Patents by Inventor Joel Mutchler

Joel Mutchler 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: 20180001293
    Abstract: A process comprises polymerizing an olefin monomer in a loop reactor in the presence of a catalyst and a diluent, and producing a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and diluent. The Biot number is maintained at or below about 3.0 within the loop reactor during the polymerizing process. The slurry in the loop reactor forms a slurry film having a film coefficient along an inner surface of the reactor wall, and the film coefficient is less than about 500 BTU·hr?1·ft?2·° F.?1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, John D. Hottovy
  • Patent number: 9850330
    Abstract: Processes of forming polyolefins are described herein. One or more specific embodiments of the processes generally include introducing olefin monomer selected from C2-C3 olefins into a first reaction zone under first polymerization conditions to form a first polyolefin; withdrawing a transfer effluent from the first reaction zone, the transfer effluent including first polyolefin and unreacted olefin monomer; introducing the transfer effluent, a comonomer selected from C4-C8 olefins, and additional olefin monomer to a second reaction zone under second polymerization conditions to form a second reactor product; maintaining an essentially constant comonomer:olefin monomer ratio in the second reaction zone; and withdrawing at least a portion of the second reactor product, wherein the second reactor product includes a bimodal polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Patent number: 9809660
    Abstract: A process for making a low density polymer in a polymerization reactor system, the process comprising polymerizing an olefin monomer, and optionally an olefin comonomer, in the presence of a diluent in a polymerization reactor to make a polymerization product slurry consisting of a liquid phase and a solid phase, wherein the solid phase comprises an olefin polymer having a density of between about 0.905 g/cm3 to about 0.945 g/cm3; and discharging the polymerization product slurry from the polymerization reactor through a continuous take-off valve to make a mixture further comprising a vapor phase. The mixture comprises a pressure less than a bubble point pressure of a component in the polymerization product slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Patent number: 9789463
    Abstract: A process comprises polymerizing an olefin monomer in a loop reactor in the presence of a catalyst and a diluent, and producing a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and diluent. The Biot number is maintained at or below about 3.0 within the loop reactor during the polymerizing process. The slurry in the loop reactor forms a slurry film having a film coefficient along an inner surface of the reactor wall, and the film coefficient is less than about 500 BTU·hr?1·ft?2·° F.?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, John D. Hottovy
  • Patent number: 9783621
    Abstract: A polyolefin manufacturing system and method including polymerizing olefin in a first reactor to form a polyolefin, transferring the polyolefin to a second reactor, polymerizing olefin in the second reactor, and discharging a product polyolefin from the second reactor. The system and method including operating the first reactor with a first reactor pressure relief system and the second reactor with a second reactor pressure relief system, both pressure relief systems to discharge to a flare system, and wherein a relief instrumented system (RIS) is configured to direct at least one process interlock that mitigates an excess reaction scenario as an overpressure relief scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Thanh T. Nguyen, Ralph Romig, Carolyn Lehman, Joel Mutchler
  • Publication number: 20170158784
    Abstract: A process for making a low density polymer in a polymerization reactor system, the process comprising polymerizing an olefin monomer, and optionally an olefin comonomer, in the presence of a diluent in a polymerization reactor to make a polymerization product slurry consisting of a liquid phase and a solid phase, wherein the solid phase comprises an olefin polymer having a density of between about 0.905 g/cm3 to about 0.945 g/cm3; and discharging the polymerization product slurry from the polymerization reactor through a continuous take-off valve to make a mixture further comprising a vapor phase. The mixture comprises a pressure less than a bubble point pressure of a component in the polymerization product slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Patent number: 9617358
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for polymerization. A polymerization method may include polymerizing a monomer in a polymerization reactor to produce a slurry comprising polyolefin particles and a diluent, flowing the slurry out of the polymerization reactor through an outlet of the polymerization reactor, receiving the slurry from the outlet into a slurry handling system, conveying a first mixture from the slurry handling system to a diluent and monomer recovery system, and injecting steam into the first mixture downstream of the slurry handling system using a steam injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, David S. Boone
  • Publication number: 20170081436
    Abstract: A system and method for discharging a transfer slurry from a first polymerization reactor through a transfer line to a second polymerization reactor, the transfer slurry including at least diluent and a first polyethylene. A product slurry is discharged from the second polymerization reactor, the product slurry including at least diluent, the first polyethylene, and a second polyethylene. The velocity, pressure drop, or pressure loss due to friction in the transfer line is determined, and a process variable adjusted in response to the velocity, pressure drop, or pressure loss not satisfying a specified value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth Ann Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Thanh T. Nguyen, Timothy O. Odi
  • Patent number: 9556288
    Abstract: A system and method for polymerizing olefin in the presence of a chain transfer agent in a first reactor to form a first polyolefin, discharging from the first reactor a transfer slurry having the first polyolefin and the chain transfer agent, and processing the transfer slurry in a separator to remove chain transfer agent and to provide a fluff slurry having the first polyolefin and a lower content of chain transfer agent than in the transfer slurry. The system and method provide for feeding the fluff slurry to a second reactor, polymerizing olefin in the second reactor to form a second polyolefin, and discharging from the second reactor a slurry having the second polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth A Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Thanh T. Nguyen, Timothy O. Odi
  • Patent number: 9556283
    Abstract: A system and method for discharging a transfer slurry from a first polymerization reactor through a transfer line to a second polymerization reactor, the transfer slurry including at least diluent and a first polyethylene. A product slurry is discharged from the second polymerization reactor, the product slurry including at least diluent, the first polyethylene, and a second polyethylene. The velocity, pressure drop, or pressure loss due to friction in the transfer line is determined, and a process variable adjusted in response to the velocity, pressure drop, or pressure loss not satisfying a specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth Ann Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Thanh T. Nguyen, Timothy O. Odi
  • Publication number: 20170022299
    Abstract: A system and method for discharging a transfer slurry from a first polymerization reactor through a transfer line to a second polymerization reactor, the transfer slurry including at least diluent and a first polyethylene. A product slurry is discharged from the second polymerization reactor, the product slurry including at least diluent, the first polyethylene, and a second polyethylene. The velocity, pressure drop, or pressure loss due to friction in the transfer line is determined, and a process variable adjusted in response to the velocity, pressure drop, or pressure loss not satisfying a specified value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth Ann Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Thanh T. Nguyen, Timothy O. Odi
  • Publication number: 20170022307
    Abstract: Processes of forming polyolefins are described herein. One or more specific embodiments of the processes generally include introducing olefin monomer selected from C2-C3 olefins into a first reaction zone under first polymerization conditions to form a first polyolefin; withdrawing a transfer effluent from the first reaction zone, the transfer effluent including first polyolefin and unreacted olefin monomer; introducing the transfer effluent, a comonomer selected from C4-C8 olefins, and additional olefin monomer to a second reaction zone under second polymerization conditions to form a second reactor product; maintaining an essentially constant comonomer:olefin monomer ratio in the second reaction zone; and withdrawing at least a portion of the second reactor product, wherein the second reactor product includes a bimodal polyolefin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemcial Company, LP
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Publication number: 20170001167
    Abstract: A polyolefin production system including: a first reactor configured to produce a first discharge slurry having a first polyolefin; a second reactor configured to produce a second discharge slurry having a second polyolefin; and a post-reactor treatment zone having at least a separation vessel configured to receive the second discharge slurry or both the first discharge slurry and the second discharge slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth Ann Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Thanh T. Nguyen, Timothy O. Odi
  • Publication number: 20160346750
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application provide a method for manufacturing a polyolefin and a system for implementing the method. The method comprises combining a catalyst with a diluent mixture containing a diluent and an olefin monomer in a polymerization reactor. The diluent may comprise propane, butane, or isobutane, or a combination thereof. The polymerization reactor is operated at a pressure above a critical pressure of the diluent, but below the critical temperature of the diluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Patent number: 9469698
    Abstract: Processes of forming polyolefins are described herein. One or more specific embodiments of the processes generally include introducing olefin monomer selected from C2-C3 olefins into a first reaction zone under first polymerization conditions to form a first polyolefin; withdrawing a transfer effluent from the first reaction zone, the transfer effluent including first polyolefin and unreacted olefin monomer; introducing the transfer effluent, a comonomer selected from C4-C8 olefins, and additional olefin monomer to a second reaction zone under second polymerization conditions to form a second reactor product; maintaining an essentially constant comonomer:olefin monomer ratio in the second reaction zone; and withdrawing at least a portion of the second reactor product, wherein the second reactor product includes a bimodal polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Publication number: 20160289349
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for polymerization. A polymerization method may include polymerizing a monomer in a polymerization reactor to produce a slurry comprising polyolefin particles and a diluent, flowing the slurry out of the polymerization reactor through an outlet of the polymerization reactor, receiving the slurry from the outlet into a slurry handling system, conveying a first mixture from the slurry handling system to a diluent and monomer recovery system, and injecting steam into the first mixture downstream of the slurry handling system using a steam injection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, David S. Boone
  • Patent number: 9433914
    Abstract: A system and method for polymerizing olefin in a gas phase reactor into a polyolefin in presence of catalyst, measuring static charge in the reactor system; determining an indication of polyolefin fines in the reactor system, and adjusting operation of the reactor system in response to the indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Gregory G. Hendrickson, Leonard E. Powell, Michael A. Rhodes, Joel Mutchler, Bruce E. Kreischer, Maruti Bhandarker, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Bruce H. Marantis
  • Patent number: 9403921
    Abstract: A system and method for polymerizing olefin in the presence of a chain transfer agent in a first reactor to form a first polyolefin, discharging from the first reactor a transfer slurry having the first polyolefin and the chain transfer agent, and processing the transfer slurry in a separator to remove chain transfer agent and to provide a fluff slurry having the first polyolefin and a lower content of chain transfer agent than in the transfer slurry. The system and method provide for feeding the fluff slurry to a second reactor, polymerizing olefin in the second reactor to form a second polyolefin, and discharging from the second reactor a slurry having the second polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth A. Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Thanh T. Nguyen, Timothy O. Odi
  • Patent number: 9382348
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for polymerization. A polymerization method may include polymerizing a monomer in a polymerization reactor to produce a slurry comprising polyolefin particles and a diluent, flowing the slurry out of the polymerization reactor through an outlet of the polymerization reactor, receiving the slurry from the outlet into a slurry handling system, conveying a first mixture from the slurry handling system to a diluent and monomer recovery system, and injecting steam into the first mixture downstream of the slurry handling system using a steam injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, David S. Boone
  • Publication number: 20160159938
    Abstract: A polyolefin manufacturing system and method including polymerizing olefin in a first reactor to form a polyolefin, transferring the polyolefin to a second reactor, polymerizing olefin in the second reactor, and discharging a product polyolefin from the second reactor. The system and method including operating the first reactor with a first reactor pressure relief system and the second reactor with a second reactor pressure relief system, both pressure relief systems to discharge to a flare system, and wherein a relief instrumented system (RIS) is configured to direct at least one process interlock that mitigates an excess reaction scenario as an overpressure relief scenario.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Thanh T. Nguyen, Ralph Romig, Carolyn Lehman, Joel Mutchler