Patents by Inventor Robert R. McElvain
Robert R. 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).
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Publication number: 20140024788Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers
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Patent number: 8569433Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2012Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers
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Patent number: 8303899Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers, Penny A. Zellers, legal representative
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Patent number: 8202949Abstract: A system and method for measuring pressure and flow rate of polymer slurry circulating in a loop reactor. For flow rate measurement, the loop reactor has a pressure tap on an outside radius of an elbow of the loop and a pressure tap on an inside radius of the elbow. The pressure taps incorporate diaphragms. Sensing legs couple the pressure taps with a differential pressure meter configured to provide a signal indicative of the flow rate of the polymer slurry. For pressure measurement, pressure taps without diaphragms at the loop reactor wall may be disposed at various points along the loop reactor, the pressure taps coupled to pressure sensing lines. A diluent flush line having a screen disposed therein may provide diluent to the pressure taps. The screen may reduce fouling of the pressure tap and sensing line with solids from the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Larry W. Ezell, Anurag Gupta
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Publication number: 20120139149Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2012Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers, Penny A. Zellers
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Patent number: 8128877Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers, Penny A. Zellers, legal representative
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Publication number: 20110300025Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers, Penny A. Zellers
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Patent number: 8017701Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 26, 2005Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers, Penny A. Zellers, legal representative
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Publication number: 20100056732Abstract: A system and method for measuring pressure and flow rate of polymer slurry circulating in a loop reactor. For flow rate measurement, the loop reactor has a pressure tap on an outside radius of an elbow of the loop and a pressure tap on an inside radius of the elbow. The pressure taps incorporate diaphragms. Sensing legs couple the pressure taps with a differential pressure meter configured to provide a signal indicative of the flow rate of the polymer slurry. For pressure measurement, pressure taps without diaphragms at the loop reactor wall may be disposed at various points along the loop reactor, the pressure taps coupled to pressure sensing lines. A diluent flush line having a screen disposed therein may provide diluent to the pressure taps. The screen may reduce fouling of the pressure tap and sensing line with solids from the reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Larry W. Ezell, Anurag Gupta
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Patent number: 7547750Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 5, 2005Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Robert R McElvain, John D Hottovy, David H. Burns, Donald W. Verser, Anurag Gupta, Ralph W. Romig
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Patent number: 7517947Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 25, 2006Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Bryan M. Garner, Gregory G. Hendrickson, John H. Tait
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Patent number: 7109290Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Bryan M. Garner, Gregory G. Hendrikson, John H. Tait
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Publication number: 20030083444Abstract: Apparatus for removing a concentrated slurry from a flowing stream of slurry in a conduit characterized by a channel in an outlet area of the conduit, the outlet being adapted to continuously remove slurry. In a specific embodiment, an olefin polymerization apparatus is disclosed wherein monomer, diluent and catalyst are circulated in a continuous pipe loop reactor and product slurry is recovered by a continuous product take off means. The pipe has a channel or groove leading to the continuous product take off means. In one embodiment, the slurry is heated in a flash line heater and passed to a high pressure flash where a majority of the diluent is separated and thereafter condensed by simple heat exchange, without compression, and thereafter recycled, bottoms from the high pressure flash being passed to a low pressure flash where polymer is recovered and entrained liquid is flashed overhead. In another embodiment the flash line feeds a single flash chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Stewart, Raymond G. Sewell, Robert W. Bohmer, Casey T. Collins, Ted Cymbaluk
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Patent number: 5071927Abstract: This invention relates to a high-temperature slurry polymerization of ethylene where: the hexene is generated in situ; a chromium catalyst system is used; a trialkyl boron or a polyalkyl silane compound is used as a cocatalyst; the temperature of the reaction is above the foul curve temperature for a specific copolymer density; and where the polymerization takes place in a continuous loop reactor which has isobutane as a diluent. Additionally, hexene can be withdrawn, or added, to adjust the density.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1990Date of Patent: December 10, 1991Assignee: Phillips Petroleum CompanyInventors: Elizabeth A. Benham, Max P. McDaniel, Robert R. McElvain, Roy O. Schneider