PROCESS FOR POLYMERIZATION IN A GASEOUS PHASE USING HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS AND A SPHERICAL REACTOR FOR CARRYING OUT THE PROCESS

摘要

The invention relates to a process for polymerizing in an gaseous phase using heterogeneous catalysis and to a spherical reactor for carrying out said process. At least one monomer which is gaseous under the reaction conditions is just in contact with a solid catalyst in an agitated polymerization zone. The polymerization zone is defined by a spherical wall and the agitation is effected by means of a turbine unit having blades driven in rotation. The blades extend alongside the wall on 10 to 60 % of its surface. The particles of the catalyst and the growing polymer powder are driven by centrifugal force onto at least a part of the spherical wall and fall back into the central part of the spherical zone, thereby ensuring an thorough and uniform mixing without any dead zone. The invention is useful for prepolymerizing or polymerizing olefins. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relates to the field of polymerization in a gaseous phase with the use of heterogeneous catalysis. It more particularly relates to a process and a reactor for carrying out such polymerization reactions. Many monomers may be polymerized in a gaseous phase with heterogeneous catalysis. This is in particular the case of unsaturated ethylenically insaturated hydrocarbons and in particular olefins. For the homopolymerization as well as the copolymerization reactions, the monomer is put in contact in the gaseous form with a catalyst dispersed