Method for recovering polymer and apparatus therefor

A process for recovering polymer from a gas phase reactor (3), the gas phase reactor (3) having a distribution plate and being connected to an outlet vessel (1) via a feed pipe (2) and a return gas line (5), the outlet vessel (1) comprising at least one apparatus for the breakup of polymeric agglomerates (4), whereby the gas phase reactor (3) and the outlet vessel (1) are connected by a connecting passage including the feed pipe (2), wherein the connecting passage allows the transport of agglomerates having a maximum three dimensional diameter of 30 cm and whereby the connecting passage (2) and the outlet vessel (1) are not equipped with a sieve,

• the process comprising:
• continuously discharging polymeric material from the gas phase reactor (3) via the feed pipe (2) to the outlet vessel (1),
• passing the polymeric material into the at least one apparatus for breakup of polymeric agglomerates (4),
• recovering polymer from the outlet vessel (1), whereby
• the bed level height in the gas phase reactor (3) and the flow through the feed pipe (2) are controlled by controlling the flow rate through the return gas line (5) from the outlet vessel (1) to the gas phase reactor (3), and/or by controlling the outlet rate of polymer product from the outlet vessel (1).