Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for preparing polyolefins having a bimodal or multimodal molar mass distribution in suspension in at least two reactors R1, R2.x, R3.y which are connected in series and in which different reaction conditions are set. In this process, the offgases A1, A2.x, A3.y, A4 and A5 leaving all the reactors connected in series are firstly collected, the collected offgases are then compressed in a compression stage 10, the compressed offgases are subsequently cooled and the cooled material is separated into a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction. The separated fractions are then recirculated to the polymerization process at different points. The process of the invention allows the total conversion of the polymerization, based on monomer and comonomer used, to be increased to a surprising extent.

Abstract: Gas-phase fluidized-bed reactor for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers, comprising a reactor chamber (1) in the form of a vertical tube, if desired a calming zone (2) following the upper section of the reactor chamber, a circulation gas line (3), a circulation gas compressor (4) and a cooling device (5), where, in the region of transition of the reaction gas from the circulation gas line into the reactor chamber and in the lower section of the reactor chamber itself, there is either no gas distributor plate at all or only a gas distributor plate the total surface area of whose gas orifices is more than 20% of the total surface area of said gas distributor plate.

Abstract: Gas-phase fluidized-bed reactor for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers, comprising a reactor chamber (1) in the form of a vertical tube, if desired a calming zone (2) following the upper section of the reactor chamber, a circulation gas line (3), a circulation gas compressor (4) and a cooling device (5), where, in the region of transition of the reaction gas from the circulation gas line into the reactor chamber and in the lower section of the reactor chamber itself, there is either no gas distributor plate at all or only a gas distributor plate the total surface area of whose gas orifices is more than 20% of the total surface area of said gas distributor plate.

Abstract: Gas-phase fluidized-bed reactor for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers, comprising a reactor chamber (1) in the form of a vertical tube, if desired a calming zone (2) following the upper section of the reactor chamber, a circulation gas line (3), a circulation gas compressor (4) and a cooling device (5), where, in the region of transition of the reaction gas from the circulation gas line into the reactor chamber and in the lower section of the reactor chamber itself, there is either no gas distributor plate at all or only a gas distributor plate the total surface area of whose gas orifices is more than 20% of the total surface area of said gas distributor plate.

Abstract: Method of metering at least one solid, particulate catalyst into a reactor containing a fluidized bed (11) of particles in an at least partly gaseous medium, in which the catalyst is metered discontinuously at prescribed time intervals into the fluidized bed (11) at at least one metering point (10). According to the present invention, a fluid stream is firstly introduced into the reactor (5) so that a region having a reduced particle density is formed in the fluidized bed (11) around the metering point (10) and the catalyst is subsequently metered into this region. As a result of the prior introduction of a fluid stream (“preblowing”) before the actual introduction of the catalyst, the catalyst can penetrate significantly deeper into the fluidized bed from the metering point due to the reduced particle density and is dispersed better.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for preparing polyolefins having a bimodal or multimodal molar mass distribution in suspension in at least two reactors R1, R2.x, R3.y which are connected in series and in which different reaction conditions are set. In this process, the offgases A1, A2.x, A3.y, A4 and A5 leaving all the reactors connected in series are firstly collected, the collected offgases are then compressed in a compression stage 10, the compressed offgases are subsequently cooled and the cooled material is separated into a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction. The separated fractions are then recirculated to the polymerization process at different points. The process of the invention allows the total conversion of the polymerization, based on monomer and comonomer used, to be increased to a surprising extent.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of catalysts or catalyst carriers by: a) introducing and distributing a gas in the lower section of a reactor containing a catalyst or catalyst carrier bulk material; b) forming a fluidized bed in the reactor; c) treating the particles in the fluidized bed while removing the fine particles an/or retaining the course particles by means of a separating organ and d) discharging the reactor. To this end, a reactor bottom which tapers downwards is used.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of catalysts or catalyst carriers by: a) introducing and distributing a gas in the lower section of a reactor containing a catalyst or catalyst carrier bulk material; b) forming a fluidized bed in the reactor; c) treating the particles in the fluidized bed while removing the fine particles an/or retaining the course particles by means of a separating organ and d) discharging the reactor. To this end, a reactor bottom which tapers downwards is used.

Abstract: Method of metering at least one solid, particulate catalyst into a reactor containing a fluidized bed (11) of particles in an at least partly gaseous medium, in which the catalyst is metered discontinuously at prescribed time intervals into the fluidized bed (11) at at least one metering point (10). According to the present invention, a fluid stream is firstly introduced into the reactor (5) so that a region having a reduced particle density is formed in the fluidized bed (11) around the metering point (10) and the catalyst is subsequently metered into this region. As a result of the prior introduction of a fluid stream (“preblowing”) before the actual introduction of the catalyst, the catalyst can penetrate significantly deeper into the fluidized bed from the metering point due to the reduced particle density and is dispersed better.

Abstract: In a process for preparing polyethylene in tube reactors with or without autoclaves, where a free-radical initiator is introduced with or without cold ethylene into a flowing ethylene- and comonomer-containing medium, rotation is generated between two streams (61, 62) to be mixed at an angle (66) or by provision of a swirl element (20, 80) in the flow cross section (27, 28). In the region of a feed point (72, 81) for a free-radical initiator, there is provided a cross-sectional constriction (63, 67, 71) at which the free-radical initiator is introduced through an optimized off-center outlet opening (44) of an introduction finger (40) into the rotating flow (61, 62, 70).

Abstract: A continuous vapor-phase fluidized-bed process for the preparation of ethylene homopolymers and copolymers having a density of from 0.87 to 0.97 g/cm3 in which ethylene or mixtures of ethylene and C3-C8 a-monoolefins are (co)polymerized in the presence of a supported chromium catalyst in the polymerization zone of a vapor-phase fluidized-bed reactor under pressures ranging from 1 to 100 bar and at temperatures ranging from 30° to 125° C. in the vapor phase in an agitated bed of bulk material comprising particulate polymer, the resultant heat of polymerization is removed by cooling the recirculated reactor gas and the resulting (co)polymer is removed from the vapor-phase fluidized-bed reactor, wherein, for the preparation of a (co)polymer of a specific density d, the (co)polymerization is carried out at a temperature which is in a range restricted by an upper envelope defined by equation I T H = 171 + 6 ? ? ? d ? 0.

Abstract: Continuous gas-phase polymerization process for preparing ethylene and propene homopolymers and copolymers, in which ethylene, propene or mixtures comprising ethylene or propene and C3-C8-&agr;-monoolefins are polymerized in the polymerization zone of a gas-phase polymerization reactor at from 30 to 125° C. and pressures of from 1 to 100 bar in the gas phase in a bed comprising finely divided polymer in the presence of a catalyst. To remove the heat of polymerization, the reactor gas is circulated and firstly passes through a cyclone after leaving the reactor. To prevent polymer deposits in the circulating gas system, a catalyst poison having a boiling point above the maximum temperature within the circulating gas system is fed into this circulating gas system at a position between the reactor and the cyclone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the thermal treatment of powdered or granular solid substances with gas flows (7, 16, 22, 23, 24) by means of a body (2) moved about its axis of rotation (1).

Abstract: A continuous vapor-phase fluidized-bed process for the preparation of ethylene homopolymers and copolymers having a density of from 0.87 to 0.97 g/cm3 in which ethylene or mixtures of ethylene and C3-C8 a-monoolefins are (co)polymerized in the presence of a supported chromium catalyst in the polymerization zone of a vapor-phase fluidized-bed reactor under pressures ranging from 1 to 100 bar and at temperatures ranging from 30° to 125° C. in the vapor phase in an agitated bed of bulk material comprising particulate polymer, the resultant heat of polymerization is removed by cooling the recirculated reactor gas and the resulting (co)polymer is removed from the vapor-phase fluidized-bed reactor, wherein, for the preparation of a (co)polymer of a specific density d, the (co)polymerization is carried out at a temperature which is in a range restricted by an upper envelope defined by equation I 1 T H = 171 + 6 ⁢   ⁢ d ′ 0.

Abstract: In a process for producing Phillips catalysts in which an oxidic support material is treated in suspension with a chromium salt solution and subsequently, after removing the solvent, calcined in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at above 300° C., the oxidic support material and/or the catalyst after calcination are/is, according to the present invention, comminuted until a mean particle size of <100 &mgr;m has been reached and the proportion of particles having a size of <50 &mgr;m is at least 30%, preferably in the range from 40 to 80%. A process for preparing homopolymers or copolymers of ethene in a loop reactor at from 30 to 150° C. under a pressure in the range from 0.2 to 15 MPa in the presence of a catalyst produced by the process of the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: Method for the discontinuous thermal treatment of catalyst material comprising the steps (a) introducing the catalyst material into a reactor, (b) heating the catalyst material, (c) thermally treating the catalyst material in the reactor at the reactor temperature, (d) discharging the catalyst material from the reactor and (e) cooling the catalyst material, wherein the reactor temperature is kept constant during the steps (a) to (e), step (b) is carried out during and/or after step (a), step (e) is carried out during and/or after step (d), and step (c) is carried out after step (b) and before step (e). The method is used primarily for the calcination or activation of catalysts or catalyst supports which are used in polyolefin production.

Abstract: A continuous vapor-phase fluidized-bed process for the preparation of ethylene homopolymers and copolymers having a density of from 0.87 to 0.97 g/cm3 in which ethylene or mixtures of ethylene and C3-C8 a-monoolefins are (co)polymerized in the presence of a supported chromium catalyst in the polymerization zone of a vapor-phase fluidized-bed reactor under pressures ranging from 1 to 100 bar and at temperatures ranging from 30° to 125° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the polymerization of gaseous olefins, in particular of ethylene and at least one &agr;-olefin, in the gas phase in a stirred or fluidized, catalyst-containing polymerization zone (2) and at least one decompression zone (6, 10) downstream of the polymerization zone (2). The mixture of solid (co)polymer and unreacted monomers leaving the polymerization zone (2) flows through a settling zone, in particular in the form of a settling leg (14), before the decompression zone.

Abstract: In a process for the polymerization or copolymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of polymerization initiators which decompose to form free radicals in a continuously operated polymerization apparatus comprising a fresh gas feed line, a precompressor, a postcompressor, a reactor, a pressure maintenance valve, a high-pressure circuit having a high-pressure product separator and a high-pressure circulation gas return line, a product valve and a low-pressure circuit having a low-pressure product separator and a low-pressure circulation gas return line, nitrogen monoxide or oxygen is introduced as inhibitor into the high-pressure circuit, into the low-pressure circuit and/or the precompressor.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of catalyst or catalyst support material in an apparatus in which the treatment is carried out continuously in such a way that the physical and/or chemical conditions change during entry of the catalyst or catalyst support material into the apparatus and/or during exit thereof from the apparatus and/or the catalyst or catalyst support material is transported in the apparatus through zones (5, 6, 7) having different physical and/or chemical conditions.