Finishing design to increase the polymer content in an olefin solution polymerization process

摘要

The polymer recovery capacity of solution polymerization units is increased by flashing a polymer solution exiting olefin polymerization reactors to produce a concentrated polymer solution having a reduced temperate and a solids content from 10 percent to 40 percent by weight. Flashing of the polymer solution preferably occurs at a temperature at least 20° C. higher than the crystallization temperature of the concentrated polymer solution The concentrated polymer solution can be prepared adiabatically and can be subsequently finished in conventional polymer recovery units without increasing the risk of gel formation.