Fluidized bed method and reactor for the treatment of catalysts and catalyst carriers

• US 7,232,551 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH (Lyondellbasell Industries NV)
• Original Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH (Lyondellbasell Industries NV)
• Inventors: Werther, Joachim, Kammerer, Michael, Wietfeldt-Haltenhoff, Stefan, Siebenhandl, Hans Werner, Evertz, Kaspar, De Lange, Paulus, Schonfelder, Hendrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Len
• Application Number:
  US09/763,355
• Time in Patent Office: 2,804 Days
• Field of Search: 526/901, 526/104, 526/105, 422/139, 422/145, 422/147, 422/131, 422/144, 422/138
• US Class Current: 422/131
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/1946 conical
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/003 in a downward flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/0055 using cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/006 by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/1809 Controlling processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/1854 followed by a downward movement inside the reactor to form a loop
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/1872 Details of the fluidised bed reactor B01J8/1836 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 526/901 Monomer polymerized in vapor state in presence of transition metal containing catalyst

Abstract

A method for the treatment of catalysts or catalyst carriers by: a) introducing and distributing a gas in the lower section of a reactor containing a catalyst or catalyst carrier bulk material; b) forming a fluidized bed in the reactor; c) treating the particles in the fluidized bed while removing the fine particles an/or retaining the course particles by means of a separating organ and d) discharging the reactor. To this end, a reactor bottom which tapers downwards is used.

Claims

1. A method for activating and/or calcining olefin polymerization catalysts which contain transition materials as an active component or catalyst supports which contain oxidic compounds as a support material, said method comprising the steps of

(a) introducing and distributing gas in the lower section of a reactor containing a layer of catalyst or catalyst support,

(b) forming a fluidized bed in the reactor,

(c) treating the catalyst or catalyst carrier particles in the fluidized bed wherein the treatment of the catalyst or catalyst support is selected from the group consisting of an activation treatment, a calcination treatment and both an activation treatment and a calcination treatment, and

(d) discharging the reactor such that said reactor is substantially residue-free,

wherein said reactor has a bottom which tapers downwards, and wherein said reactor has no gas distribution plate.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in addition relatively fine particles are removed and/or relatively large particles are retained by means of a separator.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said separator comprises at least one cyclone.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one additional member selected from the group consisting of liquids, solids and gases is introduced into the fluidized bed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said reactor comprises

i) a reactor jacket comprising a reactor bottom which tapers downwards,

ii) a pipe for introducing gas into the reactor located beneath the reactor bottom and connected to a gas inlet pipe for gas introduction,

iii) a device for discharging the reactor located beneath the reactor bottom, and

iv) a separator,

such that an angle β

between said gas inlet pipe and the vertical is from 20 to 70°

.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a cone angle α

measured between the reactor jacket surfaces and said conical reactor base is from 20 to 120°

.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said transition material comprises chromium or titanium.