The Dow Chemical Company

Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

Gary A Camp

Pradeep Jain

David A Eversdyk

Che I Kao

Robert D Swindoll

Jeff H Stultz

Mitch Juneau

Greg A Winter

R Bruce Combs

The present invention provides a system and process for olefin polymerization. The inventive system and process for olefin polymerization facilitate lower operating vacuum pressures in the polymer recovery system by requiring at least two sequential condensing units, wherein at least one of the condensing units operates at significantly lower temperature ranges than the temperature ranges at which the current systems operate.

System and process for olefin polymerization

A solution polymerization system for polymerizing a olefin monomer by reacting the monomer with catalyst and solvent has been invented. The system in one aspect including a flow loop with a product polymer outlet, the flow loop forming a recycling reactor, a catalyst inlet on the flow loop through which catalyst and solvent flow into the flow loop, a monomer inlet on the flow loop through which monomer and solvent flow into the flow loop and, with the catalyst, form a reactant materials stream, a first heat exchanger on the flow loop for receiving the reactant materials stream and any formed polymer and for removing heat of reaction or polymerization from the flow loop, and pump apparatus for pumping the reactant materials stream and formed polymer in the flow loop and from the first heat exchanger to the product polymer outlet. In one aspect, the system includes at least one additional heat exchanger on the flow loop for receiving the reactant materials stream and formed polymer and for removing heat of reaction or polymerization from the flow loop, the pump apparatus pumping formed polymer and remaining reactant materials to the product polymer outlet, and a portion of the formed polymer and remaining reactant materials flowing out from the product polymer outlet and the remainder recycling through the flow loop. In one aspect systems and methods according to the present invention are used to make polyethylene.

Non-adiabatic olefin solution polymerization

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Lake Jackson, TX, United States of America

Gary A Camp