Polymerization reactant injection system
A polymerization reactant injection system having a monomer conduit, a co-catalyst conduit, and a catalyst conduit, in fluid communication with each other such that a polymerization reactant mixture may be formed without mechanical mixers or agitators. The polymerization reactant injection systems of the present invention permit large amounts of polymerization reactant mixtures to be formed without the increased costs associated with additional mechanical equipment. Methods for forming polymerization reactant mixtures are also disclosed.
1 . A polymerization reactant injection system comprising:
at least one monomer conduit for transporting at least one monomer at a first fluid parameter;
at least one catalyst conduit for transporting at least one catalyst at a second fluid parameter, the at least one catalyst conduit being in fluid communication with the at least one monomer conduit; and
at least one polymerization reactant mixture conduit, wherein the at least one monomer is combined with the at least one catalyst to form a polymerization reactant mixture within the at least one polymerization reactant mixture conduit;
wherein the first fluid parameter and the second fluid parameter create a fluid parameter differential.
2 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one co-catalyst conduit for transporting at least one co-catalyst, the at least one co-catalyst conduit being in fluid communication with the at least one monomer conduit,
wherein the at least one monomer is mixed with the at least one co-catalyst to form a monomer/co-catalyst mixture.
3 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one monomer conduit and the at least one co-catalyst conduit intersect each other at a first conduit junction, the first conduit junction being in fluid communication with the polymerization reactant mixture conduit.
4 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 3 , wherein a monomer/co-catalyst mixture conduit is in fluid communication with the first conduit junction and the polymerization reactant mixture conduit.
5 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 4 , wherein a second conduit junction is in fluid communication with the monomer/co-catalyst mixture conduit, the catalyst conduit, and the polymerization reactant mixture conduit.
6 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 5 , wherein the polymerization reactant mixture conduit includes a third conduit junction, whereby the polymerization reactant mixture is transported to at least one polymerization reactor through at least one reactor conduit, the at least one reactor conduit being in fluid communication with the third conduit junction.
7 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the at least one catalyst conduit is disposed within the at least one monomer conduit.
8 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the at least one monomer conduit is disposed within the at least one catalyst conduit.
9 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst conduit has a first diameter and the polymerization reactant mixture conduit has a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter.
10 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 9 , wherein a portion of the catalyst conduit is disposed within the polymerization reactant mixture conduit.
11 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst conduit has a first diameter and the polymerization reactant mixture conduit has a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter.
12 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 11 , wherein a portion of the polymerization reactant mixture conduit is disposed within the catalyst conduit.
13 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid parameter is a first pressure, the second fluid parameter is a second pressure, and the fluid parameter differential is a pressure differential.
14 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid parameter is a first velocity, the second fluid parameter is a second velocity, and the fluid parameter differential is a velocity differential.
15 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 1 , wherein the polymerization reactant mixture conduit is formed by the at least one monomer conduit and a portion of the at least one catalyst conduit is disposed within the at least one monomer conduit.
16 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 1 , wherein the polymerization reactant mixture conduit is formed by the at least one monomer conduit and a portion of the at least one monomer conduit is disposed within the at least one catalyst conduit.
17 . A polymerization reactant injection system comprising:
a monomer conduit for transporting at least one monomer at a first fluid parameter in fluid communication with a catalyst conduit for transporting at least one catalyst at a second fluid parameter,
wherein the at least one catalyst is combined with the at least one monomer to form a polymerization reactant mixture, and
wherein the first fluid parameter and the second fluid parameter form a fluid parameter differential.
18 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 17 wherein the first fluid parameter is greater than the second fluid parameter.
19 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 18 wherein the first fluid parameter is a first pressure, the second fluid parameter is a second pressure, and the fluid parameter differential is a pressure differential.
20 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 18 wherein the first fluid parameter is a first velocity, the second fluid parameter is a second velocity, and the fluid parameter differential is a velocity differential.
21 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 17 wherein the first fluid parameter is less than the second fluid parameter.
22 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 21 , wherein the first fluid parameter is a first pressure, the second fluid parameter is a second pressure, and the fluid parameter differential is a pressure differential.
23 . The polymerization reactant injection system of claim 21 , wherein the first fluid parameter is a first velocity, the second fluid parameter is a second velocity, and the fluid parameter differential is a velocity differential.
24 - 31 . (canceled)