Abstract: An axial pump system cooperative with an elbow or other pipe section improves conversion of tangential to axial flow of a slurry flowing through a loop reactor by including both primary and secondary outlet guide vanes in the pipe section. The secondary guide vanes have “see through” access from the outlet end of the pipe section, while the primary guide vanes have “see through” access from the inlet side of the pipe section. Pump energy efficiency is improved, and friction of polymer particles on the reactor loop and pump sidewalls is reduced, thereby reducing the amount of polymer decay and increasing the percentage of useable and saleable product obtained from the reactor. Guide vanes can be straight or curved. Curved guide vanes can have inlet angles approximating the absolute flow angle of the fluid, and/or outlet angles approximating 0 degrees relative to the meridianal axis of the pipe section.