Abstract: The present disclosure provides a catalyst feeder for a polymerization process that uses a solid catalyst. A catalyst feeder includes a housing, a plug disposed radially inside the housing and rotatable relative to the housing, and an end plate coupled to the housing. If the plug is in a first rotational position, each one of a first plurality of magnets coupled, to an axial end of the plug is axially aligned with one of a. second plurality of magnets coupled to a surface of the end plate facing towards the axial end of the plug, thereby moving the plug towards a first seated position in relation to the housing. If the plug is in a second rotational position, the plurality of first magnets and the plurality of second magnets are axially offset from each other, thereby moving the plug towards an unseated position in relation to the housing.

Abstract: A method for regulating use of stored diluent in a polymerization process so as to maximize use of diluent recycled diluent recovered from the process, and so minimize use of stored diluent, is disclosed. Also disclosed is apparatus, particularly as an arrangement of controllers and valves for handling the flow of diluent through the process that can be used to implement the disclosed process.

Abstract: A process for maintaining an optimum polymerization process in a continuous loop polymerization reactor by driving a catalyst feed range set-point around a bad catalyst set-point range using a bad catalyst feed rate program to vary the catalyst feed rate for differing periods of time between previously determined good catalyst feed rates.

Abstract: A process and system for maintaining optimum polymerization production in a loop polymerization reactor by continuously and periodically obtaining polymerization results, such as melt index (MI), production rate and ash content of the polymer produced, determining whether each of the results is within desired ranges, storing and averaging recently obtained results in a database within a reaction rate controller program, and when one of the results is out of the desired range modifying at least one reaction parameter set-point such as monomer concentration, catalyst feed rate and reactor temperature to drive any out-of-range polymerization result(s) toward the desired range for that result.

Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of catalyst inactivating agent that is present in a liquid fraction recovered from a slurry-based polymer production process, the liquid fraction comprising diluent used in the polymer production process, is disclosed. The method includes steps for controlling the pressure over the liquid fraction collected during diluent recovery so as to minimize the concentration of catalyst inactivating agent that is retained in the recovered liquid fraction. Embodiments of apparatus suitable for conducting the disclosed method are also provided.

Abstract: A method for regulating use of stored diluent in a polymerization process so as to maximize use of diluent recycled diluent recovered from the process, and so minimize use of stored diluent, is disclosed. Also disclosed is apparatus, particularly as an arrangement of controllers and valves for handling the flow of diluent through the process that can be used to implement the disclosed process.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for preparing bimodal polymers are provided. In some embodiments, processes include introducing a monomer, a first diluent, a catalyst, hydrogen, at a first hydrogen concentration, and optional comonomer, to a first loop reactor to produce, under polymerization conditions, a first slurry of polymer solids. Processes may also include continuously discharging the first slurry of polymer solids from the loop reactor as a first polymerization effluent to a first flash tank; separating the first polymerization effluent in the first flash tank to provide a first concentrated polymer slurry with significantly lower hydrogen concentration; and transferring the first concentrated polymer slurry from the flash tank to a re-slurry mixer. Processes may further include introducing a re-slurry mixer diluent to the first concentrated polymer slurry to form a second concentrated polymer slurry in the re-slurry mixer that can be pumped to a second slurry loop reactor.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for preparing bimodal polymers are provided. In some embodiments, processes include introducing a monomer, a first diluent, a catalyst, hydrogen, at a first hydrogen concentration, and optional comonomer, to a first loop reactor to produce, under polymerization conditions, a first slurry of polymer solids. Processes may also include continuously discharging the first slurry of polymer solids from the loop reactor as a first polymerization effluent to a first flash tank; separating the first polymerization effluent in the first flash tank to provide a first concentrated polymer slurry with significantly lower hydrogen concentration; and transferring the first concentrated polymer slurry from the flash tank to a re-slurry mixer. Processes may further include introducing a re-slurry mixer diluent to the first concentrated polymer slurry to form a second concentrated polymer slurry in the re-slurry mixer that can be pumped to a second slurry loop reactor.

Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of catalyst inactivating agent that is present in a liquid fraction recovered from a slurry-based polymer production process, the liquid fraction comprising diluent used in the polymer production process, is disclosed. The method includes steps for controlling the pressure over the liquid fraction collected during diluent recovery so as to minimize the concentration of catalyst inactivating agent that is retained in the recovered liquid fraction. Embodiments of apparatus suitable for conducting the disclosed method are also provided.

Abstract: A process for maintaining an optimum polymerization process in a continuous loop polymerization reactor by driving a catalyst feed range set-point around a bad catalyst set-point range using a bad catalyst feed rate program to vary the catalyst feed rate for differing periods of time between previously determined good catalyst feed rates.

Abstract: A process and system for maintaining optimum polymerization production in a loop polymerization reactor by continuously and periodically obtaining polymerization results, such as melt index (MI), production rate and ash content of the polymer produced, determining whether each of the results is within desired ranges, storing and averaging recently obtained results in a database within a reaction rate controller program, and when one of the results is out of the desired range modifying at least one reaction parameter set-point such as monomer concentration, catalyst feed rate and reactor temperature to drive any out-of-range polymerization result(s) toward the desired range for that result.

Abstract: A process for reducing the level of hydrogen in certain polymerization effluent and recycle streams containing unreacted propylene monomers and hydrogen by contacting the streams with a hydrogenation catalyst so as to convert at least part of the propylene to the corresponding alkane. The process is particularly applicable to the effluent from a slurry polymerization reactor which has been used to produce a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer having a first molecular weight and at least part of the effluent is to be supplied to a slurry polymerization reactor to produce a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer having a second, higher molecular weight.

Abstract: Embodiments of an invention disclosed herein relate to a process for adjusting one or more of the high load melt index (I21.6), weight average molecular weight (Mw), and molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of one or more of polyolefin polymers during a polymerization reaction or adjusting the catalyst activity of the polymerization reaction, the process includes a) pre-contacting at least one chromium-containing catalyst with at least one aluminum alkyl to form a catalyst mixture outside of a polymerization reactor; b) passing the catalyst mixture to the polymerization reactor; c) contacting the catalyst mixture with one or more monomers under polymerizable conditions to form the one or more of polyolefin polymers; and d) recovering the one or more of polyolefin polymers.

Abstract: A process for reducing the level of hydrogen in certain polymerization effluent and recycle streams containing unreacted propylene monomers and hydrogen by contacting the streams with a hydrogenation catalyst so as to convert at least part of the propylene to the corresponding alkane. The process is particularly applicable to the effluent from a slurry polymerization reactor which has been used to produce a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer having a first molecular weight and at least part of the effluent is to be supplied to a slurry polymerization reactor to produce a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer having a second, higher molecular weight.

Abstract: A method of treating a gas phase fluidized bed reactor and a method of polymerizing olefins in a gas phase fluidized bed reactor in the presence of a catalyst prone to cause sheeting by introducing a chromium-containing compound into the reactor and forming a high molecular weight polymer coating on the walls of the reactor. Furthermore, a device for and method of introducing the chromium-containing compound into the fluidized bed reactor at a plurality of locations in proximity to a lower section of a bed section wall of the fluidized bed reactor, and forming a high molecular weight polymer coating on the bed section wall.

Abstract: A method for treating at least one interior surface (for example, a bed wall) of a fluidized bed polymerization reactor system, including by applying a solution catalyst (preferably at least substantially uniformly and in liquid form) to each surface, and optionally (where a catalyst component of the solution catalyst comprises at least one chromium containing compound) oxidizing at least some of the applied chromium containing compound in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A method for treating at least one interior surface (for example, a bed wall) of a fluidized bed polymerization reactor system, including by applying a solution catalyst (preferably at least substantially uniformly and in liquid form) to each surface, and optionally (where a catalyst component of the solution catalyst comprises at least one chromium containing compound) oxidizing at least some of the applied chromium containing compound in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A method of treating a gas phase fluidized bed reactor and a method of polymerizing olefins in a gas phase fluidized bed reactor in the presence of a catalyst prone to cause sheeting by introducing a chromium-containing compound into the reactor and forming a high molecular weight polymer coating on the walls of the reactor. Furthermore, a device for and method of introducing the chromium-containing compound into the fluidized bed reactor at a plurality of locations in proximity to a lower section of a bed section wall of the fluidized bed reactor, and forming a high molecular weight polymer coating on the bed section wall.

Abstract: A method for treating at least one interior surface (for example, a bed wall) of a fluidized bed polymerization reactor system, including by applying a solution catalyst (preferably at least substantially uniformly and in liquid form) to each surface, and optionally (where a catalyst component of the solution catalyst comprises at least one chromium containing compound) oxidizing at least some of the applied chromium containing compound in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A method of treating a gas phase fluidized bed reactor and a method of polymerizing olefins in a gas phase fluidized bed reactor in the presence of a catalyst prone to cause sheeting by introducing a chromium-containing compound into the reactor and forming a high molecular weight polymer coating on the walls of the reactor. Furthermore, a device for and method of introducing the chromium-containing compound into the fluidized bed reactor at a plurality of locations in proximity to a lower section of a bed section wall of the fluidized bed reactor, and forming a high molecular weight polymer coating on the bed section wall.