A process/apparatus is disclosed for continuously separating a liquid medium
comprising
diluent and unreacted monomers from a polymerization effluent of a slurry loop
reactor containing a flow of slurry therein, comprising a discharge conduit extending
a distance into the loop reactor; the conduit having a longitudinal axis and an
opening inside the loop reactor; at least a portion of the conduit being curved
along its longitudinal axis inside the loop reactor; and the opening substantially
facing the flow of the slurry, wherein the discharge conduit is located within
a lower leg of the loop reactor such that a continuous discharge of the polymerization
effluent from a slurry reactor through a discharge valve and transfer conduit into
a first intermediate pressure flash tank wherein volatile inert diluent and unreacted
monomers are removed and the polymer solids which remain after removal of about
50 to 100% of the inert diluent therefrom to a second flash tank at a lower pressure.
