Patent attributes
Disclosed herein is a method of operating a polymerization reactor for a polymerization reaction comprising modifying a recycle gas composition to increase the heat capacity of the recycle gas wherein the recycle gas composition is modified by reducing or eliminating the nitrogen concentration in the recycle gas. In an embodiment, the nitrogen concentration is reduced or eliminated by reducing or eliminating one or more nitrogen input sources to the polymerization reactor and replacing the nitrogen with an alternate inert fluid (a gas or liquid that is inert to the catalyst and reactants). The alternate inert fluid has a higher heat capacity and a higher molecular weight than nitrogen. In an embodiment, the nitrogen utilized to convey a catalyst into the polymerization reactor is replaced with an alternate inert fluid. In an embodiment, the alternate inert fluid is ethane, propane, isobutane, or combinations thereof.
