Separation Vessels For Use In Polymerization Processes And Methods For Cleaning Same
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Accused Products
Abstract
Both a system and method for cleaning a low pressure separation vessel of a high pressure polyethylene polymerization plant are provided. The system includes a polytetrafluoroethylene lining that covers the interior surfaces of the vessel, and a cover mounting assembly including an annular clamp for detachably mounting a cover over the vessel. The mounting assembly includes a clamp actuator for quickly securing and releasing the cover with respect to a top rim of the vessel. The vessel is drained of liquid polyethylene and allowed to cool to ambient temperature, thus creating a frozen “skin” of polyethylene around the interior surfaces of the vessel. The clamp actuator releases the cover. The polyethylene skin is peeled off the interior sides the vessel and gathered up at the top to form a neck, thus peeling the polyethylene skin away from the polytetrafluoroethylene lining along with any degraded polymers or other impurities that have accumulated on the interior surfaces of the vessel.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1-29. -29. (canceled)
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30. A separation vessel for use in a polymerization process comprising:
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a detachable cover; and a lining that covers at least a portion of the interior surfaces of the vessel, wherein such lining comprises a layer which is low-stick with respect to a polymer resulting from the polymerization process. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for cleaning a separation vessel containing a polymer comprising:
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providing a separation vessel having a detachable cover and a low-stick lining with respect to said polymer that covers at least a portion of the interior surfaces of the vessel; removing said cover; emptying the vessel of liquid polymer; cooling the vessel to form a skin of said polymer on said low-stick lining; and removing the polymer skin present on the lining.
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49. A method for removing polymer from a separation vessel in a polymerization system comprising:
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providing a separation vessel having a removable cover and a low-stick lining with respect to said polymer that covers at least a portion of the interior surfaces of the vessel; removing said cover; stopping the flow of polymer to the separation vessel; emptying the vessel of substantially all of the liquid polymer; cooling the vessel to form a skin of said polymer on said low-stick lining; and unpeeling the polymer skin present on the lining.
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Specification