Patent ID: 8138282

Claim:
A loop reactor adaptable for olefin polymerization process comprising: a plurality of interconnected pipes defining a flow path for a polymer slurry, said slurry consisting essentially of an olefin reactant, a polymerization catalyst, liquid diluent and solid olefin polymer particles; means for introducing olefin reactant, polymerization catalyst and diluent into said reactor; a pump suitable for maintaining the polymer slurry in circulation in said reactor; and a single settling leg connected to said loop reactor through a take off line extending from said reactor to said settling leg and configured to remove said polymer slurry from said reactor; and a return line extending from said settling leg to said reactor, wherein said take off line is radially connected to said single settling leg, wherein an internal diameter of said settling leg is equal to 0.8 to 2 times an internal diameter of the loop reactor pipe.