Patents by Inventor Kevin Blann

Kevin Blann 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: 20230257327
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments described herein, a method for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons may include passing a hydrocarbon feed comprising one or more alkanes or alkyl aromatics into a fluidized bed reactor, contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a dehydrogenation catalyst in the fluidized bed reactor to produce a dehydrogenated product and hydrogen, and contacting the hydrogen with an oxygen-rich oxygen carrier material in the fluidized bed reactor to combust the hydrogen and form an oxygen-diminished oxygen carrier material. In additional embodiments, a dual-purpose material may be utilized which has dehydrogenation catalyst and oxygen carrying functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Blann, Alexey Kirilin, Andrzej Malek, Victor Sussman, Matthew T. Pretz, Brien A. Stears, Barry B. Fish, Eric E. Stangland, Brian W. Goodfellow, Manish Sharma
  • Patent number: 11724974
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments described herein, a method for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons may include passing a hydrocarbon feed comprising one or more alkanes or alkyl aromatics into a fluidized bed reactor, contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a dehydrogenation catalyst in the fluidized bed reactor to produce a dehydrogenated product and hydrogen, and contacting the hydrogen with an oxygen-rich oxygen carrier material in the fluidized bed reactor to combust the hydrogen and form an oxygen-diminished oxygen carrier material. In additional embodiments, a dual-purpose material may be utilized which has dehydrogenation catalyst and oxygen carrying functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Blann, Alexey Kirilin, Andrzej Malek, Victor Sussman, Matthew T. Pretz, Brien A. Stears, Barry B. Fish, Eric E. Stangland, Brian W. Goodfellow, Manish Sharma
  • Publication number: 20210292259
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments described herein, a method for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons may include passing a hydrocarbon feed comprising one or more alkanes or alkyl aromatics into a fluidized bed reactor, contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a dehydrogenation catalyst in the fluidized bed reactor to produce a dehydrogenated product and hydrogen, and contacting the hydrogen with an oxygen-rich oxygen carrier material in the fluidized bed reactor to combust the hydrogen and form an oxygen-diminished oxygen carrier material. In additional embodiments, a dual-purpose material may be utilized which has dehydrogenation catalyst and oxygen carrying functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Blann, Alexey Kirilin, Andrzej Malek, Victor Sussman, Matthew T. Pretz, Brien A. Stears, Barry B. Fish, Eric E. Stangland, Brian W. Goodfellow, Manish Sharma
  • Patent number: 10589324
    Abstract: A method of cleaning fouled process equipment which includes a process vessel (10) fouled by an organic foulant, includes spraying a hydrocarbon stream at a pressure of at least 69 bar(g) at fouled surfaces inside the process vessel (10) thereby to dislodge the organic foulant from the fouled surfaces. The hydrocarbon stream is sprayed from at least one nozzle (24) located inside the process vessel (10). The hydrocarbon stream is at a temperature below the melting point of the organic foulant or below the melting point of a major component of the organic foulant when the organic foulant is a multi-component organic foulant. The dislodged foulant is removed from the process vessel (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SASOL TECHNOLOGY (PTY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Craig McGregor, Umesh Ramdhani, Kevin Blann, Michael Joseph Zogg, Jr., Kipchirchir Andrew Boit, Timothy Wayne Gambrel
  • Patent number: 9546117
    Abstract: A process for the tetramerization of ethylene includes contacting ethylene with a catalyst under ethylene oligomerization conditions. The catalyst comprises a source of chromium, a ligating compound, and an activator. The ligating compound includes a phosphine that forms part of a cyclic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Molise Stephen Mokhadinyana, Munaka Christopher Maumela, Moses Mokgolela Mogorosi, Matthew James Overett, Jan-Albert Van Den Berg, Werner Janse Van Rensburg, Kevin Blann
  • Patent number: 9533922
    Abstract: A process for the oligomerization of ethylene to predominantly 1-hexene or 1-octene or mixtures of 1-hexene and 1-octene includes contacting ethylene with a catalyst under ethylene oligomerization conditions. The catalyst comprises a source of chromium, a diphosphine ligating compound, and optionally an activator. The diphosphine ligating compound includes at least one optionally substituted fused cyclic structure including at least two rings, the optionally substituted fused cyclic structure including a 5- to 7-membered aromatic first ring bonded to a phosphorus atom, the aromatic first ring being fused to a 4- to 8-membered heterocyclic second ring, the heterocyclic second ring including a heteroatom which is separated by two ring atoms along the shortest connecting path from the phosphorous atom that is bonded to the first aromatic ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Munaka Christopher Maumela, Moses Mokgolela Mogorosi, Molise Stephen Mokhadinyana, Matthew James Overett, Kevin Blann, Cedric Wahl Holzapfel
  • Patent number: 9522856
    Abstract: A process (10) for oligomerising a hydrocarbon to form at least one co-monomer product (22) includes feeding a hydrocarbon reactant and organic liquid diluent solvent (32) into an oligomerisation reactor (12). The organic liquid diluent solvent has a normal boiling point below the normal boiling point of 1-hexene but above ?20° C., or the organic diluent solvent is in the form of a solvent admixture with at least 70% by mass of the solvent admixture constituting organic diluent solvents having a normal boiling point below the normal boiling point of 1-hexene but above ?20° C. The oligomerisation reactor (12) holds at least one co-monomer product formed in the oligomerisation reactor admixed with a catalyst system (25) introduced into the oligomerisation reactor (12). The catalyst system (25) includes a catalyst dissolved in at least one catalyst solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SASOL TECHNOLOGY (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Denise Louisette Venter, Kenny Tenza, Palesa Nongodlwana, Matthew James Overett, Kevin Blann, Nicolaus Ladislaus Stark, Craig McGregor, Richard Neil Walsh
  • Patent number: 9499456
    Abstract: A process for the tetramerisation of ethylene under solution phase conditions is carried out in the presence of an activated catalyst at a temperature above 80° C. and up to a temperature of about 115° C. The activated catalyst is provided by combining a source of chromium, a diphosphine ligating compound and optionally a catalyst activator or combination of catalyst activators. The process forms at least 30% 1-octene and a polyethylene co-product that, together with any other reaction products, remains substantially dissolved in the liquid phase. The polyethylene co-product has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of less than 200 000 g/mol, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of less than 3 000 g/mol, and a melt flow index of more than 20 g/10 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SASOL TECHNOLOGY (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Matthew James Overett, Elzet Grobler, Stephen John Evans, Kevin Blann
  • Patent number: 9399179
    Abstract: A process (10) to separate a multi-component hydrocarbon stream (26) comprising ethylene, at least one polymer and other components includes flashing the multi-component hydrocarbon stream in a first flash stage (12) from an elevated pressure of more than 30 bar(a) and an elevated temperature in the range of 150° C. to 135° C. to a flash pressure in the range of 10 bar(a) to 30 bar(a), producing a first ethylene-containing vapor overheads product (28) at a pressure in the range of 10 bar(a) to 30 bar(a) and a first flash stage bottoms product (30.1) which includes some ethylene, the at least one polymer and some of the other components. The flash pressure and the elevated temperature of the multi-component hydrocarbon stream (26) are selected such that the first flash stage bottoms product (30.1) has a concentration of the at least one polymer of less than 5% by mass to render the viscosity of the first flash stage bottoms product (30.1) at the temperature of the first flash stage bottoms product (30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SASOL TECHNOLOGY PROPRIETARY LIMITED
    Inventors: Denise Louisette Venter, Natasha Brigman, Tyrone McKnight, Kevin Blann, Stephen John Evans
  • Publication number: 20160083311
    Abstract: A process for the oligomerisation of ethylene to predominantly 1-hexene or 1-octene or mixtures of 1-hexene and 1-octene includes contacting ethylene with a catalyst under ethylene oligomerisation conditions. The catalyst comprises a source of chromium, a diphosphine ligating compound, and optionally an activator. The diphosphine ligating compound includes at least one optionally substituted fused cyclic structure including at least two rings, the optionally substituted fused cyclic structure including a 5- to 7-membered aromatic first ring bonded to a phosphorus atom, the aromatic first ring being fused to a 4- to 8-membered heterocyclic second ring, the heterocyclic second ring including a heteroatom which is separated by two ring atoms along the shortest connecting path from the phosphorous atom that is bonded to the first aromatic ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: SASOL TECHNOLOGY (PROPRIETARY LIMITED)
    Inventors: Munaka Christopher MAUMELA, Moses Mokgolela MOGOROSI, Molise Stephen MOKHADINYANA, Matthew James OVERETT, Kevin BLANN, Cedric Wahl HOLZAPFEL
  • Publication number: 20160075616
    Abstract: A process for the tetramerisation of ethylene includes contacting ethylene with a catalyst under ethylene oligomerisation conditions. The catalyst comprises a source of chromium, a ligating compound, and an activator. The ligating compound includes a phosphine that forms part of a cyclic structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Molise Stephen MOKHADINYANA, Munaka Christopher MAUMELA, Moses Mokgolela MOGOROSI, Matthew James OVERETT, Jan-Albert VAN DEN BERG, Werner JANSE VAN RENSBURG, Kevin BLANN
  • Publication number: 20150133707
    Abstract: A process (10) to separate a multi-component hydrocarbon stream (26) comprising ethylene, at least one polymer and other components includes flashing the multi-component hydrocarbon stream in a first flash stage (12) from an elevated pressure of more than 30 bar(a) and an elevated temperature in the range of 150° C. to 185° C. to a flash pressure in the range of 10 bar(a) to 30 bar(a), producing a first ethylene-containing vapour overheads product (28) at a pressure in the range of 10 bar(a) to 30 bar(a) and a first flash stage bottoms product (30.1) which includes some ethylene, the at least one polymer and some of the other components. The flash pressure and the elevated temperature of the multi-component hydrocarbon stream (26) are selected such that the first flash stage bottoms product (30.1) has a concentration of the at least one polymer of less than 5% by mass to render the viscosity of the first flash stage bottoms product (30.1) at the temperature of the first flash stage bottoms product (30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Denise Louisette Venter, Natasha Brigman, Tyrone Mcknight, Kevin Blann, Stephen John Evans
  • Publication number: 20150126790
    Abstract: A process (10) for oligomerising a hydrocarbon to form at least one co-monomer product (22) includes feeding a hydrocarbon reactant and organic liquid diluent solvent (32) into an oligomerisation reactor (12). The organic liquid diluent solvent has a normal boiling point below the normal boiling point of 1-hexene but above ?20° C., or the organic diluent solvent is in the form of a solvent admixture with at least 70% by mass of the solvent admixture constituting organic diluent solvents having a normal boiling point below the normal boiling point of 1-hexene but above ?20° C. The oligomerisation reactor (12) holds at least one co-monomer product formed in the oligomerisation reactor admixed with a catalyst system (25) introduced into the oligomerisation reactor (12). The catalyst system (25) includes a catalyst dissolved in at least one catalyst solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Denise Louisette Venter, Kenny Tenza, Palesa Nongodlwana, Matthew James Overett, Kevin Blann, Nicolaus Ladislaus Stark, Craig McGregor, Richard Neil Walsh
  • Publication number: 20150080629
    Abstract: A process for the tetramerisation of ethylene under solution phase conditions is carried out in the presence of an activated catalyst at a temperature above 80° C. and up to a temperature of about 115° C. The activated catalyst is provided by combining a source of chromium, a diphosphine ligating compound and optionally a catalyst activator or combination of catalyst activators. The process forms at least 30% 1-octene and a polyethylene co-product that, together with any other reaction products, remains substantially dissolved in the liquid phase. The polyethylene co-product has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of less than 200 000 g/mol, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of less than 3 000 g/mol, and a melt flow index of more than 20 g/10 minutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew James Overett, Elzet Grobler, Stephen John Evans, Kevin Blann
  • Publication number: 20130269730
    Abstract: A method of cleaning fouled process equipment which includes a process vessel (10) fouled by an organic foulant, includes spraying a hydrocarbon stream at a pressure of at least 69 bar(g) at fouled surfaces inside the process vessel (10) thereby to dislodge the organic foulant from the fouled surfaces. The hydrocarbon stream is sprayed from at least one nozzle (24) located inside the process vessel (10). The hydrocarbon stream is at a temperature below the melting point of the organic foulant or below the melting point of a major component of the organic foulant when the organic foulant is a multi-component organic foulant. The dislodged foulant is removed from the process vessel (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: SASOL Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Craig McGregor, Umesh Ramdhani, Kevin Blann, Michael Joseph Zogg, JR., Kipchirchir Andrew Boit, Timothy Wayne Gambrel
  • Patent number: 8461406
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a process for producing an oligomeric product by the oligomerisation of at least one olefinic compound including: A) providing an activated oligomerisation catalyst comprising the combination of: i) a source of a transition metal; ii) a ligating compound of the formula (R1)mX1(Y)X2(R2)n iii) a metal containing activator; and (iv) at least one olefinic compound; B) diluting the activated oligomerisation catalyst of A with an introduced liquid medium; and C) contacting the at least one olefinic compound to be oligomerised with the diluted activated catalyst of B to produce an oligomeric product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (PTY) Limited
    Inventors: Matthew James Overett, Kevin Blann, Esna Killian, David Hedley Morgan, Hulisani Maumela, Annette Bollmann, John Thomas Dixon
  • Patent number: 8076523
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the oligomerization of at least one olefinic compound in the form of an olefin or a compound including art olefinic moiety by contacting the at least one olefinic compound with at least two different catalysis, namely a tetramerization catalyst and a further oligomerization catalyst. The tetramerization catalyst comprises a combination of a source of a transition metal and a ligating compound of the formula (R1)mX1(Y)X2(R2)n. The invention also relates to an oligomerization catalyst comprising the combination of (i) source of transition metal for both a tetramerization catalyst and a trimerization catalyst; (ii) a ligating compound for a tetramerization catalyst: (iii) a different ligating compound for a trimerization catalyst: and (iv) optionally an activator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (PTY) Limited
    Inventors: Annette Bollmann, Hulisani Maumela, Kevin Blann
  • Patent number: 7964763
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing an oligomeric product by the oligomerization of at least one olefinic compound by contacting the at least one olefinic compound with an oligomerization catalyst in an aliphatic liquid medium at a reaction temperature of at least 50° C. The catalyst comprises the combination of a source of a transition metal; and a ligating compound of the formula (R1)m X1 (Y) X2 (R2)m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Pty) Limited
    Inventors: John Thomas Dixon, Esna Killian, Annette Bollmann, Richard Neil Walsh, Matthew James Overett, Kevin Blann, David Hedley Morgan
  • Publication number: 20110086991
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing an oligomeric product by the oligomerisation of at least one olefinic compound by contacting the at least one olefinic compound with an oligomerisation catalyst in an aliphatic liquid medium at a reaction temperature of at least 50° C. The catalyst comprises the combination of a source of a transition metal; and a ligating compound of the formula (R1)mX1(Y)X2(R2)n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: John Thomas Dixon, Esna Killian, Annette Bollmann, Richard Neil Walsh, Matthew James Overett, Kevin Blann, David Hedley Morgan
  • Publication number: 20100222622
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a process for producing an oligomeric product by the oligomerisation of at least one olefinic compound including: A) providing an activated oligomerisation catalyst comprising the combination of: i) a source of a transition metal; ii) a ligating compound of the formula (R1)mX1(Y)X2(R2)n iii) a metal containing activator; and (iv) at least one olefinic compound; B) diluting the activated oligomerisation catalyst of A with an introduced liquid medium; and C) contacting the at least one olefinic compound to be oligomerised with the diluted activated catalyst of B to produce an oligomeric product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Matthew James Overett, Kevin Blann, Esna Killian, David Hedley Morgan, Hulisani Maumela, Annette Bollmann, John Thomas Dixon