Patent ID: 6380325
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: B01D,B01J,C08F

Abstract:
A process for producing polymer in a slurry reactor comprising:reacting a monomer in a hydrocarbon diluent to form a polymerization effluent comprising a slurry of polymer solids in a liquid medium; continuously discharging a portion of said polymerization effluent through a discharge valve into a first transfer conduit; continuously communicating said polymerization effluent through said first transfer conduit to a first flash tank wherein the pressure in said first flash tank and the temperature of said polymerization effluent are such as to produce as a vapor from about 50% to about 100% of the liquid medium and said vapor is condensable, without compression, by heat exchange with a fluid having a temperature in the range of about 65Â° to about 135Â° F.; continuously condensing said vapor obtained in said first flash step, without compression, by heat exchange with a fluid having a temperature in the range of about 65Â° to about 135Â° F.; continuously discharging from said first flash tank concentrated polymer solids/slurry to a second flash tank; continuously communicating said concentrated polymer solids/slurry to a second flash tank; and continuously exposing the remaining liquid medium in said concentrated polymer solids/slurry to a pressure reduction; wherein the rate of discharge of the polymerization effluent from the slurry reactor is such as to maintain constant pressure in the slurry reactor.