Patents by Inventor James E. Hein

James E. Hein 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).

  • Publication number: 20230390718
    Abstract: Disclosed are a process and system for preparing a catalyst slurry. The process can include preparing a catalyst slurry comprising a solid particulate catalyst and a carrier liquid in a catalyst slurry preparation system. The catalyst slurry preparation system can include a mixing vessel, a rotatable impeller system connected to the mixing vessel, and a motor connected to the rotatable impeller system. The rotatable impeller system can include an agitator shaft and a hub connected to the agitator shaft. The hub and at least a portion of the agitator shaft are positioned within the mixing vessel along a longitudinal axis of the mixing vessel, and the hub has at least three blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: James E. HEIN, Scott E. KUFELD
  • Patent number: 11833479
    Abstract: Disclosed are a process and system for preparing a catalyst slurry. The process can include preparing a catalyst slurry comprising a solid particulate catalyst and a carrier liquid in a catalyst slurry preparation system. The catalyst slurry preparation system can include a mixing vessel, a rotatable impeller system connected to the mixing vessel, and a motor connected to the rotatable impeller system. The rotatable impeller system can include an agitator shaft and a hub connected to the agitator shaft. The hub and at least a portion of the agitator shaft are positioned within the mixing vessel along a longitudinal axis of the mixing vessel, and the hub has at least three blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld
  • Patent number: 11673975
    Abstract: A system including a dump tank to receive a reactor product comprising a polymer and hydrocarbons, including liquid hydrocarbons, the dump tank including a vessel with a reactor product inlet, a motive gas inlet, a purge gas inlet, gas outlet(s), and a fluid outlet, the motive gas inlet for introducing a motive gas into the vessel, the purge gas inlet for introducing a purge gas into the vessel, the one or more gas outlets located at a top of the vessel and the fluid outlet located at a bottom of the vessel and fluidly connected with a dump tank fluid outlet line having a dump tank outlet valve to control flow of fluid out of the dump tank via the fluid outlet; and a strainer fluidly connected with the dump tank fluid outlet line to allow passage of liquid hydrocarbons therethrough into a hydrocarbon outlet line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Bradley T. Price, Jamie N. Sutherland, Joseph A Curren, James E. Hein
  • Publication number: 20230159669
    Abstract: Processes for producing an activated chromium catalyst are disclosed, and these processes comprise contacting a supported chromium catalyst with a gas stream containing from 25-60 vol % oxygen at a peak activation temperature of 550-900° C. to produce the activated chromium catalyst. The linear velocity of the gas stream is 0.18-0.4 ft/sec, and the oxygen linear velocity of the gas stream is 0.05-0.15 ft/sec. The resultant activated chromium catalyst and an optional co-catalyst can be contacted with an olefin monomer and an optional olefin comonomer in a polymerization reactor system under polymerization conditions to produce an olefin polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Ralph W. Romig, James E. Hein, Troy Bretz, Zhihui Gu
  • Publication number: 20230061539
    Abstract: A system including a dump tank to receive a reactor product comprising a polymer and hydrocarbons, including liquid hydrocarbons, the dump tank including a vessel with a reactor product inlet, a motive gas inlet, a purge gas inlet, gas outlet(s), and a fluid outlet, the motive gas inlet for introducing a motive gas into the vessel, the purge gas inlet for introducing a purge gas into the vessel, the one or more gas outlets located at a top of the vessel and the fluid outlet located at a bottom of the vessel and fluidly connected with a dump tank fluid outlet line having a dump tank outlet valve to control flow of fluid out of the dump tank via the fluid outlet; and a strainer fluidly connected with the dump tank fluid outlet line to allow passage of liquid hydrocarbons therethrough into a hydrocarbon outlet line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Bradley T. PRICE, Jamie N. SUTHERLAND, Joseph A. CURREN, James E. HEIN
  • Patent number: 11584806
    Abstract: Processes for producing an activated chromium catalyst are disclosed, and these processes comprise contacting a supported chromium catalyst with a gas stream containing from 25-60 vol % oxygen at a peak activation temperature of 550-900° C. to produce the activated chromium catalyst. The linear velocity of the gas stream is 0.18-0.4 ft/sec, and the oxygen linear velocity of the gas stream is 0.05-0.15 ft/sec. The resultant activated chromium catalyst and an optional co-catalyst can be contacted with an olefin monomer and an optional olefin comonomer in a polymerization reactor system under polymerization conditions to produce an olefin polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Ralph W Romig, James E. Hein, Troy Bretz, Zhihui Gu
  • Patent number: 11578145
    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 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Joseph A. Curren, James E. Hein, Ralph W. Romig, Ai-Fu Chang
  • Publication number: 20220267485
    Abstract: Processes for producing an activated chromium catalyst are disclosed, and these processes comprise contacting a supported chromium catalyst with a gas stream containing from 25-60 vol % oxygen at a peak activation temperature of 550-900° C. to produce the activated chromium catalyst. The linear velocity of the gas stream is 0.18-0.4 ft/sec, and the oxygen linear velocity of the gas stream is 0.05-0.15 ft/sec. The resultant activated chromium catalyst and an optional co-catalyst can be contacted with an olefin monomer and an optional olefin comonomer in a polymerization reactor system under polymerization conditions to produce an olefin polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Ralph W Romig, James E. Hein, Troy Bretz, Zhihui Gu
  • Publication number: 20220135710
    Abstract: A process and system for pre-polymerizing propylene are disclosed. A first catalyst suspension is formed by mixing catalyst particles with a hydrocarbon that is a saturated hydrocarbon or propylene. Various other catalyst components are added to the first catalyst suspension, and the first catalyst suspension is then pre-polymerized under pre-polymerization conditions to form a pre-polymerized catalyst suspension that is introduced to a polymerization reactor or a storage tank. The saturated hydrocarbon can be propane, mixed butanes, or mixture thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Reza KHANKAL, Joel A. MUTCHLER, Bryan M. GARNER, James E. HEIN
  • Publication number: 20220105489
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and processes for distributing reactor coolant flow to the cooling jackets of a loop slurry reactor, where the reactor coolant is used to control the temperature of the loop slurry reactor in olefin polymerization. Also disclosed are systems and processes for controlling the temperature of the reactor coolant that is used for cooling olefin polymerization reactors, which can be used in combination with traditional coolant distribution regimes and in combination with the coolant distribution systems and processes that are disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Reza KHANKAL, James E. HEIN, Anurag GUPTA, Enrique J. MANCILLAS
  • Patent number: 11254761
    Abstract: A process and system for pre-polymerizing propylene are disclosed. A first catalyst suspension is formed by mixing catalyst particles with a hydrocarbon that is a saturated hydrocarbon or propylene. Various other catalyst components are added to the first catalyst suspension, and the first catalyst suspension is then pre-polymerized under pre-polymerization conditions to form a pre-polymerized catalyst suspension that is introduced to a polymerization reactor or a storage tank. The saturated hydrocarbon can be propane, mixed butanes, or mixture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Reza Khankal, Joel A. Mutchler, Bryan M. Garner, James E. Hein
  • Publication number: 20210299618
    Abstract: Disclosed are a process and system for preparing a catalyst slurry. The process can include preparing a catalyst slurry comprising a solid particulate catalyst and a carrier liquid in a catalyst slurry preparation system. The catalyst slurry preparation system can include a mixing vessel, a rotatable impeller system connected to the mixing vessel, and a motor connected to the rotatable impeller system. The rotatable impeller system can include an agitator shaft and a hub connected to the agitator shaft. The hub and at least a portion of the agitator shaft are positioned within the mixing vessel along a longitudinal axis of the mixing vessel, and the hub has at least three blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: James E. HEIN, Scott E. KUFELD
  • Publication number: 20210261694
    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: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Joseph A. CURREN, James E. HEIN, Ralph W. ROMIG, Ai-Fu CHANG
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20200354483
    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: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Joseph A. CURREN, James E. HEIN, Ralph W. ROMIG, Ai-Fu CHANG
  • Patent number: 9610558
    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: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    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: 20160101399
    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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    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
  • Patent number: 9221920
    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: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron Philips 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: 20140256889
    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: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: 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
  • 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