Patents by Inventor John D. Hottovy
John D. Hottovy 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).
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Patent number: 11673750Abstract: A process is described that includes flowing a carrier fluid through a transfer line, feeding polymer pellets into the transfer line at a feed location, measuring a first pressure value of the carrier fluid at a location in the transfer line upstream of the feed location, measuring a second pressure value of the carrier fluid and polymer pellets at a downstream location in the transfer line which is downstream of the feed location, and determining a mass flow rate of the polymer pellets flowing in the transfer line based on a differential pressure between the first pressure value and the second pressure value.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: John D. Hottovy, Paresh C. Mody
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Publication number: 20200024085Abstract: A process is described that includes flowing a carrier fluid through a transfer line, feeding polymer pellets into the transfer line at a feed location, measuring a first pressure value of the carrier fluid at a location in the transfer line upstream of the feed location, measuring a second pressure value of the carrier fluid and polymer pellets at a downstream location in the transfer line which is downstream of the feed location, and determining a mass flow rate of the polymer pellets flowing in the transfer line based on a differential pressure between the first pressure value and the second pressure value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Inventors: John D. HOTTOVY, Paresh C. MODY
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Patent number: 10494200Abstract: A process is described that includes flowing a carrier fluid through a transfer line, feeding polymer pellets into the transfer line at a feed location, measuring a first pressure value of the carrier fluid at a location in the transfer line upstream of the feed location, measuring a second pressure value of the carrier fluid and polymer pellets at a downstream location in the transfer line which is downstream of the feed location, and determining a mass flow rate of the polymer pellets flowing in the transfer line based on a differential pressure between the first pressure value and the second pressure value.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2016Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: John D. Hottovy, Paresh C. Mody
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Patent number: 10478799Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 14, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, John D. Hottovy
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Patent number: 10301404Abstract: The present embodiments provide a system and method for separation within a polymer production process. Specifically, a flashline heater configured according to present embodiments may provide more time than is required for complete vaporization of liquid hydrocarbons that are not entrained within a polymer fluff produced within a polymerization reactor. Such extra time may allow for liquid hydrocarbons that are entrained within the polymer fluff to be vaporized.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2018Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Chevron Philips Chemical Company LPInventors: John D. Hottovy, Scott E. Kufeld
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Publication number: 20180207609Abstract: Olefin polymerization processes are described herein. The processes generally include circulating a slurry including an olefin monomer selected from C2-C12 olefin monomers, a liquid diluent selected from C3-C7 alkanes, catalyst and polyolefin particles under polymerization conditions within a loop reactor. In one or more specific embodiments, in operation, the process has a cavitation number of from 6 to 60 and the polymerization conditions include a polymerization temperature of from 38° C. to 121° C. and a polymerization pressure of from 27 bar to 50 bar. In other embodiments, the process has a Euler Number (Eu) of at least 5.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: Scott E Kufeld, John D. Hottovy
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Patent number: 10029230Abstract: Olefin polymerization processes are described herein. The processes generally include circulating a slurry including an olefin monomer selected from C2-C12 olefin monomers, a liquid diluent selected from C3-C7 alkanes, catalyst and polyolefin particles under polymerization conditions within a loop reactor. In one or more specific embodiments, in operation, the process has a cavitation number of from 6 to 60 and the polymerization conditions include a polymerization temperature of from 38° C. to 121° C. and a polymerization pressure of from 27 bar to 50 bar. In other embodiments, the process has a Euler Number (Eu) of at least 5.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Scott E Kufeld, John D Hottovy
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Publication number: 20180186909Abstract: The present embodiments provide a system and method for separation within a polymer production process. Specifically, a flashline heater configured according to present embodiments may provide more time than is required for complete vaporization of liquid hydrocarbons that are not entrained within a polymer fluff produced within a polymerization reactor. Such extra time may allow for liquid hydrocarbons that are entrained within the polymer fluff to be vaporized.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2018Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Scott E. Kufeld
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Patent number: 9962670Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: John D. Hottovy, Joel A. Mutchler
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Patent number: 9932422Abstract: The present embodiments provide a system and method for separation within a polymer production process. Specifically, a flashline heater configured according to present embodiments may provide more time than is required for complete vaporization of liquid hydrocarbons that are not entrained within a polymer fluff produced within a polymerization reactor. Such extra time may allow for liquid hydrocarbons that are entrained within the polymer fluff to be vaporized.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: John D. Hottovy, Scott E. Kufeld
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Publication number: 20180001293Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, John D. Hottovy
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Patent number: 9845369Abstract: In an embodiment, a polymerization process comprises circulating, with a pump, a reaction mixture slurry in a polymerization loop reactor during a polymerization process, detecting a pressure change in the reaction mixture slurry downstream of the pump, generating, by a pressure controller, a takeoff valve actuation signal for a takeoff valve based on the pressure change, generating, by the pressure controller, a correction to the takeoff valve actuation signal, generating, by the pressure controller, a time delay for the correction, applying the correction to the takeoff valve actuation signal to generate a corrected takeoff valve actuation signal, providing the corrected takeoff valve actuation signal to the takeoff valve after the time delay, and adjusting a position of the takeoff valve in response to providing the corrected takeoff valve actuation signal. The reactor pressure is based on the takeoff valve position.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Chevron Philips Chemical Company LPInventors: John D. Hottovy, Scott E. Kufeld
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Patent number: 9809660Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LPInventors: John D. Hottovy, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler
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Publication number: 20170313798Abstract: In an embodiment, a polymerization process comprises circulating, with a pump, a reaction mixture slurry in a polymerization loop reactor during a polymerization process, detecting a pressure change in the reaction mixture slurry downstream of the pump, generating, by a pressure controller, a takeoff valve actuation signal for a takeoff valve based on the pressure change, generating, by the pressure controller, a correction to the takeoff valve actuation signal, generating, by the pressure controller, a time delay for the correction, applying the correction to the takeoff valve actuation signal to generate a corrected takeoff valve actuation signal, providing the corrected takeoff valve actuation signal to the takeoff valve after the time delay, and adjusting a position of the takeoff valve in response to providing the corrected takeoff valve actuation signal. The reactor pressure is based on the takeoff valve position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: John D. HOTTOVY, Scott E. KUFELD
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Publication number: 20170305689Abstract: A process is described that includes flowing a carrier fluid through a transfer line, feeding polymer pellets into the transfer line at a feed location, measuring a first pressure value of the carrier fluid at a location in the transfer line upstream of the feed location, measuring a second pressure value of the carrier fluid and polymer pellets at a downstream location in the transfer line which is downstream of the feed location, and determining a mass flow rate of the polymer pellets flowing in the transfer line based on a differential pressure between the first pressure value and the second pressure value.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2016Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: John D. HOTTOVY, Paresh C. MODY
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Patent number: 9790298Abstract: A process for component separation in a polymer production system, comprising separating a polymerization product stream into a gas stream and a polymer stream, wherein the gas stream comprises ethane and unreacted ethylene, distilling the gas stream into a light hydrocarbon stream, wherein the light hydrocarbon stream comprises ethane and unreacted ethylene, contacting the light hydrocarbon stream with an absorption solvent system, wherein at least a portion of the unreacted ethylene from the light hydrocarbon stream is absorbed by the absorption solvent system, and recovering a waste gas stream from the absorption solvent system, wherein the waste gas stream comprises ethane, hydrogen, or combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LPInventors: Scott E. Kufeld, John D. Hottovy, Ai-fu Chang
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Patent number: 9789463Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler, John D. Hottovy
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Patent number: 9776158Abstract: Techniques are provided for seal flush systems. A system may include a reactor circulation pump configured to circulate a slurry through a polymerization reactor. The slurry may include an olefin monomer, a catalyst, and a diluent. The system may also include a catalyst-inhibiting additive system configured to supply a catalyst-inhibiting additive to a seal of the reactor circulation pump and a seal flush system configured to generate a seal flush mixture and supply the seal flush mixture to the seal of the reactor circulation pump.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Thanh Nguyen, John D. Hottovy
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Patent number: 9718948Abstract: A reactor system including an enclosed pressure relief system and/or a control system. The enclosed pressure relief system including a slurry separation system communicatively coupled with a pressure relief valve coupled to a loop reactor such that activation of the pressure relief valve results in discharge of a slurry from the loop reactor to the slurry separation system, wherein the slurry separation system is capable of separating solid and liquid components from gas components of the slurry and transmitting the gas components to a flare via a flare header.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: John D. Hottovy, Richard Peacock
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Publication number: 20170158784Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Scott E. Kufeld, Joel A. Mutchler