Patents by Inventor Robert McElvain

Robert McElvain 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: 20070078237
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing polymer solids from a slurry loop reactor. A discharge conduit having a longitudinal axis and an end section for removing polymer solids from the slurry loop reactor is provided. The discharge conduit is attached to the slurry loop reactor so that the longitudinal axis and at least a portion of an outer wall of the slurry loop reactor form an angle of less than about 90 degrees. The end section includes a first edge and a second edge that extends past at least a portion of an inner wall of the slurry loop reactor into a liquid reactor slurry. Polymer solids contained within the liquid reactor slurry are concentrated on the second edge so that an average polymer solids concentration in the discharge slurry is greater than an average polymer solids concentration of the liquid reactor slurry within the slurry loop reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Robert McElvain, John Hottovy, David Burns, Donald Verser, Anurag Gupta, Ralph Romig
  • Publication number: 20060287442
    Abstract: A method for transferring polymer within a polymerization system, comprising continuously withdrawing the polymer from the reactor and conveying the polymer from a reactor to a flash chamber via a pressure differential between the reactor and the flash chamber. A method for transferring polymer within a polymerization system comprising conveying the polymer from a reactor to a flash chamber via a pressure differential between the reactor and the flash chamber and purging interstitial gases from the polymer prior to conveying the polymer from the sash chamber to a purge column. A method for transferring polymer within a polymerization system comprising conveying the polymer from a flash chamber directly to a purge column via a pressure differential between the flash chamber and the purge column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Robert McElvain, John Hottovy, Bryan Garner, Gregory Hendrickson, John Tait
  • Publication number: 20060063896
    Abstract: A manufacturing process for producing polyolefin, having a feed system, a reactor system including at least one polymerization reactor, a diluent/monomer recovery system, a fractionation system, and an extrusion/loadout system having an extruder. The manufacturing process is configured to consume less than 325 kilowatt-hours of electricity per metric ton of polyolefin produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Robert McElvain, John Hottovy, Ralph Romig, Donald Verser, David Burns, John Tait, Richard Peacock, James Hein, Scott Kufeld, Carl Fenderson, Anurag Gupta
  • Publication number: 20050272914
    Abstract: A method for transferring polymer within a polymerization system, comprising continuously withdrawing the polymer from the reactor and conveying the polymer from a reactor to a flash chamber via a pressure differential between the reactor and the flash chamber. A method for transferring polymer within a polymerization system comprising conveying the polymer from a reactor to a flash chamber via a pressure differential between the reactor and the flash chamber and purging interstitial gases from the polymer prior to conveying the polymer from the flash chamber to a purge column. A method for transferring polymer within a polymerization system comprising conveying the polymer from a flash chamber directly to a purge column via a pressure differential between the flash chamber and the purge column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Robert McElvain, John Hottovy, Bryan Garner, Gregory Hendrickson, John Tait