A fixed bed reactor system for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane, comprising a catalyst bed wherein the catalyst capacity profile increases along the length of catalyst bed from the upstream end to the downstream end. The catalyst bed may include one or more sections, across one or more fixed bed reactors, that are identified by a change in catalyst capacity. Catalyst capacity, or the ability to convert ethane into ethylene, may be altered by changing the dilution ratio, void fraction, and or the 35% conversion temperature. A method for loading a fixed bed reactor with an increasing catalyst capacity is also described.

The present invention relates to a process for the continuous preparation of a polyolefin from one or more α-olefin monomers in a reactor system, the process for the continuous preparation of polyolefin comprising the steps of: feeding a polymerization catalyst to a fluidized bed through an inlet for a polymerization catalyst; feeding the one or more monomers to the reactor, polymerizing the one or more monomers in the fluidized bed to prepare the polyolefin; withdrawing polyolefin formed from the reactor through an outlet for polyolefin; withdrawing fluids from the reactor through an outlet for fluids and transporting the fluids through first connection means, an heat exchanger to cool the fluids to produce a cooled recycle stream, and through second connection means back into the reactor via an inlet for the recycle stream; wherein a thermal run away reducing agent (TRRA) is added to the reactor in a discontinuous way.

The present invention relates to a process for the continuous preparation of a polyolefin from one or more α-olefin monomers in a reactor system, the process for the continuous preparation of polyolefin comprising the steps of: feeding a polymerization catalyst to a fluidized bed through an inlet for a polymerization catalyst; feeding the one or more monomers to the reactor, polymerizing the one or more monomers in the fluidized bed to prepare the polyolefin; withdrawing polyolefin formed from the reactor through an outlet for polyolefin; withdrawing fluids from the reactor through an outlet for fluids and transporting the fluids through first connection means, an heat exchanger to cool the fluids to produce a cooled recycle stream, and through second connection means back into the reactor via an inlet for the recycle stream; wherein a thermal run away reducing agent (TRRA) is added to the reactor in a discontinuous way.

A method of safely mixing a hydrocarbon with an oxidant is provided. The hydrocarbon and oxidant are saturated with a non-flammable liquid in pre-mix zones that are flooded with the non-flammable liquid and fluidly connected to a common mixing zone that is partially flooded with the non-flammable liquid. The saturated hydrocarbon and oxidant combine within the common mixing zone forming bubbles of a homogeneous gas mixture of hydrocarbon and oxidant, preferably in a ratio of hydrocarbon to oxidant that is outside of the flammability limit, that can exit the non-flammable liquid into a headspace where it can be retrieved for use in an oxidative reaction process such as oxidative dehydrogenation.

Systems for quenching peroxycarboxylic acid and peroxide chemistry runaway reactions provide safe and efficacious systems to prevent uncontrolled runaway reactions, such as decomposition reactions, of peroxycarboxylic acid and peroxide chemistry compositions are disclosed. The systems provide prompt detection and dispensing of a stabilizer into a tank or other storage vessel containing a peroxide composition, peroxycarboxylic acid composition or a peroxycarboxylic acid-forming composition to stop a runaway reaction. Methods for quenching peroxide and peroxycarboxylic acid runaway reactions are also disclosed.

Systems and methods associated with biomass decomposition are generally described. Certain embodiments are related to adjusting a flow rate of a fluid comprising oxygen into a reactor in which biomass is decomposed. The adjustment may be made, at least in part, based upon a measurement of a characteristic of the reactor and/or a characteristic of the biomass. Certain embodiments are related to cooling at least partially decomposed biomass. The biomass may be cooled by flowing a gas over an outlet conduit in which the biomass is cooled, and then directing the gas to a reactor after it has flowed over the outlet conduit. Certain embodiments are related to systems comprising a reactor and an outlet conduit configured such that greater than or equal to 75% of its axially projected cross-sectional area is occupied by a conveyor. Certain embodiments are related to systems comprising a reactor comprising an elongated compartment having a longitudinal axis arranged substantially vertically and an outlet conduit comprising a conveyor.

Systems and processes for rapidly depressurizing a reactor system are disclosed. The systems and processes are particularly useful in the high pressure polymerization of ethylene.

This disclosure relates to systems and processes for cooling polymer product mixtures manufactured at high pressure. The processes of the invention involve cooling and then subsequently reducing the pressure of the product mixture from the reactor. In the systems of the invention, a product cooler is located downstream of the high pressure reactor and upstream of a high pressure let down valve.

This disclosure relates to systems and processes for cooling polymer product mixtures manufactured at high pressure. The processes of the invention involve cooling and then subsequently reducing the pressure of the product mixture from the reactor. In the systems of the invention, a product cooler is located downstream of the high pressure reactor and upstream of a high pressure let down valve.

The present invention relates to a process for the continuous preparation of a polyolefin in a reactor from one or more -olefin monomers of which at least one is ethylene or propylene, wherein the reactor comprises a fluidized bed, an expanded section located at or near the top of the reactor, a distribution plate located at the lower part of the reactor and an inlet for a recycle stream located under the distribution plate, wherein the process comprisesfeeding a polymerization catalyst to the fluidized bed in the area above the distribution platefeeding the one or more -olefin monomers to the reactorwithdrawing the polyolefin from the reactorcirculating fluids from the top of the reactor to the bottom of the reactor, wherein the circulating fluids are cooled using a heat exchanger, resulting in a cooled recycle stream comprising liquid, and wherein the cooled recycle stream is introduced into the reactor using the inlet for the recycle stream wherein a stream comprising a thermal run away reducing agent (TRRA-containing stream) is introduced into the expanded section during at least part of the polymerization process, wherein said TRRA-containing stream is brought into contact with at least part of the interior surface of the expanded section.