Standard Oil Company (indiana)

Gregory E Schmidt

Linus K Leung

Lawrence J Beck

David S Chang

The method is particularly adapted for controlling the molecular weight of a product output from a polybutene reactor. The method includes the steps of: deriving from the operating parameter of a polybutene reactor system a formula which correlates molecular weight as determined by product viscosity or other parameters of the product output with operating variables such as temperature of the reactor and concentration of isobutylene in the reactor, which concentration can be controlled by the amount of catalyst, e.g., aluminum chloride, being fed into the reactor; monitoring (a) the temperature of the reactor, (b) the concentration of isobutylene in the reactor, (c) the flow of coolant supplied to the reactor for controlling the temperature thereof and (d) the feed rate of catalyst into the reactor; calculating with said algorithm the approximate molecular weight of the product output; determining if the desired product molecular weight is higher or lower than the calculated molecular weight; and, if higher or lower, altering, through use of the formula, the temperature and/or the concentration of isobutylene in the reactor to obtain the desired product molecular weight. Also the method can include the step of adding moisture to the feed or the reactor for lowering the molecular weight of the polybutene product output. The apparatus includes a reactor, a computer and various sensing, monitoring and control devices for carrying out the steps of the method.

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Gregory E Schmidt