POLYOLEFIN MANUFACTURING SYSTEM INCLUDING A MEMBRANE FRACTIONATION SYSTEM FOR DILUENT RECOVERY

摘要

A fractionation system for a polymerization reactor includes a membrane separation system designed to separate light components, such as unreacted monomer and inerts, from diluent. The membrane separation system may employ one or more membrane modules designed to separate hydrocarbons based on size, solubility, or combinations thereof. The fractionation system also may include a heavies fractionation column designed to separate heavy components, such as unreacted comonomer and oligomers, from the diluent.

主权项

1. A method for recovering diluent from polymerization reactor effluent, the method comprising:
separating effluent from a polymerization reactor into extracted polyolefin solids, a first stream including primarily diluent and heavy components, and a second stream including primarily the diluent and light components; fractionating the first stream in a heavies fractionation column to produce a first discharge stream including primarily the heavy components and a second discharge stream including primarily the diluent; and separating the second stream in a membrane separation system to produce a diluent enriched stream including primarily the diluent and a lights enriched stream including primarily the light components, wherein the membrane separation system is an integral top portion of the heavies fractionation column.