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 fractionation system comprising:
an effluent treatment system treating an effluent comprising polyolefin solids, isobutane, heavy components, and light components, and producing a first feed stream and a second feed stream; a heavies fractionation column receiving the first feed stream and fractionating the first feed stream to remove heavy components of the first feed stream; and a membrane separation system receiving the second feed stream and separating the second feed stream into a lights enriched stream concentrated with the light components relative to the second feed stream and an isobutane enriched stream concentrated with the isobutane relative to the second feed stream; wherein the membrane separation system is an integral top portion of the heavies fractionation column.