US 12,337,310 B2
Apparatus and process for the gas-phase polymerization
Giulia Mei, Ferrara (IT); Giuseppe Penzo, Mantova (IT); Riccardo Rinaldi, Ferrara (IT); Emanuele Azzarello, Ferrara (IT); and Rosario Pesare, Ferrara (IT)
Assigned to Basell Polyolefine GmbH, Wesseling (DE)
Appl. No. 17/783,170
Filed by Basell Polyolefine GmbH, Wesseling (DE)
PCT Filed Dec. 9, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/085233
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 7, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/116156, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19215247 (EP), filed on Dec. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0016760 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. B01J 8/18 (2006.01); B01J 8/00 (2006.01); B01J 8/26 (2006.01); B01J 19/24 (2006.01); C08F 10/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01J 8/1827 (2013.01) [B01J 8/005 (2013.01); B01J 8/0055 (2013.01); B01J 8/1863 (2013.01); B01J 8/26 (2013.01); B01J 19/2435 (2013.01); C08F 10/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for carrying out a gas-phase olefin polymerization comprising
a first polymerization zone, adapted and arranged for growing polymer particles to flow upward under fast fluidization or transport conditions, comprising a cylindrical segment having a diameter D01;
a second polymerization zone, adapted and arranged for the growing polymer particles to flow downward, comprising a cylindrical upper part having a diameter D05 and a cylindrical lower part having a diameter D06;
a gas/solid separation zone of a cylindrical shape having a diameter D04, adapted and arranged for separating growing polymer particles from a gas flow, which is arranged on top of the upper part of the second polymerization zone and is directly connected to the upper part of the second polymerization zone;
a tubular first connecting element having a diameter D03, adapted and arranged for connecting the cylindrical segment of the first polymerization zone to the gas/solid separation zone;
a tubular gas recycle line having a diameter D08, adapted and arranged for connecting the gas/solid separation zone to the first polymerization zone;
a tubular transition segment having a diameter D02, arranged between the gas recycle line and the cylindrical segment of the first polymerization zone; and
a tubular second connecting element having a diameter D09, adapted and arranged for connecting the lower part of the second polymerization zone to the transition segment;
wherein the gas recycle line is equipped with a compressor, adapted and arranged for circulating gas in the gas recycle line, and a heat exchanger, adapted and arranged for removing heat from the gas flowing in the gas recycle line;
wherein the ratio of D04 to D05 is from 1.0 to 1.5 and the ratio of D05 to D06 is from 1.2 to 2;
wherein the first connecting element is a bend having a radius R03 or is a tubular element comprising one or more bend parts having one or more radiuses R03 and one or more linear parts, the ratio of R03 to D03 is from 1 to 6, and the ratio of D03 to D01 is from 0.3 to 0.85;
wherein the first connecting element comprises a connecting piece, the first connecting element and the gas/solid separation zone are connected by the connecting piece, and the connection of the connecting piece to the gas/solid separation zone is tangential and has an inclination, so that the central axis of the connecting piece and the horizontal form, an angle A16 in the range from 0° to 40°;
wherein the transition segment is a bend or a tubular element comprising one or more bend parts and one or more linear parts and the ratio of D08 to D02 is 1.0 to 2.2; and
wherein the second connecting element is a bend or a tubular element comprising one or more bend parts and one or more linear parts.