AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF POLYETHYLENE AND ETHYLENE COPOLYMERS

摘要

The invention relates to an apparatus for the high pressure polymerisation of ethylene which comprises a high pressure reactor; a conduit (14) for the supply of ethylene to the reactor, the conduit being provided with a preheater (5) for heating the ethylene; a waste heat boiler for the production of medium pressure steam; a source of high pressure steam (22) ; and a steam distribution system comprising a medium pressure steam net for the distribution of medium pressure steam from the waste heat boiler, in which the preheater comprises first (5a) , second (5b) and third (5c) sections and the steam distribution system in such that the first section (5a) can be supplied with steam from the medium pressure steam net, the second section (5b) can be supplied with steam from the medium pressure steam net or with high pressure steam and the third section (5c) can be supplied with high pressure steam (22).