A method for transitioning a gas phase polymerization reactor between metallocene catalysts is provided. The method comprises first reducing the superficial gas velocity and increasing the height of the fluidized bed within the reactor prior to stopping a feed comprising a first metallocene catalyst. The method further comprises introducing a first polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the first polymerization reactor does not comprise water, and then introducing a second polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the second polymerization neutralizer is different from the first polymerization neutralizer. After this, the method comprises purging the reactor with an inert gas and then introducing a feed comprising a second metallocene catalyst to the reactor.

A method for transitioning a gas phase polymerization reactor between metallocene catalysts is provided. The method comprises first reducing the superficial gas velocity and increasing the height of the fluidized bed within the reactor prior to stopping a feed comprising a first metallocene catalyst. The method further comprises introducing a first polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the first polymerization reactor does not comprise water, and then introducing a second polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the second polymerization neutralizer is different from the first polymerization neutralizer. After this, the method comprises purging the reactor with an inert gas and then introducing a feed comprising a second metallocene catalyst to the reactor.

The present invention relates to the polymerisation of one or more monomers in a gas phase reactor, and in particular provides a process for from the polymerisation of one or more monomers in a horizontal stirred bed gas phase reactor, wherein the process comprises: a. Polymerising a mixture comprising one or more monomers and hydrogen in the reactor to produce the polymer, b. Withdrawing from the reactor a gaseous stream, c. Passing the gaseous stream to a condenser in which it is partly condensed to produce a liquid phase and a remaining vapour phase, d. Passing the mixture of liquid phase and remaining vapour from the condenser to a separator in which there is maintained a liquid phase and a vapour phase, the volume of the liquid phase in the separator being a percentage, X, which is between 10 and 80% of the total volume of the separator, e. And recycling both liquid and vapour from the separator to the reactor, the mass rate of liquid returning to the reactor being L and the mass rate of vapour returning to the reactor being V, the two defining a ratio V/L,
characterised in that the hydrogen concentration in the reactor is changed and the change is effected at least in part by changing the V/L ratio by at least 10% and/or by changing the volume, X.

A continuous solution polymerization process is disclosed wherein at least two catalyst formulations are employed. A first homogeneous catalyst formulation is employed in a first reactor to produce a first ethylene interpolymer and a first heterogeneous catalyst formulation is employed in a second reactor to produce a second ethylene interpolymer. Optionally a third ethylene interpolymer is formed in a third reactor. The resulting ethylene interpolymer products possess desirable properties in a variety of end use applications, for example in film applications. A means for increasing the molecular weight of the first ethylene interpolymer is disclosed and/or a means for increasing the temperature of the first reactor, relative to a third homogeneous catalyst formulation. A means for reducing the (-olefin/ethylene) weight ratio in the first reactor is disclosed and/or reducing the density of the first ethylene interpolymer, relative to a third homogeneous catalyst formulation.

A method of transitioning from a first catalyst to a second catalyst in a gas phase fluidized bed reactor comprising continuously feeding the first catalyst and a recycle stream comprising olefin monomer to the reactor; wherein the monomer contacts the first catalyst in the fluidized bed and polymerizes; wherein the reactor is operating in condensing mode (withdrawing a gaseous stream comprising unreacted monomer from the reactor, cooling the gaseous stream to condense a portion thereof, and contacting the cooled gaseous stream with fresh monomer to form the recycle stream); and wherein a liquid phase of the recycle stream evaporates within the fluidized bed; discontinuing the first catalyst to the reactor while continuing to feed the recycle stream; maintaining the condensing mode in reactor at >3 wt. % liquid phase in recycle stream while no fresh catalyst is introduced to reactor; and introducing the second catalyst to the reactor operating in condensing mode.

A method of transitioning from a first catalyst to a second catalyst in a gas phase fluidized bed reactor comprising continuously feeding the first catalyst and a recycle stream comprising olefin monomer to the reactor; wherein the monomer contacts the first catalyst in the fluidized bed and polymerizes; wherein the reactor is operating in condensing mode (withdrawing a gaseous stream comprising unreacted monomer from the reactor, cooling the gaseous stream to condense a portion thereof, and contacting the cooled gaseous stream with fresh monomer to form the recycle stream); and wherein a liquid phase of the recycle stream evaporates within the fluidized bed; discontinuing the first catalyst to the reactor while continuing to feed the recycle stream; maintaining the condensing mode in reactor at >3 wt. % liquid phase in recycle stream while no fresh catalyst is introduced to reactor; and introducing the second catalyst to the reactor operating in condensing mode.

A method for transitioning a gas phase polymerization reactor between metallocene catalysts is provided. The method comprises first reducing the superficial gas velocity and increasing the height of the fluidized bed within the reactor prior to stopping a feed comprising a first metallocene catalyst. The method further comprises introducing a first polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the first polymerization reactor does not comprise water, and then introducing a second polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the second polymerization neutralizer is different from the first polymerization neutralizer. After this, the method comprises purging the reactor with an inert gas and then introducing a feed comprising a second metallocene catalyst to the reactor.

A method for transitioning a gas phase polymerization reactor between metallocene catalysts is provided. The method comprises first reducing the superficial gas velocity and increasing the height of the fluidized bed within the reactor prior to stopping a feed comprising a first metallocene catalyst. The method further comprises introducing a first polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the first polymerization reactor does not comprise water, and then introducing a second polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the second polymerization neutralizer is different from the first polymerization neutralizer. After this, the method comprises purging the reactor with an inert gas and then introducing a feed comprising a second metallocene catalyst to the reactor.

The invention relates to a process for transitioning from a first continuous polymerization reaction of ethylene and a first comonomer for producing a linear low density polyethylene conducted in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst in a gas phase reactor to a second continuous polymerization reaction of ethylene and a second comonomer for producing a high density polyethylene conducted in the presence of a chromium-based catalyst in the gas phase reactor, the process comprising: (i) reducing the feed of the first comonomer into the reactor until the ratio of the first comonomer to ethylene in the reactor is at most 0.1; (ii) discontinuing the introduction of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst while the introduction of a co-catalyst of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst is continued and subsequently discontinuing the introduction of the co-catalyst; (iii) maintaining the polymerization conditions in the reactor and permitting polymerization to continue for a time in order to allow the components of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst present in the reactor to consume themselves in the production of additional polymer; (iv) discontinuing the introduction of all feeds into the reactor; (v) depressurizing the reactor; (vi) flow-purging the reactor; (vii) reducing the reactor temperature; (viii) introducing ethylene and H.sub.2 into the reactor to obtain a partial pressure of ethylene and a volume ratio of H.sub.2 to ethylene for the second polymerization reaction, wherein the partial pressure of ethylene is increased to the pressure for the second polymerization reaction at such a speed that the reactor temperature is maintained at a temperature lower than the temperature of the first polymerization conditions; (ix) increasing the reactor temperature to a temperature of the second polymerization conditions; (x) introducing the second catalyst into the reactor and (xi) introducing the second comonomer into the reactor to obtain a reactor composition for the second polymerization reaction.

The invention relates to a process for transitioning from a first continuous polymerization reaction in a reactor, for example a gas-phase reactor conducted in the presence of a first catalyst to a second continuous polymerization reaction in the react or conducted in the presence of a second catalyst, wherein the first and second catalysts are incompatible, the process comprising: (a) discontinuing the introduction of the first catalyst from a catalyst feeding system into a reactor and emptying the catalyst feeding system of the first catalyst; (b) introducing a first catalyst killer to the reactor to substantially deactivate the first catalyst in the reactor; (c) introducing a second catalyst killer to the catalyst feeding system to substantially deactivate the first catalyst in the catalyst feeding system; (d) introducing a second catalyst to the catalyst feeding system and (e) introducing the second catalyst to the reactor from the catalyst feeding system, wherein the second catalyst killer is the same as or different from the first catalyst killer.