Catalyst slurry feeding assembly for a polymerization reactor
AssigneeChevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
InventorsDavid H. Burns, Donald W. Verser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A catalyst slurry for a polymerization reactor can be prepared in a mixing tank and the catalyst slurry fed to one or more storage tanks. The storage tanks can include agitators so that the catalyst slurry is maintained at an essentially homogeneous solids-to-liquid ratio. From the storage tank(s), the catalyst slurry can be pumped to the polymerization reactor along a fluid passage having a flow meter. The flow of the catalyst slurry can be continuous and/or adjusted based on a measured parameter. The catalyst slurry may be continuously and reliability fed to the polymerization reactor.
Claims21
An apparatus for preparing, measuring, and feeding a catalyst slurry to a polymerization reactor, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a mixing tank for mixing a catalyst slurry comprising a solid catalyst in a liquid medium, wherein the mixing tank comprises an agitator;
- a storage tank for maintaining the catalyst slurry, wherein the storage tank is fluidly connected to receive the catalyst slurry from the mixing tank;
- a pump for delivering the catalyst slurry from the storage tank to a polymerization reactor through a fluid passage;
- a flow meter adapted to measure the flow of the catalyst slurry through the fluid passage;
- and
- a controller that receives a flow signal from the flow meter indicative of the flow of the catalyst slurry, wherein the controller directs the pump to adjust the flow of the catalyst slurry based on the flow signal.
A polymerization apparatus comprising:
- a slurry polymerization reactor having a plurality of catalyst feeds;
- an agitated mixing tank for mixing a catalyst slurry comprising a solid catalyst in a liquid medium;
- a storage tank for maintaining the catalyst slurry, wherein the storage tank is fluidly connected to receive the catalyst slurry from the agitated mixing tank;
- a pump for delivering the catalyst slurry from the storage tank through a fluid passage to the a plurality of catalyst feeds of the polymerization reactor, wherein the plurality of catalyst feeds are spaced to facilitate even distribution of the solid catalyst through the polymerization reactor;
- a flow meter configured to measure the flow of the catalyst slurry into the reactor;
- and
- a controller that receives a flow signal from the flow meter indicative of the flow of the catalyst slurry, wherein the controller directs the pump to adjust the flow of the catalyst slurry into the polymerization reactor based on the flow signal.
An apparatus for monitoring and feeding a catalyst slurry, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a storage tank for the catalyst slurry, the storage tank having disposed therein an agitator;
- a positive-displacement pump for delivering the catalyst slurry from the storage tank through a fluid passage;
- a flow meter that measures a flow of the catalyst slurry through the fluid passage;
- and
- a controller that receives a signal indicating the measured flow from the flow meter and signals the positive-displacement pump to adjust the flow of the catalyst slurry.
A polymerization apparatus comprising:
- a slurry polymerization reactor having at least one catalyst feed,
- a storage tank for the catalyst slurry, the storage tank having disposed therein an agitator;
- a pump for delivering the catalyst slurry from the storage tank by a fluid passage to the at least one catalyst feed of the slurry polymerization reactor;
- a flow meter that measures a flow of the catalyst slurry into the polymerization reactor;
- and
- a controller that receives a signal indicating the measured flow from the flow meter and signals the pump to adjust the flow of the catalyst slurry into the slurry polymerization reactor.
An apparatus for preparing and continuously feeding a catalyst slurry to a polymerization reactor, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a first run tank having disposed therein an agitator and a level indicator;
- a second run tank having disposed therein an agitator and a level indicator;
- a pump fluidly connected to receive catalyst slurry from at least one of the first and second run tank and to provide catalyst slurry to the polymerization reactor;
- and
- a controller that receives signals from the level indicators and determines which run tank provides the catalyst slurry to the polymerization reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.