Patents by Inventor Michael Benje

Michael Benje 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: 11820722
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing vinyl chloride by catalytic thermal cracking of 1,2-dichloroethane, in which method the heat required for the thermal cracking is supplied via a liquid or condensing heat transfer medium. The present invention also relates to a plant for preparing vinyl chloride by catalytic thermal cracking of 1,2-dichloroethane, in which the heat required for the thermal cracking, as well as for the preceding preheating, evaporation and optionally overheating of the 1,2-dichloroethane, is supplied via a liquid or condensing heat transfer medium, said plant comprising at least one reactor in which the thermal cracking takes place and at least one first heating device by means of which heat is transported to the reaction medium in the reactor by means of the liquid or condensing heat transfer medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG, Thyssenkrupp AG, Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer, Klaus Krejci
  • Patent number: 9981890
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synthesizing 1.2-dichloroethane from ethylene and chlorine via low temperature direct chlorination of ethylene in the presence of a catalyst under conditions in which the synthesized 1.2-dichloroethane is condensed out, however, the ethylene and the chlorine are gaseous, in a reactor (3), wherein the stoichiometric ratio of ethylene to chlorine is adjusted in the reactor (3) such that there is an excess of ethylene. The invention further relates to a device for synthesizing 1.2-dichloroethane from ethylene and chlorine via low temperature direct chlorination of ethylene in the presence of a catalyst under conditions in which the synthesized 1.2-dichloroethane is condensed out, however, the ethylene and the chlorine are gaseous, in a reactor (3), wherein the stoichiometric ratio of ethylene to chlorine is adjustable in the reactor (3) such that there is an excess of ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG, Thyssenkrupp AG, Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Benje
  • Patent number: 9849400
    Abstract: Method of concentrating aqueous alkali and apparatus suitable for this purpose. A very energy-saving method of concentrating aqueous alkali originating, for example, from a chloralkali electrolysis plant and an apparatus suitable for this purpose are described. The method/the apparatus utilizes heat of reaction from the formation of 1,2-dichloroethane and includes multistage concentration of the aqueous alkali, where at least part of the heat required for concentrating the aqueous alkali originates from the plant for preparing 1,2-dichloroethane and at least a further part of the heat required for concentrating the aqueous alkali originates from at least one of the higher stages of the plant for concentrating the aqueous alkali and is used for partial heating of the first stage. The apparatus can be used for retrofitting existing integrated plants made up of a DCE plant and chloralkali electrolysis or in the erection of new plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP UHDE GMBH, VINNOLIT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Sven Petersen, Michael Kleiber
  • Patent number: 9803919
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) and method for drying polymer powders is described. The apparatus has an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for the polymer powder, heat registers (5) installed in the interior space (4) and lines (7) for a heated gas (6a) for drying the polymer powder. The lines open into the interior space (4) and are connected to heat exchangers (9) for heating gas (6). The heat exchangers (9) are connected to a plant for the preparation of 1,2-dichloroethane (15) and/or for the preparation of vinyl chloride from 1,2-dichloroethane so that thermal energy from the plant can be utilized for heating the gas (6). The method comprises treatment of a polymer powder with a heated gas (6a) in the drying apparatus (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP UHDE GMBH, VINNOLIT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer
  • Publication number: 20170267610
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synthesizing 1.2-dichloroethane from ethylene and chlorine via low temperature direct chlorination of ethylene in the presence of a catalyst under conditions in which the synthesized 1.2-dichloroethane is condensed out, however, the ethylene and the chlorine are gaseous, in a reactor (3), wherein the stoichiometric ratio of ethylene to chlorine is adjusted in the reactor (3) such that there is an excess of ethylene. The invention further relates to a device for synthesizing 1.2-dichloroethane from ethylene and chlorine via low temperature direct chlorination of ethylene in the presence of a catalyst under conditions in which the synthesized 1.2-dichloroethane is condensed out, however, the ethylene and the chlorine are gaseous, in a reactor (3), wherein the stoichiometric ratio of ethylene to chlorine is adjustable in the reactor (3) such that there is an excess of ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Benje
  • Patent number: 9481620
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for heat recovery in vinyl chloride monomer manufacturing plants or in integrated vinyl chloride monomer/polyvinyl chloride manufacturing plants. A process for capture and use of excess heat recovered in the production of vinyl chloride includes distillatively purifying DCE in a high-boilers column, using a heat exchanger to capture thermal energy from a purified DCE vapor stream from the high-boilers column, generating low pressure steam from the captured thermal energy, returning condensed DCE vapors to the high-boilers column, and heating parts of the plant with the generated low pressure steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer
  • Publication number: 20140336426
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for heat recovery in vinyl chloride monomer manufacturing plants or in integrated vinyl chloride monomer/polyvinyl chloride manufacturing plants. A process for capture and use of excess heat recovered in the production of vinyl chloride includes distillatively purifying DCE in a high-boilers column, using a heat exchanger to capture thermal energy from a purified DCE vapor stream from the high-boilers column, generating low pressure steam from the captured thermal energy, returning condensed DCE vapors to the high-boilers column, and heating parts of the plant with the generated low pressure steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicants: VINNOLIT GMBH & CO. KG, THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer
  • Publication number: 20140158518
    Abstract: Method of concentrating aqueous alkali and apparatus suitable for this purpose. A very energy-saving method of concentrating aqueous alkali originating, for example, from a chloralkali electrolysis plant and an apparatus suitable for this purpose are described. The method/the apparatus utilizes heat of reaction from the formation of 1,2-dichloroethane and includes multistage concentration of the aqueous alkali, where at least part of the heat required for concentrating the aqueous alkali originates from the plant for preparing 1,2-dichloroethane and at least a further part of the heat required for concentrating the aqueous alkali originates from at least one of the higher stages of the plant for concentrating the aqueous alkali and is used for partial heating of the first stage. The apparatus can be used for retrofitting existing integrated plants made up of a DCE plant and chloralkali electrolysis or in the erection of new plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicants: VINNOLIT GMBH & CO. KG, THYSSENKRUPP UHDE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Sven Petersen, Michael Kleiber
  • Patent number: 8742182
    Abstract: Process for operating a distillation column for the removal of water and lower-boiling components than 1,2-dichloroethane from 1,2-dichloroethane in which at least part of the heat from condensation of the aqueous vapors from the distillation column is used to concentrate caustic soda solution by evaporation; furthermore, at least part of the 1,2-dichloroethane formed when chlorine and ethylene react in a direct chlorination unit is used to heat said distillation column and can subsequently also be used as a heat transfer fluid to concentrate caustic soda solution by evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignees: Uhde GmbH, Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sven Petersen, Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer
  • Publication number: 20140047732
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) and method for drying polymer powders is described. The apparatus has an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for the polymer powder, heat registers (5) installed in the interior space (4) and lines (7) for a heated gas (6a) for drying the polymer powder. The lines open into the interior space (4) and are connected to heat exchangers (9) for heating gas (6). The heat exchangers (9) are connected to a plant for the preparation of 1,2-dichloroethane (15) and/or for the preparation of vinyl chloride from 1,2-dichloroethane so that thermal energy from the plant can be utilized for heating the gas (6). The method comprises treatment of a polymer powder with a heated gas (6a) in the drying apparatus (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicants: VINNOLIT GMBH & CO. KG, THYSSENKRUPP UHDE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer
  • Patent number: 8552229
    Abstract: With a method for utilization of the reaction heat that occurs in the production of 1,2-dichloroethane from ethylene, by reaction with oxygen and hydrochloride (oxychlorination), in a fluidized bed reactor, with dissipation of this reaction heat through cooling pipe bundles situated within the reactor, positioned in the fluidized bed, utilization of the heat is supposed to be improved, while simultaneously reducing the size of the corresponding system elements. This is achieved in that part of the reaction heat is dissipated by heating boiler feed water, whereby the heated boiler feed water is used to heat heat sinks in the production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignees: ThyssenKrupp Uhde GmbH, Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrike Gnabs, Michael Benje, Walter Kern
  • Publication number: 20110237848
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process and to an apparatus for saving fuel in furnaces for thermal dissociation of halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, especially of 1,2-dichloroethane, using chemical dissociation promoters or physical measures which initiate the dissociation reaction. The initiation of the dissociation reaction lowers the temperature level in the reaction mixture with the same conversion. This can also lower the mean firing chamber temperature and save fuel. In a preferred process variant, flue gas leaving the convection zone of the dissociation oven is analyzed and its dew point is calculated. The dew point of the flue gas or the conversion of the dissociation reaction serves as command parameter for the intensity of the physical measure for initiation and/or for the amount of the chemical dissociation promoter added and/or for the amount of fuel. In a further preferred process variant, the latent heat content of the flue gas is used to preheat the burner air or other media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer, Klaus Krejci, Rainer Kampschulte, Helmut Grumann
  • Publication number: 20110230684
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for product-conserving thermal dissociation of halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, preferably for thermal dissociation of 1,2-dichloroethane to vinyl chloride. This uses chemical dissociation promoters and/or physical measures which initiate the dissociation reaction. The initiation of the dissociation reaction, with the same conversion, lowers the temperature level in the reaction mixture and the temperature of the dissociation gas on exit from the dissociation furnace. The amount and the exit temperature of the flue gas from the radiation zone of the dissociation furnace likewise decrease at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer, Klaus Krejci, Rainer Kampschulte, Helmut Grumann
  • Publication number: 20110230683
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing ethylenically unsaturated halogenated hydrocarbons The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for preparing ethylenically unsaturated halogenated hydrocarbons, preferably vinyl chloride by thermal dissociation of 1,2-dichloroethane, using physical or chemical measures which initiate the dissociation reaction. The process/apparatus described makes it possible to increase the amount produced using dissociation reactors of a given size considerably. Use is made here of initiating measures to increase the heat flux through the wall of the reaction tube and at the same time the feed stream and the heating power of the reaction furnace are increased so that the conversion of the reaction is not significantly increased compared to processes without use of initiating measures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer, Klaus Krejci, Rainer Kampschulte, Helmut Grumann
  • Publication number: 20110178345
    Abstract: With a method for utilization of the reaction heat that occurs in the production of 1,2-dichloroethane from ethylene, by reaction with oxygen and hydrochloride (oxychlorination), in a fluidized bed reactor, with dissipation of this reaction heat through cooling pipe bundles situated within the reactor, positioned in the fluidized bed, utilization of the heat is supposed to be improved, while simultaneously reducing the size of the corresponding system elements. This is achieved in that part of the reaction heat is dissipated by heating boiler feed water, whereby the heated boiler feed water is used to heat heat sinks in the production process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicants: UHDE GmbH, Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrike Gnabs, Michael Benje, Walter Kern
  • Patent number: 7959768
    Abstract: The invention relates to a falling film evaporator, which is fitted with a liquid distributor which is divided into segments, such that it is possible to charge only a limited number of evaporator tubes with liquid and the evaporator can be operated in an optimum manner even with a partial load. The invention also relates to a method for operating said falling film evaporator, the aim of which is to transfer heat, which is released when a gas-vapor mixture is condensed, to a liquid which is to be evaporated at least partially. It would be useful to use said falling film evaporator thus fitted in heat recuperation systems such as those used in the production of 1,2 dichloroethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: UHDE GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Porscha, Michael Benje, Harald Hafenscher
  • Patent number: 7671244
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing high-purity 1,2-dichloroethane from dissolved chlorine and dissolved ethylene which are brought into contact with each other using a circulating liquid reaction medium which essentially consists of 1,2-dichloroethane and a catalyst and passes through at least one reaction loop. The two limbs of the loop are connected to a gas-phase stripping container which is arranged at the top and from which the reaction product is outwardly transferred either in a gaseous or liquid form or both in a gaseous form and in a liquid form. The addition points for the addition of chlorine and dissolved ethylene are arranged in the limb of the loop in which the liquid rises. The addition point for dissolved chlorine is always arranged downstream of the ethylene addition point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: UHDE GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Hafenscher, Reinhold Weis, Michael Benje
  • Patent number: 7671243
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for using reaction heat produced by reaction during the production of 1,2-dichloroethane from ethylene and chlorine in a direct chlorination reactor. The chlorine is produced in a sodium chloride electrolysis and the reaction heat, during the formation of 1,2-dichloroethane is used at least partially for the evaporation of NaOH, which is produced during NaCl-electrolysis for producing the required chlorine for direct chlorination, as a coupling product. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method, comprising a multi-tube heat exchanger comprising two fixed tubular plates and a NaOH-liquid phase part, and the caustic soda passes through the inside of the tube and 1,2-dichloroethane passes the outside of the tube. The heat exchanger also comprises devices for feeding and distributing the caustic soda in the inside of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignees: Uhde GmbH, Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sven Petersen, Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer
  • Publication number: 20090306439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for using reaction heat produced by reaction during the production of 1,2-dichloroethane from ethylene and chlorine in a direct chlorination reactor. The chlorine is produced in a sodium chloride electrolysis and the reaction heat, during the formation of 1,2-dichloroethane is used at least partially for the evaporation of NaOH, which is produced during NaCl-electrolysis for producing the required chlorine for direct chlorination, as a coupling product. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method, comprising a multi-tube heat exchanger comprising two fixed tubular plates and a NaOH-liquid phase part, and the caustic soda passes through the inside of the tube and 1,2-dichloroethane passes the outside of the tube. The heat exchanger also comprises devices for feeding and distributing the caustic soda in the inside of the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Sven Petersen, Michael Benje, Peter Kammerhofer
  • Patent number: 7579509
    Abstract: The invention refers to a process for the production of high-purity 1,2-dichloroethane from dissolved chlorine and dissolved ethylene, which are brought into contact with each other in a circulating liquid reaction fluid, which mainly consists of 1,2-dichlorethane and a catalyst and flows through at least one vertically arranged loop-type reaction section, both legs of the loop being connected to an overhead degassing vessel from where the reaction product is withdrawn either in gaseous or in liquid state or in both gaseous and liquid state, and numerous admixing sections being arranged in the leg of the loop in which the liquid rises, and each of these admixing sections having one upstream feed point for dissolved or gaseous ethylene and one downstream feed point for dissolved chlorine and, if required, the admixing sections featuring static mixers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignees: Uhde GmbH, Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Benje, Harald Hafenscher