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).

  • Patent number: 9358515
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Patent number: 9340629
    Abstract: A technique for polymerizing ethylene on catalyst in a first polymerization reactor and in a second polymerization reactor to form polyethylene particles, and controlling particle size of the polyethylene particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 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: 9340627
    Abstract: A reactor system containing one or more loop reactors for olefin polymerization is provided. The loop reactors include vertical sections, elbow sections, and/or horizontal sections connected into one or more loop reaction zones to polymerize an olefin monomer in the presence of a liquid diluent into a slurry comprising particles of a polyolefin polymer. The reactor system footprint is reduced to increase production efficiency and save cost, while maintaining a high processing capacity. In one embodiment a horizontal length (LH) of at least one horizontal section is greatly reduced with maintained processing capacity. In another embodiment, at least one elbow section of the reactor system is configured to maintain a Dean number (Dn) of the slurry flowing therein to be higher than 3,000,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Ralph W. Romig, John D Stewart, Catherine M Gill, Bruce E. Kreischer, John D. Hottovy
  • Patent number: 9295964
    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: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Thanh T. Nguyen, Ralph Romig, Carolyn Lehman, Joel Mutchler
  • Publication number: 20160024231
    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 28, 2016
    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: 20150367319
    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: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, John D. Hottovy
  • Publication number: 20150353652
    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: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20150307637
    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: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Patent number: 9079986
    Abstract: A system and method for producing polyolefin, including a polyolefin reactor system having: a first reactor to produce a first reactor discharge stream having a first polyolefin and a first diluent; and a second reactor to receive at least a portion of the first reactor discharge stream and to produce a second reactor discharge stream having a second polyolefin and a second diluent, wherein the second diluent is different than the first diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    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: 20150175719
    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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    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: 9034994
    Abstract: Polymerization reactor systems providing real-time control of the average particle size of catalyst system components are disclosed. Methods for operating such polymerization reactor systems also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Max P. McDaniel, Joel A. Mutchler
  • Publication number: 20150133620
    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: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, David S. Boone
  • Publication number: 20150126693
    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 shiny 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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    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: 8987390
    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: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    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
  • Publication number: 20150080533
    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: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY, LP
    Inventors: Thanh T. Nguyen, Ralph Romig, Carolyn Lehman, Joel Mutchler
  • Patent number: 8932527
    Abstract: Loop reactors for olefin polymerization and processes utilizing such loop reactors are described herein. In one or more embodiments, the loop reactor generally includes a plurality of vertical sections; a plurality of elbow sections connecting the vertical sections to either a horizontal section having a horizontal length (LH) or another elbow section, at least one elbow section having an internal diameter (d), a radius (Rc) of an inner curvature and a chord length (W) and wherein the horizontal length (LH) is from 0 feet to 3 feet, the chord length (W) is 250 inches or less and a ratio (Rc/d) of the radius (Rc) of the inner curvature to the internal diameter (d) of the at least one elbow section is maintained from 2 to 4; and at least one loop reaction zone configured to polymerize an olefin monomer in the presence of a liquid diluent into a slurry comprising particles of a polyolefin polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.
    Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, Ralph W. Romig, John D Stewart, Catherine M Gill, Bruce E. Kreischer, John D. Hottovy
  • Publication number: 20150011814
    Abstract: A system and method for a first reactor to produce a transfer slurry having a first polyolefin polymerized in the first reactor, a heat-removal zone to remove heat from the transfer slurry, and a second reactor to receive the transfer slurry cooled by the heat-removal zone, the second reactor to produce a product slurry having a product polyolefin which includes the first polyolefin and a second polyolefin polymerized in the second reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Maruti Bhandarkar, Elizabeth A. Benham, Rebecca A. Gonzales, Joel A. Mutchler, Catherine M. Gill, Timothy O. Odi, Thanh T. Nguyen, Scott E. Kufeld
  • Publication number: 20140309382
    Abstract: A system and method for producing polyolefin, including a polyolefin reactor system having: a first reactor to produce a first reactor discharge stream having a first polyolefin and a first diluent; and a second reactor to receive at least a portion of the first reactor discharge stream and to produce a second reactor discharge stream having a second polyolefin and a second diluent, wherein the second diluent is different than the first diluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    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: 20140275450
    Abstract: A system and method for producing polyolefin, including a polyolefin reactor system having: a first reactor to produce a first reactor discharge stream having a first polyolefin and a first diluent; and a second reactor to receive at least a portion of the first reactor discharge stream and to produce a second reactor discharge stream having a second polyolefin and a second diluent, wherein the second diluent is different than the first diluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: 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: 8822608
    Abstract: A system and method for producing polyolefin, including a polyolefin reactor system having: a first reactor to produce a first reactor discharge stream having a first polyolefin and a first diluent; and a second reactor to receive at least a portion of the first reactor discharge stream and to produce a second reactor discharge stream having a second polyolefin and a second diluent, wherein the second diluent is different than the first diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. 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