Patents Assigned to Univation Technologies
  • Patent number: 7878431
    Abstract: A rotary feeder for feeding a particulate material including: a cylindrical housing comprising a feeder inlet, a first feeder outlet, and a second feeder outlet; a rotor mounted in the cylindrical housing including a plurality of substantially impeller blades defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets alignable with the feeder inlet, first feeder outlet, and second feeder outlet, and adapted to sweep a wall of the cylindrical housing as the rotor rotates in the cylindrical housing; a device for rotating the rotor; and a separating screen in the first feeder outlet to substantially prevent oversize material from exiting through the first feeder outlet, wherein each of the plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets will align with the feeder inlet to receive therein a particulate material and an oversize material through the feeder inlet, rotate in the cylindrical housing to align with the first feeder outlet and discharge the particulate material therefrom, and rotate in the cylindrical housin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Blickley, Randall L. Force, David M. Gaines
  • Patent number: 7875690
    Abstract: A process for the production of an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer is disclosed. The process includes polymerizing ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin by contacting the ethylene and the at least one alpha-olefin with a metallocene catalyst in at least one gas phase reactor at a reactor pressure of from 0.7 to 70 bar and a reactor temperature of from 20° C. to 150° C. to form an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer. The resulting ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer may have a density of 0.927 g/cc or greater and environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) of 500 hr or more when measured according to ASTM 1693/B in 10% Igepal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Blair Alfred Graham, Mark P. Ossowski, James M. Farley, Rainer Kolb
  • Patent number: 7868092
    Abstract: A bimodal polyethylene composition that includes ethylene-derived units, and, optionally, one or more other olefin-derived units, wherein the bimodal polyethylene composition possesses a density of at least 0.940 g/cc, an average molecular weight (Mw) of from 200,000 to 370,000, a z-average molecular weight (Mz) of from 1,500,000 to 3,400,000 Daltons, and a z+1 average molecular weight (Mz+1) of from 2,500,000 to 6,800,000 Daltons, is provided in various embodiments. Articles made therefrom and methods of making the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tae Hoon Kwalk, Stephen Paul Jaker, Sun-Chueh Kao, Mark Bradley Davis, Natarajan Muruganandam, Jo Ann Marie Canich
  • Patent number: 7858702
    Abstract: Bimodal polyethylene compositions and blow molded bottles made therefrom are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the composition includes at least one high molecular weight polyethylene component having a molecular weight distribution (MWD) of about 6 to about 9, a short chain branch content of less than about 2 branches per 1,000 main chain carbons, and a Mz of about 1,100,000 or more. The composition also includes at least one low molecular weight polyethylene component where a ratio of weight average molecular weight of the high molecular weight polyethylene component to weight average molecular weight of the low molecular weight polyethylene component is about 20 or less. The polyethylene composition has a density of about 0.94 g/cc or more, an ESCR of about 600 hours or more, a percent die swell of about 70% or more, and may comprise at least 70% ethylene-derived units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen P. Jaker
  • Patent number: 7855253
    Abstract: Articles such as, for example, pipes or bottles, prepared from multimodal polyethylenes possessing a density from 0.940 to 0.965 g/cm3, and an I21 from 4 to 20 dg/min, and comprising a low molecular weight ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 5,000 amu to 50,000 amu; and a high molecular weight ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 60,000 amu to 800,000 amu, both components having a desirable balance of short chain branching making the multimodal polyethylene suitable for films, pipes, rotomolding applications and blow molding applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Porter C. Shannon, Fred D. Ehrman
  • Patent number: 7847036
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transition from an initial polymerization reaction to a target polymerization reaction in a manner that reduces significantly the amount of off-grade product having excessively low density produced during the transition, including steps of: during the transition, maintaining a first one of a concentration ratio and a feed ratio at an at least substantially constant value while implementing process changes in an effort to bring produced polymer into compliance with a target specification set and monitoring (without controlling) the other one of the concentration ratio and the feed ratio to generate first data; and during the transition, determining from the first data whether polymer having excessively low density is likely to be produced during the transition, and upon determining that polymer having excessively low density is likely to be produced during the transition, maintaining during the remaining portion of the transition the other ratio at a value that is at least substantia
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7846736
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of monitoring a resin-producing polymerization reaction in a fluid bed reactor system to generate reaction parameter data in on-line fashion, determining an indicator of at least one of entropy and complexity (for example, Kolmogorov or Shannon entropy) of each of at least two subsets of the reaction parameter data, and optionally also determining from at least one value of the indicator (for example, from a time series of Kolmogorov or Shannon entropy values) an indication of at least one of degree of resin stickiness, an approach to or imminence of resin stickiness, and an approach to or imminence of an unsafe or undesired reactor operating condition (e.g., that can result in sheeting or chunking). Optionally also, the reaction is controlled in response to at least one value of the indicator, for example, in an effort to prevent the occurrence of sheeting or another discontinuity event or to maintain the reactor in a stable, non-sticking condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Muhle, Ke Nguyen, Charles E. A. Finney, C. Stuart Daw
  • Publication number: 20100298511
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing olefin(s) utilizing a cyclic bridged metallocene catalyst system to produce polymers with improved properties is provided. The catalyst system may include a cyclic bridged metallocene, LA(R?SiR?)LBZrQ2, activated by an activator, the activator comprising aluminoxane, a modified aluminoxane, or a mixture thereof, and supported by a support, where: LA and LB are independently an unsubstituted or a substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand bonded to Zr and defined by the formula (C5H4-dRd), where R is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl substituent, a substituted hydrocarbyl substituent, or a heteroatom substituent, and where d is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; LA and LB are connected to one another with a cyclic silicon bridge, R?SiR?, where R? are independently hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl substituents that are connected with each other to form a silacycle ring; and each Q is a labile hydrocarbyl or a substituted hydrocarbyl ligand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chi-I Kuo, Dongming Li, Ching-Tai Lue, Francis C. Rix, Mark G. Goode, Daniel P. Zilker, JR., Tae Hoon Kwalk
  • Patent number: 7838605
    Abstract: Embodiments of our invention relate generally to methods of monitoring and controlling polymerization reactions including reactions producing multimodal polymer products using multiple catalysts in a single reactor. Embodiments of the invention provide methods of rapidly monitoring and controlling polymerization reactions without the need to sample and test the polymer properties. The method uses reactor control data and material inventory data in a mathematical leading indicator function to control the reactor conditions, and thereby the products produced under those conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Jack Sandell, Marjorie E. King, Fred David Ehrman
  • Publication number: 20100286346
    Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a polymerization reaction in a fluid bed reactor to determine in on-line fashion a current value, and preferably also a limiting value, of a stickiness control temperature, and optionally controlling the reaction in response thereto in an effort to prevent occurrence of a discontinuity event. The stickiness control temperature is a temperature indicative of a characteristic of melting behavior of polymer resin in the reactor, and may be indicative of occurrence of resin sheeting or another discontinuity event. Optionally, a predetermined relation between values of acoustic energy in the reactor and values of a stickiness control temperature is used to provide error checking for determination of the stickiness control temperature, or a current value of the stickiness control temperature is determined from acoustic data and a predetermined relation between values of an acoustic condition in the reactor and values of the stickiness control temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Muhle, Richard B. Pannell, Eric J. Markel, Robert O. Hagerty
  • Patent number: 7816296
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method of polymerizing olefins comprising contacting olefins with a catalyst composition made by the process of combining a hindered polyalicyclic alkyl catalyst precursor with a particulate inorganic oxide for a deposition time greater than 2 hours to form a catalyst composition. Embodiments of the present invention also include catalyst compositions comprising a hindered polyalicyclic alkyl catalyst precursor made by the process of combining the hindered polyalicyclic alkyl catalyst precursor with a particulate inorganic oxide for a deposition time greater than 2 hours to form the catalyst composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maria A. Apecetche, John Moorhouse, Mark G. Goode, Ronald S. Eisinger, Kevin J. Cann
  • Patent number: 7808227
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to various methods and systems for detecting at least one impurity in a bulk fluid. In certain embodiments, the methods are performed in conjunction with a polymerization reactor system such as a gas-phase reactor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Markel, Robert O. Hagerty, Michael E. Muhle
  • Patent number: 7799877
    Abstract: Methods of monitoring and controlling polymerization reactions are disclosed. The ratio of concentrations of two reactor components are determined in a gas stream of a reactor to obtain a leading indicator function L. The value of L or a function of L, such as a rescaled value or a reciprocal, is compared to a target value, and at least one reactor parameter is adjusted in response to a deviation between L or the function of L and the target value. Monitoring of the leading indicator permits rapid diagnosis of reactor problems, and rapid adjustments of reactor parameters, compared to laboratory analysis of samples of polymer properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Schurzky, Robert L. Santana, Fred D. Ehrman, Pradeep P. Shirodkar
  • Patent number: 7799876
    Abstract: A method for controlling sheeting in a gas phase reactor that includes producing a polyolefin with at least one metallocene catalyst and at least one static control agent in at least one gas phase reactor, measuring entrainment static using a static probe, and adjusting the concentration of the static control agent in response to changes in the measured entrainment static is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Markel, Robert O. Hagerty, F. David Hussein, Michael E. Muhle, Richard B. Pannell
  • Publication number: 20100234547
    Abstract: Olefin polymerization catalyst systems including a high molecular weight catalyst compound and a low molecular weight catalyst compound, and methods of making same are provided. High molecular weight catalysts include metallocene catalysts and low molecular weight catalysts include non-metallocene compounds including biphenyl phenol compounds. Generally catalyst systems may include less than about 5.0 mol % of the high molecular weight catalyst compound relative to said low molecular weight catalyst. Methods for olefin polymerization including the aforementioned catalyst systems, and polyolefins and products made therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Kolb, Dongming Li, Cesar A. Garcia-Franco
  • Patent number: 7790816
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for maintaining heat transfer capacity of a cycle cooler while polymerizing olefin(s) in the presence of catalyst and a carboxylate metal salt by controlling the amount of carboxylate metal salt present in the reaction system. In particular, the invention relates to maintaining a cycle cooler performance parameter substantially constant while polymerizing olefin(s) in the presence of a carboxylate metal salt and a conventional-type transition metal polymerization catalyst compound, or a metallocene-type polymerization catalyst compound. This invention further relates to a process wherein the cycle cooler performance parameter is a heat transfer capacity of the cycle cooler, a pressure drop across the cooler, or a cooler approach temperature of a cycle cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Markel, Agapios K. Agapiou
  • Patent number: 7776977
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a supported catalyst composition and a method for making the supported catalyst composition and its use in a process for polymerizing olefin(s). In particular, the invention is directed to a method for making a supported catalyst composition by contacting a supported activator with a bulky ligand and a metal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Sun-Chueh Kao
  • Patent number: 7774178
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method including the steps of: during a polymerization reaction producing a polymer resin in a fluid bed reactor, measuring reaction parameters including at least reactor temperature, at least one property of the resin, and amount of at least one condensable diluent gas in the reactor; determining from at least one measured resin property using a predetermined correlation, a dry melt initiation temperature value for a dry version of the polymer resin; and during the reaction, using a melt initiation temperature depression model to determine in on-line fashion a reduced melt initiation temperature for the resin (e.g., a temperature at which the resin is expected to begin to melt) in the presence of the at least one condensable diluent gas in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard B. Pannell, Robert O. Hagerty, Eric J. Markel
  • Patent number: RE41785
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Group 15 containing metal catalyst compound having a substituted hydrocarbon leaving group, a catalyst system and a supported catalyst system thereof and to a process for polymerizing olefin(s) utilizing them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David H. McConville
  • Patent number: RE41897
    Abstract: Catalyst compositions and methods, useful in polymerization processes, utilizing at least two metal compounds are disclosed. At least one of the metal compounds is a Group 15 containing metal compound and the other metal compound is preferably a bulky ligand metallocene-type catalyst. The invention also discloses a new polyolefin, generally polyethylene, particularly a multimodal polymer and more specifically, a bimodal polymer, and its use in various end-use applications such as film, molding and pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. Loveday, David H. McConville, John F. Szul, Kersten Anne Terry, Simon Mawson, Tae Hoon Kwalk, Frederick J. Karol, David James Schreck