Patents by Inventor Brandon C. Locklear

Brandon C. Locklear has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11518825
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards catalyst formulations including a metallocene and a stearic compound selected from bis 2-hydroxyethyl stearyl amine, aluminum distearate, and combinations thereof, where the metallocene is represented by the following formula: (Formula (I)) wherein each n-PR is n-propyl, and each X is independently CH3, Cl, or F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley R. Mariott, John F. Szul, Haiqing Peng, James M. Farley, Bruce J. Savatsky, Brandon C. Locklear
  • Patent number: 11230614
    Abstract: Methods for reducing gels and/or dome sheeting in gas phase polymerization processes and their resulting products are provided. The polymerization processes include polymerizing ethylene and one or more optional comonomers in a fluidized bed reactor in the presence of a metallocene catalyst, hydrogen, and at least one condensing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patent Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon C. Locklear, Haiqing Peng, Bruce J. Savatsky, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Robert O. Hagerty, Michael E. Muhle, Fathi D. Hussein
  • Patent number: 11117991
    Abstract: Methods for olefin polymerization are described. The methods include a) forming a first polyolefin under a first set of polymerization conditions in the presence of a first catalyst composition and a first concentration of at least a first continuity additive composition, the first polyolefin composition having a target density, ?1, and a target Flow Index, FI1; and b) forming a second polyolefin composition under a second set of polymerization conditions in the presence of a second catalyst composition and a second concentration of a second continuity additive composition, the second polyolefin composition having a target density, ?2, and a target Flow Index, FI2; wherein the process is essentially free of providing a polymerization neutralizing composition between steps a) and b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, R. Eric Pequeno, Brandon C. Locklear
  • Patent number: 10995161
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of maintaining a target value of a melt flow index of a polyethylene polymer product being synthesized with a metallocene catalyst in a fluidized bed gas phase reactor. The method includes producing the polyethylene polymer product at the target value of the melt flow index with a metallocene catalyst in a fluidized bed gas phase reactor at a steady state in which the fluidized bed gas phase reactor is at a first reactor temperature and receives feeds of hydrogen and ethylene at a hydrogen to ethylene feed ratio at a first ratio value. When a change in reactor temperature is detected, the hydrogen to ethylene feed ratio is changed from the first ratio value to a second ratio value so as to maintain the melt flow index value of the polyethylene polymer product at the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, R. Eric Pequeno, Brandon C. Locklear, Jim Farley
  • Publication number: 20210115168
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards catalyst formulations including a metallocene and a stearic compound selected from bis 2-hydroxyethyl stearyl amine, aluminum distearate, and combinations thereof, where the metallocene is represented by the following formula: (Formula (I)) wherein each n-PR is n-propyl, and each X is independently CH3, Cl, or F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley R. MARIOTT, John F. SZUL, Haiqing PENG, James M. FARLEY, Bruce J. SAVATSKY, Brandon C. LOCKLEAR
  • Patent number: 10975183
    Abstract: A process for testing a commercial polyolefin condensed mode operation on a pilot plant scale is provided. A feed stream including one or more olefin monomers and one or more inert fluids can be introduced to a fluidized bed contained within a reactor housing having a length to diameter ratio of 1.0 to 20. The one or more olefin monomers can be contacted with one or catalysts within the fluidized bed at conditions sufficient to produce a polyolefin. A cycle gas stream can be withdrawn from the housing, the cycle gas stream having a gas velocity of 1.0 ft/sec to 3.0 ft/sec and including the unreacted monomers and the inert fluids. The cycle gas stream can be compressed to a pressure above the reaction pressure within the housing. The cycle gas stream can be cooled to a temperature that is above the dew point of the cycle gas, and a portion of the compressed cycle gas stream can be removed to create a side stream of the compressed cycle gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Richard E. Pequeno, Brandon C. Locklear
  • Patent number: 10682797
    Abstract: Methods for extrusion of polyolefins (112) that control specific energy input to the extruder (102) for gel reduction. Disclosed herein is an example method for forming plastic products (120, 208) with reduced gels, comprising: melting a polyolefin resin (112) in extruder (102) to form a melt; adjusting specific energy input in the extruder (102) to reduce gels in the melt; and forming the melt into a polyolefin product (120, 208). Disclosed herein is also an example method for forming plastic products (120, 20) with reduced gels, comprising: melting a polyolefin resin in extruder (102) to form a melt; selecting a throttle valve (104) position for gel reduction; setting the throttle valve (104) at the selected throttle valve (104) position to restrict flow of the melt out of the extruder (102); and forming the melt into a polyolefin product (120, 208).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daudi A. Abe, Brandon C. Locklear, Yuet Meng Chu, T. R. Veariel
  • Publication number: 20200140581
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of maintaining a target value of a melt flow index of a polyethylene polymer product being synthesized with a metallocene catalyst in a fluidized bed gas phase reactor. The method includes producing the polyethylene polymer product at the target value of the melt flow index with a metallocene catalyst in a fluidized bed gas phase reactor at a steady state in which the fluidized bed gas phase reactor is at a first reactor temperature and receives feeds of hydrogen and ethylene at a hydrogen to ethylene feed ratio at a first ratio value. When a change in reactor temperature is detected, the hydrogen to ethylene feed ratio is changed from the first ratio value to a second ratio value so as to maintain the melt flow index value of the polyethylene polymer product at the target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, R. Eric Pequeno, Brandon C. Locklear, Jim Farley
  • Publication number: 20200010585
    Abstract: Methods for reducing gels and/or dome sheeting in gas phase polymerization processes and their resulting products are provided. The polymerization processes include polymerizing ethylene and one or more optional comonomers in a fluidized bed reactor in the presence of a metallocene catalyst, hydrogen, and at least one condensing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Brandon C. Locklear, Haiqing Peng, Bruce J. Savatsky, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Robert O. Hagerty, Michael E. Muhle, Fathi D. Hussein
  • Publication number: 20190352440
    Abstract: Methods for olefin polymerization are described. The methods include a) forming a first polyolefin under a first set of polymerization conditions in the presence of a first catalyst composition and a first concentration of at least a first continuity additive composition, the first polyolefin composition having a target density, ?1, and a target Flow Index, FI1; and b) forming a second polyolefin composition under a second set of polymerization conditions in the presence of a second catalyst composition and a second concentration of a second continuity additive composition, the second polyolefin composition having a target density, ?2, and a target Flow Index, FI2; wherein the process is essentially free of providing a polymerization neutralizing composition between steps a) and b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, R. Eric Pequeno, Brandon C. Locklear
  • Patent number: 10471641
    Abstract: Methods for extrusion of polyolefins (110) that utilize melt temperature to control molecular weight and also reduce gels. Disclosed herein is an example method for controlling polymer chain scission in an extrusion system (100), comprising: melting a polyolefin resin (110) in extruder (102) at a first melt temperature to form a first melt (112); passing the first melt (112) through a screen pack (106); forming the first melt 112) into a first polyolefin product (116, 118); melting additional polyolefin resin (110) of the same grade in the extruder (102) at a second melt temperature to form a second melt (112), wherein the second melt temperature differs from the first melt temperature by 5° C. or more to control chain scission in the extruder (102); passing the second melt (112) through the screen pack (106); and forming the second melt (112) into a second polyolefin product (116, 118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daudi A. Abe, Brandon C. Locklear
  • Patent number: 10400049
    Abstract: Methods for olefin polymerization are described. The methods include a) forming a first polyolefin under a first set of polymerization conditions in the presence of a first catalyst composition and a first concentration of at least a first continuity additive composition, the first polyolefin composition having a target density, 1, and a target Flow Index, FI1; and b) forming a second polyolefin composition under a second set of polymerization conditions in the presence of a second catalyst composition and a second concentration of a second continuity additive composition, the second polyolefin composition having a target density, 2, and a target Flow Index, FI2; wherein the process is essentially free of providing a polymerization neutralizing composition between steps a) and b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, R. Eric Pequeno, Brandon C. Locklear
  • Publication number: 20190169335
    Abstract: A process for testing a commercial polyolefin condensed mode operation on a pilot plant scale is provided. A feed stream including one or more olefin monomers and one or more inert fluids can be introduced to a fluidized bed contained within a reactor housing having a length to diameter ratio of 1.0 to 20. The one or more olefin monomers can be contacted with one or catalysts within the fluidized bed at conditions sufficient to produce a polyolefin. A cycle gas stream can be withdrawn from the housing, the cycle gas stream having a gas velocity of 1.0 ft/sec to 3.0 ft/sec and including the unreacted monomers and the inert fluids. The cycle gas stream can be compressed to a pressure above the reaction pressure within the housing. The cycle gas stream can be cooled to a temperature that is above the dew point of the cycle gas, and a portion of the compressed cycle gas stream can be removed to create a side stream of the compressed cycle gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Richard E. Pequeno, Brandon C. Locklear
  • Patent number: 10221254
    Abstract: A method for transitioning a gas phase polymerization reactor between metallocene catalysts is provided. The method comprises first reducing the superficial gas velocity and increasing the height of the fluidized bed within the reactor prior to stopping a feed comprising a first metallocene catalyst. The method further comprises introducing a first polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the first polymerization reactor does not comprise water, and then introducing a second polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the second polymerization neutralizer is different from the first polymerization neutralizer. After this, the method comprises purging the reactor with an inert gas and then introducing a feed comprising a second metallocene catalyst to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon C. Locklear, R. Eric Pequeno, Richard B. Pannell, Fathi David Hussein, Rich John Stolz, William A. Matthews
  • Patent number: 10174142
    Abstract: Polyolefin polymerization performed by contacting in a reactor an olefin monomer and optionally a comonomer with a catalyst system in the presence of induced condensing agents (ICA) and optionally hydrogen. The ICA may include two or more ICA components where the composition of the ICA (i.e., the concentration of each ICA component) may affect the polyolefin production rate. Changes to the relative concentration of the two or more ICA components may be according to ICA equivalency factors that allow for increasing the polyolefin production rate while maintain a sticking temperature, increasing polyolefin production rate while increasing the dew point approach temperature of the ICA, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Brandon C. Locklear, R. Eric Pequeno, Abarajith S. Hari, David M. Glowczwski
  • Publication number: 20180118862
    Abstract: Methods for olefin polymerization are described. The methods include a) forming a first polyolefin under a first set of polymerization conditions in the presence of a first catalyst composition and a first concentration of at least a first continuity additive composition, the first polyolefin composition having a target density, 1, and a target Flow Index, FI1; and b) forming a second polyolefin composition under a second set of polymerization conditions in the presence of a second catalyst composition and a second concentration of a second continuity additive composition, the second polyolefin composition having a target density, 2, and a target Flow Index, FI2; wherein the process is essentially free of providing a polymerization neutralizing composition between steps a) and b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, R. Eric Pequeno, Brandon C. Locklear
  • Publication number: 20180079836
    Abstract: A method for transitioning a gas phase polymerization reactor between metallocene catalysts is provided. The method comprises first reducing the superficial gas velocity and increasing the height of the fluidized bed within the reactor prior to stopping a feed comprising a first metallocene catalyst. The method further comprises introducing a first polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the first polymerization reactor does not comprise water, and then introducing a second polymerization neutralizer to the reactor, wherein the second polymerization neutralizer is different from the first polymerization neutralizer. After this, the method comprises purging the reactor with an inert gas and then introducing a feed comprising a second metallocene catalyst to the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon C. Locklear, R. Eric Pequeno, Richard B. Pannell, Fathi David Hussein, Rich John Stolz, William A. Matthews
  • Publication number: 20180001537
    Abstract: Methods for extrusion of polyolefins (110) that utilize melt temperature to control molecular weight and also reduce gels. Disclosed herein is an example method for controlling polymer chain scission in an extrusion system (100), comprising: melting a polyolefin resin (110) in extruder (102) at a first melt temperature to form a first melt (112); passing the first melt (112) through a screen pack (106); forming the first melt 112) into a first polyolefin product (116, 118); melting additional polyolefin resin (110) of the same grade in the extruder (102) at a second melt temperature to form a second melt (112), wherein the second melt temperature differs from the first melt temperature by 5° C. or more to control chain scission in the extruder (102); passing the second melt (112) through the screen pack (106); and forming the second melt (112) into a second polyolefin product (116, 118).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daudi A. Abe, Brandon C. Locklear
  • Publication number: 20180001533
    Abstract: Methods for extrusion of polyolefins (112 ) that control specific energy input to the extruder (102 ) for gel reduction. Disclosed herein is an example method for forming plastic products (120, 208 ) with reduced gels, comprising: melting a polyolefin resin (112 ) in extruder (102 ) to form a melt; adjusting specific energy input in the extruder (102 ) to reduce gels in the melt; and forming the melt into a polyolefin product (120, 208 ). Disclosed herein is also an example method for forming plastic products (120, 20 ) with reduced gels, comprising: melting a polyolefin resin in extruder (102 ) to form a melt; selecting a throttle valve (104 ) position for gel reduction; setting the throttle valve (104 ) at the selected throttle valve (104 ) position to restrict flow of the melt out of the extruder (102 ); and forming the melt into a polyolefin product (120, 208 ).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daudi A. Abe, Brandon C. Locklear, Yuet Meng Chu, T.R. Veariel
  • Publication number: 20170355791
    Abstract: Polyolefin polymerization performed by contacting in a reactor an olefin monomer and optionally a comonomer with a catalyst system in the presence of induced condensing agents (ICA) and optionally hydrogen. The ICA may include two or more ICA components where the composition of the ICA (i.e., the concentration of each ICA component) may affect the polyolefin production rate. Changes to the relative concentration of the two or more ICA components may be according to ICA equivalency factors that allow for increasing the polyolefin production rate while maintain a sticking temperature, increasing polyolefin production rate while increasing the dew point approach temperature of the ICA, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Brandon C. Locklear, R. Eric Pequeno, Abarajith S. Hari, David M. Glowczwski