Process and apparatus for removing unpolymerized gaseous monomers from olefin polymers

摘要

An apparatus for removing monomers from a solid olefin polymer containing the monomers which comprises a purge vessel having tapered wherein the vessel has a height-to-bottom-diameter ratio of 0.5:1 to 10:1 and the walls have a tapered angle based on a vertical axis of 0.5 to 15 degrees; a solid discharge element disposed in the lower portion of the purge vessel; a solids receiving hopper; a solids inlet disposed in the receiving hopper; a feeding means disposed in the receiving hopper in communication with an inlet for feeding solids to the purge vessel; a gas-permeable, solids-impermeable constraint means disposed below the feeding means defining the upper limit of an expanded bed of solids and defining a gas collection chamber between the top of the purge vessel and the constraint means; a gas entry means disposed in the purge vessel within or below an expanded bed of solids; and gas discharge means disposed in communication with the gas collection chamber for discharging gas from the chamber, and process for removing unpolymerized gaseous monomers from a mixture of a solid, granular olefin polymer and the gaseous monomer using the apparatus.