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: 20230390718Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: James E. HEIN, Scott E. KUFELD
-
Patent number: 11833479Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld
-
Patent number: 11673975Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 24, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Bradley T. Price, Jamie N. Sutherland, Joseph A Curren, James E. Hein
-
Publication number: 20230159669Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Ralph W. Romig, James E. Hein, Troy Bretz, Zhihui Gu
-
Publication number: 20230061539Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2021Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Bradley T. PRICE, Jamie N. SUTHERLAND, Joseph A. CURREN, James E. HEIN
-
Patent number: 11584806Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Ralph W Romig, James E. Hein, Troy Bretz, Zhihui Gu
-
Patent number: 11578145Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Joseph A. Curren, James E. Hein, Ralph W. Romig, Ai-Fu Chang
-
Publication number: 20220267485Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2021Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Ralph W Romig, James E. Hein, Troy Bretz, Zhihui Gu
-
Publication number: 20220135710Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2022Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Reza KHANKAL, Joel A. MUTCHLER, Bryan M. GARNER, James E. HEIN
-
Publication number: 20220105489Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2020Publication date: April 7, 2022Inventors: Reza KHANKAL, James E. HEIN, Anurag GUPTA, Enrique J. MANCILLAS
-
Patent number: 11254761Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Reza Khankal, Joel A. Mutchler, Bryan M. Garner, James E. Hein
-
Publication number: 20210299618Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: James E. HEIN, Scott E. KUFELD
-
Publication number: 20210261694Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Joseph A. CURREN, James E. HEIN, Ralph W. ROMIG, Ai-Fu CHANG
-
Patent number: 11021549Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 6, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LPInventors: Joseph A. Curren, James E. Hein, Ralph W. Romig, Ai-Fu Chang
-
Publication number: 20200354483Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2019Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Joseph A. CURREN, James E. HEIN, Ralph W. ROMIG, Ai-Fu CHANG
-
Patent number: 9610558Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: 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: 20160101399Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: 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: 9221920Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 23, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Chevron Philips Chemical Company LPInventors: 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: 20140256889Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: 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: 8765884Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: 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