Mixing current interface for a polymerization zone in an autoclave reactor
Disclosed are a process and autoclave reactor configured to create, in a polymerization zone of the autoclave reactor, a first mixing current, a second mixing current, and an interface located between the first mixing current and the second mixing current, wherein the interface is offset from a reaction component inlet of the autoclave reactor that introduces a reaction component stream into the polymerization zone.
1 . A process comprising:
mixing a reaction medium in an autoclave reactor with a rotating shaft, wherein the rotating shaft has a first baffle and a second baffle coupled to the rotating shaft, wherein a volume of the autoclave reactor that is between the first baffle and the second baffle forms a polymerization zone, wherein each of a first plurality of paddles is connected to the first baffle, wherein each of a second plurality of paddles is connected to the second baffle;
during mixing, creating in the polymerization zone a first mixing current, a second mixing current, and an interface located between the first mixing current and the second mixing current; and
introducing a reaction component into the polymerization zone via an inlet of the autoclave reactor that is fluidly coupled to the polymerization zone, wherein the interface is offset from the inlet.
2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the first mixing current defines a first mixing zone, and the second mixing current defines a second mixing zone, wherein the first mixing zone is above the interface and the second mixing zone is below the interface.
3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein a first group of the second plurality of paddles is on a first side of the second baffle.
4 . The process of claim 3 , wherein a second group of the second plurality of paddles is on a second side of the second baffle, wherein each of the first plurality of paddles is on a first side of the first baffle.
5 . The process of claim 4 , wherein the first group of the second plurality of paddles are top-side paddles, wherein the second group of the second plurality of paddles are bottom-side paddles.
6 . The process of claim 3 , wherein a gap is present between each of the first group of the second plurality of paddles and the rotating shaft.
7 . The process of claim 6 , wherein a ratio of a radial length of the gap to a radial length of each of the first group of the second plurality of paddles is in a range of 0.5 to 1.5.
8 . The process of claim 3 , wherein a ratio of a height of the polymerization zone to a height of each of the first group of the second plurality of paddles is in a range of 10 to 30.
9 . The process of claim 3 , wherein the first group of the second plurality of paddles are equally spaced apart from one another.
10 . The process of claim 3 , wherein each of the first group of the second plurality of paddles extends in a direction that is perpendicular to a plane of the first side of the second baffle.
11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction medium comprises an olefin monomer, wherein the reaction component comprises an initiator, wherein the initiator comprises an organic peroxide.
12 . An autoclave reactor comprising:
a housing having a first inlet configured to receive an olefin monomer, a second inlet configured to receive an initiator, and an outlet configured to output a reaction medium comprising a polyolefin; and
an agitator assembly contained within the housing, wherein the agitator assembly comprises:
a motor;
a shaft coupled to the motor;
a first baffle coupled to the shaft;
a second baffle coupled to the shaft below the first baffle so as to form a polymerization zone between the first baffle and the second baffle;
a first plurality of paddles connected to the first baffle; and
a second plurality of paddles connected to the second baffle, wherein a first group of the second plurality of paddles is positioned on a first side of the second baffle;
wherein the second inlet is positioned on a side of the housing and has a feed point to the polymerization zone that is between the first baffle and the second baffle.
13 . The autoclave reactor of claim 12 , wherein a second group of the second plurality of paddles is on a bottom side of the second baffle.
14 . The autoclave reactor of claim 12 , wherein each of the first plurality of paddles is on a bottom side of the first baffle.
15 . The autoclave reactor of claim 12 , wherein a gap is present between each of the first group of the second plurality of paddles and the shaft.
16 . The autoclave reactor of claim 15 , wherein a ratio of a radial length of the gap to a radial length of each of the first group of the second plurality of paddles is in a range of 0.5 to 1.5.
17 . The autoclave reactor of claim 12 , wherein a ratio of a height of the polymerization zone to a height of each of the first group of the second plurality of paddles is in a range of 10 to 30.
18 . The autoclave reactor of claim 12 , wherein the first group of the second plurality of paddles are equally spaced apart from one another.
19 . The autoclave reactor of claim 12 , wherein each of the first group of the second plurality of paddles extends in a direction that is perpendicular to a plane of the first side of the second baffle.
20 . The autoclave reactor of claim 12 , wherein the first group of the second plurality of paddles comprises from 2 to 6 paddles.