Apparatus for olefin polymerization includes one or more shell and tube
olefin polymerization reactors, each of which has an olefin polymerization reaction
mixture inlet connection and a crude polyolefin product outlet connection. Each
reactor is equipped with a recirculation system including a pump arranged to circulate
a reaction mixture through the tube side of the reactor independently of the introduction
of olefin polymerization reaction mixture into the reactor. The apparatus may also
include an inlet reaction mixture distribution manifold and an outlet polymerization
reaction mixture collection manifold interconnecting the reactors for operation
in parallel. The apparatus also includes catalyst composition and catalyst modifier
inlets for each reactor arranged such that a catalyst modifier to may be introduced
into each reactor at a rate which is independent of the introduction of catalyst composition.