Patent ID: 8354063
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: B01J,C08F

Abstract:
1. A loop reactor system, comprising: a pipe loop reactor configured for conducting an olefin polymerization process comprising polymerizing at least one olefin monomer with a catalyst in the presence of a liquid diluent to form a fluid slurry comprising a plurality of solid olefin polymer particles in the liquid diluent; a plurality of feed locations attached to the pipe loop reactor and configured to direct the olefin monomer, the catalyst, and the liquid diluent into the pipe loop reactor; a product take-off attached to the pipe loop reactor and configured to remove the fluid slurry from the pipe loop reactor; and a mixed flow pump disposed within the pipe loop reactor and configured to provide motive force to circulate the fluid slurry, wherein the mixed flow pump has a capacity of at least 20,000 gallons per minute and is configured to provide at least 120 feet of head, and wherein the mixed flow pump comprises: one or more downstream guide vanes disposed within the pipe loop reactor downstream of the impeller, wherein the downstream guide vanes and the impeller are configured to impart rotational motion on the fluid slurry in opposite directions and are sufficiently close to one another so that the fluid slurry is engaged in rotational motion upon entering the downstream guide vanes.