Abstract: In a copolymerization process of propylene, a mixture of unreacted propylene and ethylene is recovered. It is then fed to a distillation system which includes first and second distillation columns. The distillation system is operated in such a way that the temperature and pressure of the top of the second distillation column remain constant and an ethylene-propylene mixture can be recovered at a constant ethylene/propylene ratio from the top of the second distillation column. By using the thus-recovered ethylene-propylene mixture, the copolymerization reaction can be carried out under excellent control so that the ethylene-propylene copolymer can be obtained with uniform quality and properties.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for controlling the polymerization temperature in a polymerization apparatus equipped with a cooling system in which steam, which has occurred in the presence of a volatile liquid medium in a reaction system, is condensed in a reflux condenser and the resulting noncondensable gas and condensate are then returned to the reaction system, thereby removing the polymerization heat. A portion of the noncondensable gas is recirculated to the cooling system. The flow rate of the noncondensable gas to be recirculated and the flow rate of a cooling medium to be introduced into the reflux condenser are controlled in accordance with the temperature of the reaction system.

Abstract: Polymer powder is separated from a carrier gas by separating the polymer powder from the carrier gas in a cyclone separator, drawing the thus-separated polymer powder through a bottom part of the separator into a hopper, feeding out the polymer powder by a rotary feeder from the hopper while controlling the revolution speed of the rotary feeder in accordance with the powder level in the hopper, and controlling the volume of a purge gas, which is introduced into a polymer powder guide extending between the separator and the hopper for the prevention of plugging thereof, in accordance with the revolution speed of the rotary feeder. The height of the top of the powder in the hopper is maintained at a predetermined constant level.

Abstract: The method of continuously operating a counter-flow washing column which is supplied with a slurry of solid polymer particles in a diluent from a continuous polymerization zone and with washing liquid for extracting wash slurry and introducing it into a heat tube to separate the vapor of the washing liquid and the solid polymer particles.The improvement involves controlling the extraction amount of the wash slurry from the column by means of:(i) controlling the quantity of heat added to the heat tube, and further(ii) controlling the amount of liquid to be separately introduced into the heat tube,said controls (i) and (ii) being determined by monitoring the amount of the slurry in the last one of reaction cells in the continuous polymerization zone and, on the basis of the monitored amount, determining the amount of extracted slurry.