Patents by Inventor Kauno Alastalo

Kauno Alastalo 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: 20240010764
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing alpha-olefin polymers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a continuously operated multistage polymerisation sequence, the process comprising the steps of (a) polymerizing an alpha-olefin monomer and optionally one or more alpha-olefin co-monomers in a slurry reactor in the presence of a hydrocarbon diluent or liquid monomer in a slurry phase to obtain an alpha-olefin polymer, the slurry phase having a first concentration of solids, (b) continuously withdrawing from the slurry reactor a polymer slurry containing polymer and a fluid phase, (c) concentrating at least a part of the polymer slurry by removing a part of the fluid phase to provide a 1st product stream comprising a concentrated slurry having a second solids concentration, which is higher than the first solids concentration, and a 2nd product stream mainly comprising the fluid phase, (d) polymerizing said 1st product stream in the presence of alpha-olefin monomers and o
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Shital Das, Kauno Alastalo, Antonina Kupareva, Stefan Bruckbauer, Henrik M.F.J. Kortejarvi, Erno Elovainio
  • Patent number: 11471847
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process for providing a homogeneous particle-containing slurry comprising the steps of: (a) providing a vessel comprising at least one impeller rotating around a vertical axis of the vessel, the vessel further comprising an inlet and an outlet; (b) introducing the particle-containing slurry into the vessel or introducing components forming the particle-containing slurry into the vessel; (c) rotating the at least one impeller at least around the vertical axis for homogenizing and/or maintaining a homogeneous particle distribution within the slurry; (d) withdrawing the homogeneous particle-containing slurry via the outlet; (e) stopping the at least one impeller for a maximum time T, whereby T is calculated according to the following relations: u T = 4 ? g ? ( ? p - ? f ) ? D p 3 ? ? f ? C D ( 1 ) C D = 24 Re ? [ 1 + 0.173 ? Re 0.657 ] ( 2 ) T = h u T .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Mohammad Ali Al-Haj, Kauno Alastalo
  • Patent number: 11421057
    Abstract: The present invention relates to multi reactor configurations for producing polypropylene copolymers and to processes for producing polypropylene copolymers. The reactor configuration for the production of propylene copolymers comprises at least three reactors R1, R1 and R3, all reactors having inlet and outlet, whereby reactors R2 and R3 are configured in parallel both downstream of reactor R1; and whereby reactor R1 is configured in series and upstream of reactors R2 and R3, and whereby the outlet of reactor R1 is coupled with the inlets of both reactors R2 and R3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Shital Das, Kauno Alastalo
  • Patent number: 11400427
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process for providing a homogeneous particle-containing slurry comprising the steps of: (a) providing a vessel comprising at least one impeller rotating around a vertical axis of the vessel, wherein a rotational speed n1 of the at least one impeller is higher than nmin according to equation (1), the vessel further comprising an inlet and an outlet; (b) introducing a particle-containing slurry into the vessel or introducing components forming the particle-containing slurry into the vessel; (c) rotating the at least one impeller at least around the vertical axis for homogenizing and/or maintaining a homogeneous particle distribution within the slurry; (d) withdrawing the homogeneous particle-containing slurry via the outlet; (e) reducing the rotational speed n1 of the at least one impeller to a reduced rotational speed nred, whereas nred is lower than n1 and higher or equal gas inlet than nmin according to equation (1): n min = Sv 0.1 ? D p 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Kauno Alastalo
  • Patent number: 11292858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polypropylene composition which combines low sealing initiation temperature (SIT) and high melting point (Tm), thus having a broad sealing window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Luca Boragno, Luigi Resconi, Mattias Hoff, Shital Das, Kauno Alastalo, Markku Vahteri, Friedrich Berger, Davide Tranchida
  • Publication number: 20220072451
    Abstract: The current application is related to a separating device for separating volatile compounds from a polymer reaction mixture comprising a gravimetric separator, having a gravimetric vessel, an inlet for feeding the polymer reaction mixture, a first outlet located in the lower part of the gravimetric vessel for withdrawing a first polymer-rich stream, and a second outlet located in the upper part of the gravimetric vessel for withdrawing a first polymer-lean stream; and a flash separator having a flash vessel, a first inlet for feeding a second polymer-lean stream split from the first polymer-lean stream, a first outlet located at the lower part of the flash vessel for withdrawing a liquid stream, and a second outlet located at the upper part of the flash vessel for withdrawing a gaseous stream, wherein the second outlet of the separator vessel is fluidly connected to the first inlet of the flash vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Kauno Alastalo
  • Publication number: 20220023815
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process for providing a homogeneous particle-containing slurry comprising the steps of: (a) providing a vessel comprising at least one impeller rotating around a vertical axis of the vessel, the vessel further comprising an inlet and an outlet; (b) introducing the particle-containing slurry into the vessel or introducing components forming the particle-containing slurry into the vessel; (c) rotating the at least one impeller at least around the vertical axis for homogenizing and/or maintaining a homogeneous particle distribution within the slurry; (d) withdrawing the homogeneous particle-containing slurry via the outlet; (e) stopping the at least one impeller for a maximum time T, whereby T is calculated according to the following relations: u T = 4 ? g ? ( ? p - ? f ) ? D p 3 ? ? f ? C D ( 1 ) C D = 24 Re ? [ 1 + 0.173 ? Re 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Mohammad Ali AL-HAJ, Kauno ALASTALO
  • Publication number: 20210339215
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process for providing a homogeneous particle-containing slurry comprising the steps of: (a) providing a vessel comprising at least one impeller rotating around a vertical axis of the vessel, wherein a rotational speed n1 of the at least one impeller is higher than nmin according to equation (1), the vessel further comprising an inlet and an outlet; (b) introducing a particle-containing slurry into the vessel or introducing components forming the particle-containing slurry into the vessel; (c) rotating the at least one impeller at least around the vertical axis for homogenizing and/or maintaining a homogeneous particle distribution within the slurry; (d) withdrawing the homogeneous particle-containing slurry via the outlet; (e) reducing the rotational speed n1 of the at least one impeller to a reduced rotational speed nred, whereas nred is lower than n1 and higher or equal gas inlet than nmin according to equation (1): n min = S ? v 0.1 ? D p 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Kauno Alastalo
  • Publication number: 20210309774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polypropylene composition which combines low sealing initiation temperature (SIT) and high melting point (Tm), thus having a broad sealing window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Luca Boragno, Luigi Resconi, Mattias Hoff, Shital Das, Kauno Alastalo, Markku Vahteri, Friedrich Berger, Davide Tranchida
  • Patent number: 11072699
    Abstract: A multimodal propylene copolymer composition suitable for pipe applications comprising a multimodal propylene copolymer (U) with at least one comonomer selected from alpha-olefins with 2 or 4 to 8 carbon atoms in a total amount of 4.0 to 10.0 mole-%, wherein the composition has a melt flow rate MFR2 (2.16 kg, 230° C.) of 0.05 to 1.00 g/10 min determined according to ISO 1 133, a content of xylene cold solubles (XCS) of 4.0 to 17.0 wt.-% determined at 25° C. according to ISO 16152, and a poly dispersity index PI of 2.5 to 4.0 Pa?1 determined by rheological measurements according to ISO 6721-1 and ISO 6721-10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignees: ABU DHABI POLYMERS COMPANY LIMITED (BOROUGE), BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Cristian Hedesiu, Kauno Alastalo
  • Patent number: 11066541
    Abstract: A multimodal propylene copolymer composition suitable for moulding and pipe applications comprising a multimodal propylene copolymer (U).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: ABU DHABI POLYMERS COMPANY LIMITED (BOROUGE), BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Cristian Hedesiu, Kauno Alastalo
  • Patent number: 10961376
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypropylene composition comprising a multimodal propylene random copolymer (A) with at least one comonomer selected from alpha-olefins with 2 or 4 to 8 carbon atoms and a nucleating agent (B), wherein the polypropylene composition has a Charpy Notched Impact Strength at 23° C. of at least 30 kJ/m2, determined according to ISO 179/1eA:2000 using notched injection moulded specimens, a process for producing said polypropylene composition, an article comprising said polypropylene composition and the use of said polypropylene composition for the production of an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: ABU DHABI POLYMERS CO. LTD (BOROUGE) L.L.C., Borealis AG
    Inventors: Cristian Hedesiu, Kauno Alastalo
  • Publication number: 20200362074
    Abstract: The present invention relates to multi reactor configurations for producing polypropylene copolymers and to processes for producing polypropylene copolymers. The reactor configuration for the production of propylene copolymers comprises at least three reactors R1, R1 and R3, all reactors having inlet and outlet, whereby reactors R2 and R3 are configured in parallel both downstream of reactor R1; and whereby reactor R1 is configured in series and upstream of reactors R2 and R3, and whereby the outlet of reactor R1 is coupled with the inlets of both reactors R2 and R3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Shital Das, Kauno Alastalo
  • Patent number: 10787528
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an olefin polymerization process for producing propylene copolymer composition (P), wherein propylene, C4 to C10 ?-olefin and optionally ethylene are reacted in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst in a multistage polymerization process comprising at least two polymerization reactors, wherein the copolymer composition is bimodal with respect to the content of C4 to C10 ?-olefin and, if present, to ethylene. Further, the invention is directed to the propylene copolymer composition being bimodal with respect to the content of C4 to C10 ?-olefin and optionally to ethylene, and use of said propylene copolymer compositions for producing articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Borealis AG
    Inventors: Kristin Reichelt, Kauno Alastalo, Klaus Nyfors, Luigi Resconi
  • Patent number: 10676544
    Abstract: A process for polymerising alpha-olefin monomers in a loop reactor comprising the steps of introducing a main feed stream (2) comprising at least one alpha-olefin monomer into the loop reactor (1); introducing a polymerisation catalyst into the loop reactor (1); polymerising the at least one alpha-olefin monomer in the presence of the polymerisation catalyst in the loop reactor (1) to produce a slurry comprising polyolefin particles; withdrawing an outlet stream (4) comprising at least a portion of the slurry from the loop reactor (1); adding a first feed stream (9) comprising the at least one alpha-olefin monomer and/or hydrogen to the outlet stream (4) to form a concentrator inlet stream (8); introducing the concentrator inlet stream (8) into a concentrator (5); withdrawing from the concentrator (5) an overflow stream (6) comprising the polyolefin particles, wherein the concentration of the polyolefin particles in the overflow stream (6) is smaller than in the concentrator inlet stream (8); withdrawing from
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Kauno Alastalo, Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Vasileios Kanellopoulos, Apostolos Krallis
  • Patent number: 10494464
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing propylene in the presence of a polymerization catalyst by copolymerizing propylene with a comonomer selected from the group of ethylene and C4-C10 alpha-olefins in two polymerization stages. The first polymerization stage is conducted in a loop reactor and the second polymerization stage in a gas phase reactor. The polymer produced in first polymerization stage has a higher melt flow rate and a lower content of comonomer units than the final polymer mixture. The process can be operated with a high throughput and catalyst productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: BOREALIS AG, ABU DHABI POLYMERS CO. LTD. (BOROUGE) L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kauno Alastalo, Pauli Leskinen, Johanna Lilja, Cristian Hedesiu
  • Publication number: 20190010263
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an olefin polymerization process for producing propylene copolymer composition (P), wherein propylene, C4 to C10 ?-olefin and optionally ethylene are reacted in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst in a multistage polymerization process comprising at least two polymerization reactors, wherein the copolymer composition is bimodal with respect to the content of C4 to C10 ?-olefin and, if present, to ethylene. Further, the invention is directed to the propylene copolymer composition being bimodal with respect to the content of C4 to C10 ?-olefin and optionally to ethylene, and use of said propylene copolymer compositions for producing articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Borealis AG
    Inventors: Kristin REICHELT, Kauno ALASTALO, Klaus NYFORS, Luigi RESCONI
  • Publication number: 20180327518
    Abstract: A process for polymerising alpha-olefin monomers in a loop reactor comprising the steps of introducing a main feed stream (2) comprising at least one alpha-olefin monomer into the loop reactor (1); introducing a polymerisation catalyst into the loop reactor (1); polymerising the at least one alpha-olefin monomer in the presence of the polymerisation catalyst in the loop reactor (1) to produce a slurry comprising polyolefin particles; withdrawing an outlet stream (4) comprising at least a portion of the slurry from the loop reactor (1); adding a first feed stream (9) comprising the at least one alpha-olefin monomer and/or hydrogen to the outlet stream (4) to form a concentrator inlet stream (8); introducing the concentrator inlet stream (8) into a concentrator (5); withdrawing from the concentrator (5) an overflow stream (6) comprising the polyolefin particles, wherein the concentration of the polyolefin particles in the overflow stream (6) is smaller than in the concentrator inlet stream (8); withdrawing from
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kauno Alastalo, Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Vasileios Kanellopoulos, Apostolos Krallis
  • Patent number: 10040930
    Abstract: Polypropylene copolymer for biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) with low isotacticity, high melting temperature and low comonomer content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: ABU DHABI POLYMERS CO. LTD (BOROUGE) LLC., BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Dietrich Gloger, Thomas Horill, Vijay Francis, Gurusamy Sakkaraiyappan, Niraj Dixit, Kauno Alastalo, Torvald Vestberg, Johan Defoer
  • Patent number: 9994656
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing propylene in the presence of a polymerization catalyst by polymerizing propylene with a comonomer selected from the group of ethylene and C4-C10 alpha-olefins in two polymerization stages where the comonomer is present in at least one of the polymerization stages. The first polymerization stage is conducted in a loop reactor and the second polymerization stage in a gas phase reactor. The polymer produced in first polymerization stage has a higher melt flow rate and a lower content of comonomer units than the final polymer mixture. The process can be operated with a high throughput and catalyst productivity. The polymers are useful for making films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Torvald Vestberg, Kauno Alastalo