Patents by Inventor Harald Michl

Harald Michl 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: 10442750
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing vinyl acetate, said method being characterized in that a) the gaseous product mixture leaving the reactor is cooled to a temperature of 100° C. to 120° C. using one or more heat exchangers, b) the thus obtained product mixture is supplied to a distillation column which is equipped with filling elements (pre-dehydration column), c) the pre-dehydration column head product which substantially contains wafer, vinyl acetate, and ethylene is cooled, and the condensate (head product condensate) produced in the process is separated into a water phase and an organic phase (vinyl acetate phase), which substantially comprises vinyl acetate, in a phase separator, d) at least 99 wt. % of the acetic acid contained in the product mixture is separated via the bottom of the pre-dehydration column, and the head product of the pre-dehydration column contains <0.1 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: WACKER CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Heribert Westermayer, Harald Michl, Johann Wagner
  • Publication number: 20190218167
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing vinyl acetate, said method being characterized in that a) the gaseous product mixture leaving the reactor is cooled to a temperature of 100° C. to 120° C. using one or more heat exchangers, b) the thus obtained product mixture is supplied to a distillation column which is equipped with filling elements (pre-dehydration column), c) the pre-dehydration column head product which substantially contains wafer, vinyl acetate, and ethylene is cooled, and the condensate (head product condensate) produced in the process is separated into a water phase and an organic phase (vinyl acetate phase), which substantially comprises vinyl acetate, in a phase separator, d) at least 99 wt. % of the acetic acid contained in the product mixture is separated via the bottom of the pre-dehydration column, and the head product of the pre-dehydration column contains <0.1 wt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Heribert Westermayer, Harald Michl, Johann Wagner
  • Patent number: 8148570
    Abstract: Vinyl acetate is prepared by a) continuous gas-phase reaction of ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen at 1 to 30 bar and 130° C. to 200° C., the process heat being removed by heat exchange with water at 120° C. to 185° C. and 1 to 10 bar, b) the product gas stream consisting essentially of ethylene, vinyl acetate, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide and further inert gases is fractionated, and c) all or part of the ethylene is recycled to the recycle gas process, wherein all or part of steam formed in the gas-phase reaction by heat exchange, with a temperature of from 120° C. to 185° C. and pressure of from 1 to 10 bar, is compressed by a differential pressure of at least 0.5 bar and used further.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventor: Harald Michl
  • Publication number: 20080234511
    Abstract: Vinyl acetate is prepared by a) continuous gas-phase reaction of ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen at 1 to 30 bar and 130° C. to 200° C., the process heat being removed by heat exchange with water at 120° C. to 185° C. and 1 to 10 bar, b) the product gas stream consisting essentially of ethylene, vinyl acetate, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide and further inert gases is fractionated, and c) all or part of the ethylene is recycled to the recycle gas process, wherein all or part of steam formed in the gas-phase reaction by heat exchange, with a temperature of from 120° C. to 185° C. and pressure of from 1 to 10 bar, is compressed by a differential pressure of at least 0.5 bar and used further.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: WACKER CHEMIE AG
    Inventor: Harald Michl
  • Patent number: 7288675
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for hydrolytic cleavage of carboxylic esters and water into carboxylic acid and alcohol hydrolysis products. In the process, a portion of water required for hydrolysis is replaced by a recycled mixture of carboxylic acid and water from previously hydrolyzed carboxylic ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Harald Michl, Franz Ramgraber
  • Publication number: 20060128991
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for hydrolytic cleavage of carboxylic esters and water into carboxylic acid and alcohol hydrolysis products. In the process, a portion of water required for hydrolysis is replaced by a recycled mixture of carboxylic acid and water from previously hydrolyzed carboxylic ester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2003
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Harald Michl, Franz Ramgraber
  • Patent number: 7041199
    Abstract: A process and a device for the catalytic hydrolysis of a carboxylate, e.g., methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, i- or n-propyl acetate, i- or n-butyl acetate, allyl acetate and methyl formate, into the corresponding carboxylic acid and alcohol, by a combination of a pre-reactor and a reactive distillation column are disclosed. By the combination of a pre-reactor and a reactor distillation column, the conversion ratio can be substantially improved. The device can compensate for fluctuations in the supply quantity or in the composition of the feed flow. The product composition can also be controlled in a wide range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignees: Sulzer Chemtech AG, Wacker Chemie GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Moritz, Franz Ramgraber, Claudia von Scala, Harald Michl