Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a method of regenerating a desiccant in an off-line treater of a polyolefin production process. The method may include a heating phase followed by a cooling phase. The heating phase may involve use of a regenerating gas made from heating a treated a recycle stream of the polyolefin production process to regenerate desiccant in an off-line treater. The cooling phase may involve thermosyphoning the regenerating gas, nitrogen, an olefin-free diluent, or combinations thereof in a closed-convection loop of the off-line treater.

Abstract: Polymerization reactor systems providing integrated liquid-solid sampling systems are disclosed. Methods for operating such polymerization reactor systems and for measuring a property of the liquid portion of liquid-solid mixture are described.

Abstract: A fractionation system for a polymerization reactor includes a membrane separation system designed to separate light components, such as unreacted monomer and inerts, from diluent. The membrane separation system may employ one or more membrane modules designed to separate hydrocarbons based on size, solubility, or combinations thereof. The fractionation system also may include a heavies fractionation column designed to separate heavy components, such as unreacted comonomer and oligomers, from the diluent.

Abstract: A system and method for a polyolefin reactor temperature control system having a first reactor temperature control path, a second reactor temperature control path, and a shared temperature control path. The shared temperature control path is configured to combine and process coolant return streams, and to provide coolant supply for the first reactor temperature control path and the second reactor temperature control path.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a polymerization process and an olefin polymerization system. A polymerization product is produced, a vapor phase is recovered from the polymerization product, the vapor phase is fractionated in a first column to yield a fraction stream, and the fraction stream is fractionated in a second column. A first stream of the second column, which comprises a diluent, can be recycled to a first polymerization reactor. A second stream of the second column, which comprises olefin monomer, diluent, and hydrogen, can be recycled to a second polymerization reactor. Comonomer may be recycled from the first column to the first polymerization reactor, the second polymerization reactor, or both.

Abstract: A reactor system containing one or more loop reactors for olefin polymerization is provided. The loop reactors include vertical sections, elbow sections, and/or horizontal sections connected into one or more loop reaction zones to polymerize an olefin monomer in the presence of a liquid diluent into a slurry comprising particles of a polyolefin polymer. The reactor system footprint is reduced to increase production efficiency and save cost, while maintaining a high processing capacity. In one embodiment a horizontal length (LH) of at least one horizontal section is greatly reduced with maintained processing capacity. In another embodiment, at least one elbow section of the reactor system is configured to maintain a Dean number (Dn) of the slurry flowing therein to be higher than 3,000,000.

Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.

Abstract: A system and method for a polyolefin reactor temperature control system having a first reactor temperature control path, a second reactor temperature control path, and a shared temperature control path. The shared temperature control path is configured to combine and process coolant return streams, and to provide coolant supply for the first reactor temperature control path and the second reactor temperature control path.

Abstract: A fractionation system for a polymerization reactor includes a membrane separation system designed to separate light components, such as unreacted monomer and inerts, from diluent. The membrane separation system may employ one or more membrane modules designed to separate hydrocarbons based on size, solubility, or combinations thereof. The fractionation system also may include a heavies fractionation column designed to separate heavy components, such as unreacted comonomer and oligomers, from the diluent.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a method of regenerating a desiccant in an off-line treater of a polyolefin production process. The method may include a heating phase followed by a cooling phase. The heating phase may involve use of a regenerating gas made from heating a treated a recycle stream of the polyolefin production process to regenerate desiccant in an off-line treater. The cooling phase may involve thermosyphoning the regenerating gas, nitrogen, an olefin-free diluent, or combinations thereof in a closed-convection loop of the off-line treater.

Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.

Abstract: A fractionation system for a polymerization reactor includes a membrane separation system designed to separate light components, such as unreacted monomer and inerts, from diluent. The membrane separation system may employ one or more membrane modules designed to separate hydrocarbons based on size, solubility, or combinations thereof. The fractionation system also may include a heavies fractionation column designed to separate heavy components, such as unreacted comonomer and oligomers, from the diluent.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a polymerization process and an olefin polymerization system. A polymerization product is produced, a vapor phase is recovered from the polymerization product, the vapor phase is fractionated in a first column to yield a fraction stream, and the fraction stream is fractionated in a second column. A first stream of the second column, which comprises a diluent, can be recycled to a first polymerization reactor. A second stream of the second column, which comprises olefin monomer, diluent, and hydrogen, can be recycled to a second polymerization reactor. Comonomer may be recycled from the first column to the first polymerization reactor, the second polymerization reactor, or both.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a polymerization process and an olefin polymerization system. A polymerization product is produced, a vapor phase is recovered from the polymerization product, the vapor phase is fractionated in a first column to yield a fraction stream, and the fraction stream is fractionated in a second column. A first stream of the second column, which comprises a diluent, can be recycled to a first polymerization reactor. A second stream of the second column, which comprises olefin monomer, diluent, and hydrogen, can be recycled to a second polymerization reactor. Comonomer may be recycled from the first column to the first polymerization reactor, the second polymerization reactor, or both.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a polymerization process and an olefin polymerization system. A polymerization product is produced, a vapor phase is recovered from the polymerization product, the vapor phase is fractionated in a first column to yield a fraction stream, and the fraction stream is fractionated in a second column. A first stream of the second column, which comprises a diluent, can be recycled to a first polymerization reactor. A second stream of the second column, which comprises olefin monomer, diluent, and hydrogen, can be recycled to a second polymerization reactor. Comonomer may be recycled from the first column to the first polymerization reactor, the second polymerization reactor, or both.

Abstract: Loop reactors for olefin polymerization and processes utilizing such loop reactors are described herein. In one or more embodiments, the loop reactor generally includes a plurality of vertical sections; a plurality of elbow sections connecting the vertical sections to either a horizontal section having a horizontal length (LH) or another elbow section, at least one elbow section having an internal diameter (d), a radius (Rc) of an inner curvature and a chord length (W) and wherein the horizontal length (LH) is from 0 feet to 3 feet, the chord length (W) is 250 inches or less and a ratio (Rc/d) of the radius (Rc) of the inner curvature to the internal diameter (d) of the at least one elbow section is maintained from 2 to 4; and at least one loop reaction zone configured to polymerize an olefin monomer in the presence of a liquid diluent into a slurry comprising particles of a polyolefin polymer.

Abstract: A system and method for a polyolefin reactor temperature control system having a first reactor temperature control path, a second reactor temperature control path, and a shared temperature control path. The shared temperature control path is configured to combine and process coolant return streams, and to provide coolant supply for the first reactor temperature control path and the second reactor temperature control path.

Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.

Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.

Abstract: A method of treating a polymerization reactor effluent stream comprising recovering the reactor effluent stream from the polymerization reactor, flashing the reactor effluent stream to form a flash gas stream, separating the flash gas stream into a first top stream, a first bottom stream, and a side stream, wherein the side stream substantially comprises hexane, separating the first top stream into a second top stream and a second bottom stream, wherein the second bottom stream substantially comprises isobutane, and separating the second top stream into a third top stream and a third bottom stream; wherein the third top stream substantially comprises ethylene, and wherein the third bottom stream is substantially free of olefins.