Patents by Inventor Paul J. Clymans

Paul J. Clymans 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: 11591421
    Abstract: A process for producing an ethylene copolymer, the process including: (a) contacting ethylene with at least one polar comonomer in the presence of at least one modifier and at least one free radical initiator in a tubular reactor under polymerization conditions including a pressure of from 225 to 270 MPa; (b) injecting the at least one free radical initiator into the reactor at a plurality of reaction zones spaced along the length of the reactor, wherein each reaction zone comprises an inlet and an outlet; (c) maintaining the temperature at the inlet of each reaction zone at 150° C. or less, and the temperature at the outlet of each reaction zone is at least 177° C.; (d) controlling the modifier flow at a rate of from 0.02 to 0.986 wt % of the copolymer; and (e) recovering the ethylene copolymer from the tubular reactor, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Puthenkovilakom Raja, Jeffrey D. Daily, Amit Kumar Ghosh, Anna C. Claerbout, Linda M. Van den Bossche, Paul J. Clymans
  • Patent number: 11370859
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and processes for cooling polymer product mixtures manufactured at high pressure. The processes of the invention involve cooling and then subsequently reducing the pressure of the product mixture from the reactor. In the systems of the invention, a product cooler is located downstream of the high pressure reactor and upstream of a high pressure let down valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Henri A. Lammens, Paul J. Clymans, Cindy Dewitte
  • Publication number: 20220025075
    Abstract: Controlling the shutdown of a polyethylene reactor system that includes a secondary compressor, a reactor, a high pressure let down valve (HPLDV), a high-pressure separator, and a high-pressure recycle gas system is provided. After a partial or complete shutdown of secondary compressor, HPLDV opens to a pre-set open position until the reactor pressure reduces to either a pre-set reduced pressure limit or a until the slope of the reactor gas density to reactor pressure exceeds 0.15. The HPLDV controls the pressure to a pressure set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Paul J. CLYMANS, Jefferson P. GALLIANO, Philippe A.P. D'HOOGHE, Cindy DEWITTE, Henri A. LAMMENS
  • Patent number: 11066492
    Abstract: A process for producing ethylene polymer including compressing ethylene monomer in one or more compressors to a pressure from 1000 bar to 3000 bar; introducing the compressed ethylene monomer into one or more reactors; introducing a blend comprising an initiator and a modifier into the reactor where the ethylene monomer polymerizes forming a reaction mixture comprising unreacted ethylene monomer and ethylene polymer; and separating the ethylene polymer from the reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Clymans
  • Patent number: 10843160
    Abstract: Systems and processes for rapidly depressurizing a reactor system are disclosed. The systems and processes are particularly useful in the high pressure polymerization of ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Philip H. Cornelissen, Paul J. Clymans, Henri A. Lammens
  • Patent number: 10835882
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a process for polymerizing ethylene under high pressure providing more than one injection point for one initiator injection pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Clymans, Henri A. Lammens, Philip H. Cornelissen
  • Publication number: 20200347163
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and processes for cooling polymer product mixtures manufactured at high pressure. The processes of the invention involve cooling and then subsequently reducing the pressure of the product mixture from the reactor. In the systems of the invention, a product cooler is located downstream of the high pressure reactor and upstream of a high pressure let down valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Henri A. Lammens, Paul J. Clymans, Cindy Dewitte
  • Patent number: 10766984
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and processes for cooling polymer product mixtures manufactured at high pressure. The processes of the invention involve cooling and then subsequently reducing the pressure of the product mixture from the reactor. In the systems of the invention, a product cooler is located downstream of the high pressure reactor and upstream of a high pressure let down valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents, Inc.
    Inventors: Henri A. Lammens, Paul J. Clymans, Cindy Dewitte
  • Publication number: 20200148800
    Abstract: A process for producing an ethylene copolymer, the process including: (a) contacting ethylene with at least one polar comonomer in the presence of at least one modifier and at least one free radical initiator in a tubular reactor under polymerization conditions including a pressure of from 225 to 270 MPa; (b) injecting the at least one free radical initiator into the reactor at a plurality of reaction zones spaced along the length of the reactor, wherein each reaction zone comprises an inlet and an outlet; (c) maintaining the temperature at the inlet of each reaction zone at 150° C. or less, and the temperature at the outlet of each reaction zone is at least 177° C.; (d) controlling the modifier flow at a rate of from 0.02 to 0.986 wt % of the copolymer; and (e) recovering the ethylene copolymer from the tubular reactor, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Puthenkovilakom Rajesh Raja, Jeffrey D. Daily, Amit Kumar Ghosh, Anna C. Claerbout, Linda M. Van den Bossche, Paul J. Clymans
  • Patent number: 10526425
    Abstract: A method and pressure relief assembly for relieving a condition of over-pressure in a vessel are provided. In addition, a separator vessel suitable for operation in a process for polymerizing one or more olefins is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Philip H. Cornelissen, Paul J. Clymans
  • Patent number: 10478796
    Abstract: Systems and processes for controlling fouling in the manufacture of ethylene polymers and copolymers at high pressure. Disclosed is a high pressure polyethylene polymerization system comprising a reactor, a primary compressor, and a secondary compressor, the secondary compressor comprising: a) a first stage, wherein the first stage comprises at least two cylinders, and the discharge pipes of the at least two cylinders are fluidly connected by a first stage discharge cross-connect pipe; b) a second stage; c) an interstage; and d) a first cooler applied to the interstage piping starting at a location within 10 meters downstream of the first stage discharge cross-connect pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Henri A. Lammens, Paul J. Clymans, Philip H. Cornelissen
  • Publication number: 20190299182
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a process for polymerizing ethylene under high pressure providing more than one injection point for one initiator injection pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Paul J. Clymans, Henri A. Lammens, Phillip H. Comelissen
  • Patent number: 10308729
    Abstract: A process for separating components of a reactor off gas is provided. A related reactor system is also provided. The reactor system may include a high pressure tubular reactor and/or an autoclave reactor and may be used for the production polyolefin polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Clymans
  • Publication number: 20190010260
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and processes for cooling polymer product mixtures manufactured at high pressure. The processes of the invention involve cooling and then subsequently reducing the pressure of the product mixture from the reactor. In the systems of the invention, a product cooler is located downstream of the high pressure reactor and upstream of a high pressure let down valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Henri A. Lammens, Paul J. Clymans, Cindy Dewitte
  • Publication number: 20180290120
    Abstract: Systems and processes for controlling fouling in the manufacture of ethylene polymers and copolymers at high pressure. Disclosed is a high pressure polyethylene polymerization system comprising a reactor, a primary compressor, and a secondary compressor, the secondary compressor comprising: a) a first stage, wherein the first stage comprises at least two cylinders, and the discharge pipes of the at least two cylinders are fluidly connected by a first stage discharge cross-connect pipe; b) a second stage; c) an interstage; and d) a first cooler applied to the interstage piping starting at a location within 10 meters downstream of the first stage discharge cross-connect pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Henri A. Lammens, Paul J. Clymans, Philip H. Cornelissen
  • Publication number: 20180257055
    Abstract: Systems and processes for rapidly depressurizing a reactor system are disclosed. The systems and processes are particularly useful in the high pressure polymerization of ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Philip H. Cornelissen, Paul J. Clymans, Henri A. Lammens
  • Publication number: 20180244810
    Abstract: A method and pressure relief assembly for relieving a condition of over-pressure in a vessel are provided. In addition, a separator vessel suitable for operation in a process for polymerizing one or more olefins is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Philip H. Cornelissen, Paul J. Clymans
  • Publication number: 20180094083
    Abstract: A process for separating components of a reactor off gas is provided. A related reactor system is also provided. The reactor system may include a high pressure tubular reactor and/or an autoclave reactor and may be used for the production polyolefin polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventor: Paul J. Clymans
  • Patent number: 9821252
    Abstract: A system including a vessel with at least two fluid inlets and a fluid outlet wherein one fluid inlet is positioned higher in the vessel than the other fluid inlet is provided. The fluid inlets may be connected to a polymerization reactor and each fluid inlet may be configured to deliver fluid to the vessel from a different zone of the polymerization reactor. During shut-down of a polymerization reactor, reaction mixture is discharged to a separation system where polymer particles are removed from the mixture prior to being released into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Henri A. Lammens, Philip H. Cornelissen, Paul J. Clymans
  • Publication number: 20170129971
    Abstract: A process for producing ethylene polymer including compressing ethylene monomer in one or more compressors to a pressure from 1000 bar to 3000 bar; introducing the compressed ethylene monomer into one or more reactors; introducing a blend comprising an initiator and a modifier into the reactor where the ethylene monomer polymerizes forming a reaction mixture comprising unreacted ethylene monomer and ethylene polymer; and separating the ethylene polymer from the reaction mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventor: Paul J. Clymans