Closed Loop Patents (Class 422/132)
  • Patent number: 11850578
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of performing a chemical reaction under elevated pressure. It is suggested that the method comprises the steps of pressurizing a first vessel (3) and a second vessel (5) with reactant-containing liquid and gas to a predetermined pressure, providing reaction conditions in one of the vessels (3, 5) such that the chemical reaction is effected and a product-containing liquid is obtained, withdrawing liquid from the respective vessel (3, 5) as reaction product when a predetermined amount of reaction product has formed, preferably after the chemical reaction in the respective vessel (3, 5) has concluded, and synchronously supplying reactant-containing liquid to the respective other vessel (3, 5), wherein the first and second vessels (3, 5) are in fluid communication by way of a gas communication passage (27). The invention also relates to an apparatus and use thereof for performing said chemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Simon Kokolakis, Rocco Paciello, Annebart Wentink, Albert Werner
  • Patent number: 11235304
    Abstract: An object is to provide a novel flow reactor capable of measuring the internal temperature. The flow reactor including a tubular reaction line, wherein the flow reactor further includes an internal temperature measurement unit provided at one or more location of the tubular reaction line, the internal temperature measurement unit includes a thermometer with a temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor is inserted into the tubular reaction line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Ohishi, Shiori Ozasa, Shun Watanabe, Hiroaki Yasukouchi
  • Patent number: 11142591
    Abstract: A process including contacting one or more monomers, at least one catalyst system, and a condensing agent including ?10 mol % tetramethylsilane under polymerizable conditions to produce a polyolefin polymer is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Hagadorn, Charles J. Harlan, Richard B. Pannell, Chi-I Kuo
  • Patent number: 11065595
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a system having a reactor system with a polymerization reactor and a feed system fluidly coupled to a feed inlet of the reactor. The feed system supplies components to the reactor via the feed inlet, and the reactor has a flow path that continuously conveys the components through the reactor and subjects the components to polymerization conditions to produce a polymer. The system also has an analysis system coupled to the reactor for online monitoring of a particle size of the polymer. Further, the system includes a control system, coupled to the analysis and feed systems, that receives a signal from the analysis system indicative of the monitored particle size of the polymer and adjusts an operating parameter of the feed system to control a flow rate of at least one of the components to the reactor based at least on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Eric D. Schwerdtfeger, Daniel G. Hert, Eric J. Netemeyer
  • Patent number: 11021549
    Abstract: A method of operating a dump tank of a polymer production process by transferring all or a portion of a content of a polymerization reactor into the dump tank, wherein the reactor contents comprise solid polymer, and liquid and gaseous non-product components, and removing at least a portion of the liquid and gaseous non-product components from the dump tank by: reducing a pressure of the dump tank, subjecting the solid polymer to a first cleaning stage comprising heating the solid polymer by introducing a first heated treatment gas into the dump tank, and subjecting the solid polymer to a second cleaning stage comprising purging the solid polymer by introducing a second heated treatment gas into the dump tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Joseph A. Curren, James E. Hein, Ralph W. Romig, Ai-Fu Chang
  • Patent number: 10933398
    Abstract: A device for carrying out a chemical reaction by a continuous method has a reactor with at least two reactor sections which define a direction of flow. The reactor has plug flow properties along the direction of flow. A recirculation line is present to withdraw a partial flow from the reactor at a first point and return it to the reactor at a second point located above the first point in the direction of flow. Means are provided which prevent a temperature increase in the reactor over a predetermined temperature range, for example change of more than approximately 50 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: Fluitec Invest AG, Rudolf GmbH
    Inventors: Silvano Andreoli, Tobias Vögeli, Daniel Altenburger, Alain Georg, Michael Schacht, Gunther Duschek
  • Patent number: 10835882
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a process for polymerizing ethylene under high pressure providing more than one injection point for one initiator injection pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Clymans, Henri A. Lammens, Philip H. Cornelissen
  • Patent number: 10799847
    Abstract: A polyolefin production system including: a first reactor configured to produce a first discharge slurry having a first polyolefin; a second reactor configured to produce a second discharge slurry having a second polyolefin; and a post-reactor treatment zone having at least a separation vessel configured to receive the second discharge slurry or both the first discharge slurry and the second discharge slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth Ann Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Thanh T. Nguyen, Timothy O. Odi
  • Patent number: 10343135
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a manufacturing plant for high-pressure polymerization having a layered tubular reactor and a method for an emergency shutdown in said manufacturing plant. The present disclosure also relates to a process for manufacturing LDPE using said layered tubular reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Littmann, Andre-Armand Finette, Christoph Wolf, Michael Deuerling, Juergen Peter Mohrbutter, Danir Khayrullin
  • Patent number: 10118148
    Abstract: An end surface of each first side wall, an end surface of each first middle wall, and an end surface of each first end wall are joined to an adjacent second structure by diffusion bonding, an end surface of each second side wall, an end surface of each second middle wall, and an end surface of each second end wall are joined to an adjacent first structure or a lid structure by diffusion bonding, a thickness of each first side wall is greater than or equal to a thickness of each first middle wall, and a thickness of each second side wall is greater than or equal to a thickness of each second middle wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki Sakakura, Nobuyuki Honma, Takashi Nishii, Tomohiro Kaneko, Rie Harada, Kunitaka Masaki, Hiroyuki Kamata, Koki Hamada, Akihisa Yano, Tatsuya Oka, Yusuke Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9994678
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aliphatic or partially aromatic polyamide, in which an aqueous composition of the monomers is subjected to an oligomerization at elevated temperature and increased pressure, the reaction mixture is optionally subjected to a first decompression to reduce the water content, the (optionally decompressed) reaction mixture is heated within a short time to a temperature above the melting temperature of the polyamides and the heated reaction mixture is subjected to a (further) decompression to reduce the water content and to an after-polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Christian Schmidt, Joachim Clauss, Axel Wilms, Volker Rauschenberger, Gad Kory, Stefan Schwiegk, Arnold Schneller, Achim Stammer, Frank Niedermaier, Bernd Hackel
  • Patent number: 9790298
    Abstract: A process for component separation in a polymer production system, comprising separating a polymerization product stream into a gas stream and a polymer stream, wherein the gas stream comprises ethane and unreacted ethylene, distilling the gas stream into a light hydrocarbon stream, wherein the light hydrocarbon stream comprises ethane and unreacted ethylene, contacting the light hydrocarbon stream with an absorption solvent system, wherein at least a portion of the unreacted ethylene from the light hydrocarbon stream is absorbed by the absorption solvent system, and recovering a waste gas stream from the absorption solvent system, wherein the waste gas stream comprises ethane, hydrogen, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, John D. Hottovy, Ai-fu Chang
  • Patent number: 9708449
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aliphatic or semiaromatic polyamide oligomer, in which an aqueous composition of the monomers is subjected to an oligomerization at elevated temperature and elevated pressure and the oligomerization output is preferably subjected to an expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Gad Kory, Joachim Clauss, Axel Wilms, Stefan Schwiegk, Christian Schmidt, Silke Biedasek, Heinrich Sack, Florian Richter, Ning Zhu
  • Patent number: 9567408
    Abstract: Polymerization process in a loop reactor of an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin commoner in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry containing solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent. The Froude number is maintained in the range of 2-15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: INEOS MANUFACTURING BELGIUM NV
    Inventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Daniel Marissal, Brent R. Walworth
  • Patent number: 9422381
    Abstract: A method of olefin polymerization enables production of polyolefin with high productivity while suppressing sheeting or caking in the reactor. The method of olefin polymerization includes: feeding a circulating gas including at least one alpha-olefin and an inert gas into a reactor; polymerizing the alpha-olefin into a polyolefin in a reaction region in the reactor; and discharging the polyolefin from the reactor, which reactor consists of a cylindrical base section a positioned in the lower part thereof and a conical top section b positioned on the top of the cylindrical base section and having an open top. The inside of the reactor is divided into a reaction region A that is a fluidized bed region having an olefin polymerization occurring therein, and a free region B positioned on the top of the reaction region A and having solid polyolefin particles separated from the gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: DAELIM INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Woo Kang, Byung Soon Chun, Young Jae Jun
  • Patent number: 9394382
    Abstract: Process for gas phase polymerization of olefins in a fluidized bed reactor by (a) passing a fluidizing gas containing at least one olefin monomer through a fluidized bed of polymer particles in the presence of a polymerization catalyst to produce polymer at a polymer production rate of C Tonnes/hour, (b) withdrawing a first gaseous stream containing solid particles from the top of the reactor, (c) passing the first gaseous stream to a gas/solids separator, separating solid particles therefrom, and forming a second gaseous stream containing residual solid particles, (d) passing a portion of the second gaseous stream to at least one heat exchanger to remove heat of reaction whereby residual solid particles contact the heat exchanger, and (e) recycling a portion of the cooled stream from step (d) as the fluidizing gas in step (a). The heat exchangers have a heat exchange surface area which totals less than 120×C m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: INEOS SALES (UK) LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew David Bell, Jean-Louis Chamayou, Kevin Peter Ramsay
  • Patent number: 9308514
    Abstract: The present invention relates the use of a pump in a loop reactor for the production of polyethylene, as well as a reactor comprising such pump and methods for producing polyolefin by means of such reactor. The pump according to the invention is characterized in that it is an axial flow impeller circulation pump, wherein the impeller comprises 6 blades and wherein the pump is fixed on a spring supported frame. Use of the pump according to the present invention allows for preparation of homogeneous polyethylene products that meet high quality standards from the complicated ethylene polymerization mixtures while at the same time being produced with low energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventors: Frank Timmermans, Wouter Ooms, Daan Dewachter, Louis Fouarge
  • Patent number: 9260547
    Abstract: A process including polymerizing ethylene in the presence of a polymerization catalyst and hydrogen in a first polymerization reactor to produce a first slurry; withdrawing a first stream of the slurry from the first polymerization reactor; directing the slurry stream into a second polymerization reactor; polymerizing ethylene in the presence of the first ethylene polymer, the polymerization catalyst, and hydrogen in a second polymerization reactor to produce a second slurry; withdrawing from the second polymerization reactor a second slurry stream having a solids concentration higher than the average solids concentration of the second slurry within the second polymerization reactor; withdrawing from the second polymerization reactor a third slurry stream having a solids concentration lower than the average solids concentration of the second slurry within the second polymerization reactor; and directing at least a part of the second slurry stream into one of the first and second polymerization reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Ilke Senol, Erik Eriksson, Kauno Alastalo, Pauli Leskinen, Klaus Nyfors
  • Patent number: 9242217
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for continuously reacting liquid alkylene oxide with a liquid substance including an organic compound with active hydrogen atoms and a catalyst in a reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Buss ChemTech AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Aigner, David Hirsch, Alfred Lagnaz
  • Patent number: 9212242
    Abstract: Process including polymerizing in a loop reactor an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin commoner in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent. The Froude number is maintained at or below 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: INEOS MANUFACTURING BELGIUM NV
    Inventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Daniel Marissal, Brent R. Walworth
  • Patent number: 9034994
    Abstract: Polymerization reactor systems providing real-time control of the average particle size of catalyst system components are disclosed. Methods for operating such polymerization reactor systems also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Max P. McDaniel, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Publication number: 20150112034
    Abstract: A process for preparing polyolefin in a polymerization loop reactor can include feeding olefin monomer, liquid diluent, polymerization catalyst, optionally hydrogen, and optionally olefin co-monomer into the polymerization loop reactor. The process can include polymerizing the olefin monomer and optionally the olefin co-monomer to produce a polyolefin slurry in the polymerization loop reactor. The polymerization loop reactor can include a plurality of interconnected pipes defining a flow path for the polyolefin slurry. The polymerization loop reactor can include one or more settling legs provided on at least one horizontal part of the interconnected pipes. The circulation velocity of the polyolefin slurry inside at least one horizontal part of the interconnected pipes provided with one or more settling legs can be reduced by at least 20% and at most 60% compared to a circulation velocity inside a remainder of the polymerization loop reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Robin Giguere, Denis Mignon, Philippe Tanguy, Louis Fradette
  • Patent number: 8992840
    Abstract: Multiple components are selected, conveyed, and measured in a polymerization system. A control system adjusts the system variables to the desired values. Portions of the components can be fed to a pre-contactor before introduction into the polymerization reactor. The catalyst component concentrations and residence times are tightly controlled in the pre-contactor to affect product properties. The pre-contactor can be a single or multiple combinations of a CSTR or plug flow pre-contactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: David H. Burns, Donald W. Verser, Elizabeth A. Benham, Max P. McDaniel, John D. Hottovy, Clay K Thurman, David A. Lockman, John O. Lawmaster, Matthew T. Haberly, Thomas H. Smith, Jerry T. Lanier, Matthew G. Thorn, Penny A. Zellers
  • Publication number: 20150087793
    Abstract: A catalyst composition may include a precontacted mixture of an olefin polymerization catalyst and an agent including an ammonium salt. The catalyst activity of the catalyst composition in the presence of water may be greater than if no ammonium salt were present in the catalyst composition. The ammonium salt may include a tetraalkylammonium salt, and the olefin polymerization catalyst may include a metallocene compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Albert P. Masino, Randall S. Muninger, Max P. McDaniel, Eric D. Schwerdtfeger, Qing Yang, Graham R. Lief
  • Publication number: 20150073105
    Abstract: The present invention relates the use of a pump in a loop reactor for the production of polyethylene, as well as a reactor comprising such pump and methods for producing polyolefin by means of such reactor. The pump according to the invention is characterized in that it is an axial flow impeller circulation pump, wherein the impeller comprises 6 blades and wherein the pump is fixed on a spring supported frame. Use of the pump according to the present invention allows for preparation of homogeneous polyethylene products that meet high quality standards from the complicated ethylene polymerization mixtures while at the same time being produced with low energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Frank Timmermans, Wouter Ooms, Daan Dewachter, Louis Fouarge
  • Patent number: 8957119
    Abstract: Method of devulcanizing rubber and/or elastomers without the need for a chemical agent, in which method the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers are fed into a planetary roller extruder, which planetary roller extruder has a housing, a central spindle, two groups of planetary roller spindles, and a dispersion ring disposed about the central spindle and between the two groups of planetary spindles. Mechanical and thermal stress is generated on the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers by kneading and/or crushing the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers using the central spindle and the planetary spindles, and by forcing the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers through the dispersion ring, which is designated to substantially restrict passage of the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers therethrough. The mechanical and thermal stress alone is sufficient to break or destroy the molecular chains or bonds of the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Entex Rust & Mitschke GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Rust
  • Patent number: 8940239
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for operating a reactor during a catalyst transition period. The instantaneous reaction rate during a catalyst transition period can be determined using real-time measured process variables, and material balance calculations to provide an instantaneous reaction rate in approximately real time. According to certain embodiments, a material balance can be performed on the reactor system using a continuous ideal stirred tank reactor to determine the fractions of each type of catalyst that are present in the reactor, as well as the overall weight percent of catalyst in the reactor. A controller can then calculate the overall instantaneous reaction rate based on the respective catalyst fractions and the overall weight percent of catalyst in the reactor. The catalyst feed rate can then be adjusted based on the determined instantaneous reaction rate to maintain the instantaneous reaction rate within desired limits during a catalyst transition period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventor: Gregory G. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 8940843
    Abstract: The present invention relates the use of a pump in a loop reactor for the production of polyethylene, as well as a reactor comprising such pump and methods for producing polyolefin by means of such reactor. The pump according to the invention is characterized in that it is an axial flow impeller circulation pump, wherein the impeller comprises 6 blades and wherein the pump is fixed on a spring supported frame. Use of the pump according to the present invention allows for preparation of homogeneous polyethylene products that meet high quality standards from the complicated ethylene polymerization mixtures while at the same time being produced with low energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventors: Frank Timmermans, Wouter Ooms, Daan Dewachter, Louis Fouarge
  • Patent number: 8932527
    Abstract: Loop reactors for olefin polymerization and processes utilizing such loop reactors are described herein. In one or more embodiments, the loop reactor generally includes a plurality of vertical sections; a plurality of elbow sections connecting the vertical sections to either a horizontal section having a horizontal length (LH) or another elbow section, at least one elbow section having an internal diameter (d), a radius (Rc) of an inner curvature and a chord length (W) and wherein the horizontal length (LH) is from 0 feet to 3 feet, the chord length (W) is 250 inches or less and a ratio (Rc/d) of the radius (Rc) of the inner curvature to the internal diameter (d) of the at least one elbow section is maintained from 2 to 4; and at least one loop reaction zone configured to polymerize an olefin monomer in the presence of a liquid diluent into a slurry comprising particles of a polyolefin polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Ralph W. Romig, John D Stewart, Catherine M Gill, Bruce E. Kreischer, John D. Hottovy
  • Patent number: 8927665
    Abstract: Process for polymerizing in a loop reactor an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin comonomer in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry including solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent. The Froude number is in the range 3 to 10, the internal diameter of the loop reactor is over 600 millimeters, the solids concentration of the slurry in the loop reactor is above 20% by volume and, when the polymer produced is polyethylene and the diluent is an alkane, the solids concentration is above 40 wt % based on the total weight of the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: INEOS Manufacturing Belgium NV
    Inventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Daniel Marissal, Brent R. Walworth
  • Publication number: 20140334984
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing polyolefin in a loop reactor. The polymer is prepared by polymerizing olefin monomers in the presence of a catalyst to produce a polyolefin slurry while pumping said slurry through said loop reactor by means of a pump. The present process is characterized in that the catalyst is fed in the loop reactor at a distance to the pump. The invention allows production of the polymer with advantageous properties while leading to fewer blockages of the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Eric Damme, Louis Fouarge, Jerome Bette, Alvaro Fernandez, Aurelien Vantomme, Renaud Oreins, Daniel Siraux
  • Publication number: 20140275450
    Abstract: A system and method for producing polyolefin, including a polyolefin reactor system having: a first reactor to produce a first reactor discharge stream having a first polyolefin and a first diluent; and a second reactor to receive at least a portion of the first reactor discharge stream and to produce a second reactor discharge stream having a second polyolefin and a second diluent, wherein the second diluent is different than the first diluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY, LP
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth A. Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Thanh T. Nguyen, Timothy O. Odi
  • Patent number: 8829124
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing polyolefin in a loop reactor. The polymer is prepared by polymerizing olefin monomers in the presence of a catalyst to produce a polyolefin slurry while pumping said slurry through said loop reactor by means of a pump. The present process is characterized in that the catalyst is fed in the loop reactor at a distance to the pump. The invention allows production of the polymer with advantageous properties while leading to fewer blockages of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventors: Eric Damme, Louis Fouarge, Jerome Bette, Alvaro Fernandez, Aurelien Vantomme, Renaud Oreins, Daniel Siraux
  • Patent number: 8822609
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for transforming a single reactor line into a double reactor line wherein the existing single reactor line is equipped with a flash tank for separating the solid polymer product from the flash vapor and wherein the vapor is sent to a system of at least two separating columns allowing the separation of its constituents into monomer, diluent and comonomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventors: Louis Fouarge, Eric Duchesne
  • Patent number: 8822608
    Abstract: A system and method for producing polyolefin, including a polyolefin reactor system having: a first reactor to produce a first reactor discharge stream having a first polyolefin and a first diluent; and a second reactor to receive at least a portion of the first reactor discharge stream and to produce a second reactor discharge stream having a second polyolefin and a second diluent, wherein the second diluent is different than the first diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP.
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth A Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Thanh T. Nguyen, Timothy O. Odi
  • Patent number: 8816024
    Abstract: A polymerization reactor system includes features for operating two or more reactors in series or parallel. The system includes a discharge line coupled to an outlet of a first polymerization reactor, a first conduit connecting the first polymerization reactor to a second polymerization reactor via the discharge line, a second conduit connecting the first polymerization reactor to a flashline apparatus via the discharge line, and a diverter valve coupling the first and second conduits to the discharge line. The diverter valve is configured to selectively open the discharge line to the first conduit and close the discharge line to the second conduit in a first valve state and to selectively open the discharge line to the second conduit and close the discharge line to the first conduit in a second valve state. The diverter valve is capable of switching between the first and second valve states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventor: John D. Hottovy
  • Patent number: 8765884
    Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers
  • Publication number: 20140140894
    Abstract: A polyolefin production system including: a first reactor configured to produce a first discharge slurry having a first polyolefin; a second reactor configured to produce a second discharge slurry having a second polyolefin; and a post-reactor treatment zone having at least a separation vessel configured to receive the second discharge slurry or both the first discharge slurry and the second discharge slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth An Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Thanh T. Nguyen, Timothy O. Odi
  • Patent number: 8710161
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for transforming a single reactor line into a double reactor line wherein the existing single reactor line is equipped with a flash tank for separating the solid polymer product from the flash vapor and wherein the vapor is sent to a system of at least two separating columns allowing the separation of its constituents into monomer, diluent and comonomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventors: Louis Fouarge, Eric Duchesne
  • Patent number: 8703883
    Abstract: Polymerization reactor systems providing real-time control of the average particle size of catalyst system components are disclosed. Methods for operating such polymerization reactor systems also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Max P. McDaniel, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Patent number: 8703063
    Abstract: A reactor system including an enclosed pressure relief system and/or a control system. The enclosed pressure relief system including a slurry separation system communicatively coupled with a pressure relief valve coupled to a loop reactor such that activation of the pressure relief valve results in discharge of a slurry from the loop reactor to the slurry separation system, wherein the slurry separation system is capable of separating solid and liquid components from gas components of the slurry and transmitting the gas components to a flare via a flare header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Richard Peacock
  • Publication number: 20140088272
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing polyolefin in a loop reactor. The polymer is prepared by polymerizing olefin monomers in the presence of a catalyst to produce a polyolefin slurry while pumping said slurry through said loop reactor by means of a pump. The present process is characterized in that the catalyst is fed in the loop reactor at a distance to the pump. The invention allows production of the polymer with advantageous properties while leading to fewer blockages of the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS RESEARCH FELUY
    Inventors: Eric Damme, Louis Fouarge, Jerome Bette, Alvaro Fernandez, Aurelien Vantomme, Renaud Oreins, Daniel Siraux
  • Patent number: 8669334
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the gas phase polymerization of one or more olefin monomers in a fluidized bed reactor in a dry mode or in a (super) condensed mode with a gas stream comprising an inert gas characterized in that the inert gas comprises a mixture of inert components: (1) nitrogen; (2) a gas heat capacity increasing agent (3) a sorption promoting agent and (4) a polymer swelling agent. The inert gas may comprise (1) 5-60% by mol nitrogen (2) 10-90% by mol ethane (3) 1-50% by mol % n-butane and (4) 0.1-10% by mol % n-pentane or iso-pentane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Yahya Banat, Fahad Al-Obaidi, Abdul Kader Malek
  • Patent number: 8648156
    Abstract: Polymerization process in a slurry loop reactor having a slurry loop reaction zone with a volume of at least 50 m3 and an internal diameter (D) of 50 cm or greater, a feed inlet for monomers and diluent, a catalyst inlet for polymerisation catalyst, and a discharge conduit for removal of polymer. Monomer, diluent and catalyst are passed into the reaction zone through their respective inlets where they form a slurry of polymer solids having a polymer solids concentration in the reaction zone of greater than 20 wt %. The space-time yield (STY) is greater than 100 kg/h/m3, and the catalyst inlet is an inlet pipe such that no part of the inlet pipe protrudes beyond the wall of the reaction zone and into the reaction zone by more than 1/10th of the diameter of the reaction zone at the point where the inlet pipe joins the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ineos Commercial Services UK Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Marissal, Stephen Kevin Lee
  • Patent number: 8629223
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for initiating an ethylene polymerization reaction in an ethylene polymerization loop reactor. More particularly, the invention relates to the timing upon which hydrogen is introduced into the ethylene polymerization loop reactor. The catalysts used in the ethylene polymerization reaction according to present invention are preferably metallocene catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventor: Daniel Siraux
  • Patent number: 8618227
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improving the devolatilization of polymer slurry produced in an olefin polymerization reactor. The process is characterized in that it involves an adjustment of the temperature of the interior surface of the flash line for periodically transferring polymer slurry from the polymerization reactor to a downstream processing unit. In particular, in accordance with the present process, the temperature of the interior surface of the flash line is adjusted to a temperature which is equal to or higher than the softening temperature of the polymer passing through said flash line whereby said temperature is higher in a first half of the length of the flash line than in the remaining length of the flash line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventors: Lieven Van Looveren, Marc Moers, Mathias Wijffels
  • Patent number: 8597582
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide a system and method for separation within a polymer production process. Specifically, a flashline heater configured according to present embodiments may provide more time than is required for complete vaporization of liquid hydrocarbons that are not entrained within a polymer fluff produced within a polymerization reactor. Such extra time may allow for liquid hydrocarbons that are entrained within the polymer fluff to be vaporized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Scott E. Kufeld
  • Patent number: 8586685
    Abstract: A process for the polymerization of olefins is disclosed. The process may include: feeding a catalyst, a liquid diluent, and an olefin to a polymerization vessel having, from a polymerization vessel bottom to a polymerization vessel top, a vapor introduction zone, a three-phase reaction zone and a vapor disengagement zone; contacting the catalyst and olefin under conditions of temperature and pressure in the presence of the liquid diluent as a continuous phase in the three-phase reaction zone to form a solid phase polyolefin; withdrawing a gas phase composition from an outlet in fluid communication with the vapor disengagement zone; circulating the gas phase composition through a gas circulation loop to an inlet in fluid communication with the vapor distribution zone at a rate sufficient to agitate the solid and liquid phases within the three-phase reaction zone; and withdrawing a reaction mixture comprising polyolefin and diluents from the three-phase reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: F. David Hussein, Michael E. Muhle, Ping Cai, Mark W. Blood
  • Patent number: 8580202
    Abstract: A process comprising polymerizing in a loop reactor an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin commoner in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the Froude number is maintained at or below 20 is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NV
    Inventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Daniel Marissal, Brent R. Walworth
  • Publication number: 20130217843
    Abstract: Polymerization reactor systems providing real-time control of the average particle size of catalyst system components are disclosed. Methods for operating such polymerization reactor systems also are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Max P. McDaniel, Joel A. Mutchler