The new trend in the LDPE industry towards large tubular reactors - And how the manufacturer responds

For more than three decades the Low Density Polyethylene Process has been and still is the commercially most important high pressure process. After years in which the production capacity of newly built tubular plants stabilised around 200,000 tons per year, a very strong move towards larger capacities can be observed. This means that the size of the reactor tube increases from the usual inner diameters of 50 to 60 mm to 70, 80 and beyond. The tubes for these large reactors cannot be fabricated by the traditional cold-pilgering process, as they used to be since the beginning of tubular reactors. A new fabrication method is available and will be discussed as to its limitations and optimum usage. In the same manner the design, material and fabrication method of all other high pressure components will be challenged to the new requirements.