to determine one or more properties of interest of a constituent of the conduit contents. One or more processes upstream and/or downstream of the conduit may be adjusted in response to the determined composition or composition properties.
Claims46
A method of operating a feed system for a polyolefin polymerization reactor, comprising the acts of:
- exposing contents in a pumping mechanism within a feed system of a polyolefin polymerization reactor to a radiation emission from a spectroscopic probe;
- acquiring a spectroscopic signal from the contents on-line in substantially real-time in response to the radiation emission via the spectroscopic probe;
- and
- analyzing the spectroscopic signal to determine a property of the contents.
A method of monitoring and controlling a polyolefin production process, comprising the acts of:
- receiving a feedstock into a feed system of a polymerization reactor;
- exposing contents in a pumping mechanism in the feed system to a radiation emission from a spectroscopic probe;
- acquiring a spectroscopic signal from the contents in substantially real-time in response to the radiation emission via the spectroscopic probe;
- analyzing the spectroscopic signal to determine a property of the contents;
- and
- adjusting an operation of the polyolefin production process based on the property.
A method of using a Raman spectroscopic device in a polyolefin production process, comprising the acts of:
- exposing a feed for a polymerization reactor to a radiation emission from a Raman spectroscopic probe;
- acquiring a Raman spectroscopic signal from the feed in response to the radiation emission;
- analyzing the Raman spectroscopic signal to determine a property of the feed;
- and
- terminating an upstream supply of feedstock in response to the property.
A method of using a Raman spectroscopic device in a polyolefin production process, comprising the acts of:
- exposing a feed for a polymerization reactor to a radiation emission from a Raman spectroscopic probe;
- acquiring a Raman spectroscopic signal from the feed in response to the radiation emission;
- analyzing the Raman spectroscopic signal to determine a property of the feed;
- and
- notifying a supplier of a feedstock to adjust a supplier operation in response to the property.
A method of monitoring a polyolefin production process, comprising:
- receiving a feedstock into a feed system of a polyolefin reactor, wherein the feed system is configured to deliver a feed stream comprising the feedstock to the polyolefin reactor, and the polyolefin reactor is configured to polymerize at least one olefin in the presence of a catalyst into a polyolefin;
- placing a Raman spectroscopic probe tip into a process volume in the feed system;
- exposing contents in the process volume to a radiation emission from a Raman spectroscopic probe;
- acquiring a Raman spectroscopic signal from the contents in substantially real-time in response to the radiation emission via the spectroscopic probe;
- analyzing the Raman spectroscopic signal to determine a property of the contents;
- and
- notifying a supplier of the feedstock to adjust a supplier operation in response to the property.
A process for manufacturing a product comprising
- a polyolefin, the process comprising the act of:
- manufacturing a product at least a portion of which comprises a polyolefin, wherein the polyolefin is produced by a method comprising the acts of:
- receiving a feedstock into a feed system of a polymerization reactor,
- wherein the feed system is configured to deliver a feed stream comprising the feedstock to the polymerization reactor, and the polymerization reactor is configured to polymerize at least one olefin in the presence of a catalyst into the polyolefin;
- exposing contents on-line in the feed system to a radiation emission from a spectroscopic probe;
- acquiring a spectroscopic signal from the contents in substantially real-time in response to the radiation emission via the spectroscopic probe;
- analyzing the spectroscopic signal to determine a property of the contents;
- and
- terminating an upstream supply of feedstock in response to the property.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.