Process for letting down ethylene high pressure polymerization systems

US4115638A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Rolf Becker
• Klaus Borho · Mutterstadt, DE
• Oskar Buechner · Dudenhofen, DE
• Hans Gropper · Schifferstadt, DE
• Ulrich Hartig · Hermeskeil, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 1977
• Grant date: Sep 19, 1978
• Expiry date: Jun 30, 1997

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08F10/02
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for rapidly letting-down the pressure in continuous high pressure polymerization systems for the polymerization of ethylene. In this process, the let-down hot reaction mixture is passed into an expansion vessel in such a way that the jet of let-down hot reaction mixture issuing from the let-down line is led into the partially water-filled expansion vessel at an angle of from 0.degree. to 45.degree. to the water surface, so that the jet does not enter below the surface but must touch or strike it. The method described makes it possible to let the mixture down partially and thus to slow down the decomposition in the case of explosive decomposition reactions occurring in the polymerization system.