Patents by Inventor Samuli Zitting

Samuli Zitting 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: 20240001317
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for feeding a polymerization catalyst into a polymerization reactor, said process comprising the steps of: (i) forming a catalyst slurry comprising oil and a solid catalyst component in a first catalyst preparation vessel; (ii) transferring the catalyst slurry from the first catalyst preparation vessel to a first catalyst feed vessel; (iii) maintaining the catalyst slurry in the first catalyst feed vessel in a homogeneous state; (iv) withdrawing a portion of the catalyst slurry from the first catalyst feed vessel, preferably continuously withdrawing the catalyst slurry from the first catalyst feed vessel, and introducing the withdrawn portion of the catalyst slurry into a polymerization reactor; wherein the oil has a dynamic viscosity of from 25 to 1500 mPa*s at the conditions within the first catalyst preparation vessel and the first catalyst feed vessel, wherein the catalyst slurry is transferred along a substantially vertical path downwards from the first catalyst
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Borealis AG
    Inventors: Klaus NYFORS, Jouni KIVELÄ, Mubashar SATTAR, Samuli ZITTING, Erno ELOVAINIO, Mikko LYLYKANGAS, Jan LINDHOLM, Danny COX
  • Publication number: 20220380498
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerization process, comprising: a) supplying a feed containing ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin having 3 to 12 carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon solvent to a polymerization reactor, b) contacting the feed of step a) in the reactor with a catalyst to form a reaction mixture containing an ethylene-alpha-olefin co-polymer, c) withdrawing the reaction mixture from the polymerization reactor as a reactor outlet stream which comprises the ethylene-alpha-olefin co-polymer, unreacted monomer and comonomer, catalyst, and hydrocarbon solvent, d) heating the reactor outlet stream to a temperature which is at least 5° C. higher than the temperature of the reaction mixture at the outlet of the reactor for a time period of between 1 and 250 seconds in order to de-activate the polymerization catalyst, and e) separating hydrocarbon solvent, monomer and comonomer from the reactor outlet stream and recycling it back to the polymerization reactor without further purification steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-haj Ali, Michiel Bergstra, Erik Eriksson, Sameer Vijay, Christof Wumitsch, Samuli Zitting, Henry Sleijster, Noureddine Ajellal
  • Patent number: 11512157
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: (A) passing a stream of a solution into a separator wherein a liquid phase comprising polymer and a vapour phase coexist; (B) withdrawing a vapour stream and a concentrated solution stream from the separator; (C) passing at least a part of the vapour stream into a first fractionator; (D) withdrawing a first overhead stream and a first bottom stream from the first fractionator; (E) passing the first overhead stream to a second fractionator; (F) withdrawing a second overhead stream and a second bottom stream from the second fractionator; (G) passing the second overhead stream to a third fractionator; (H) withdrawing a third overhead stream and a third bottom stream from the third fractionator; characterised in that at least a part of the third bottom stream is withdrawn as a purge stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Erik Eriksson, Guhan Mathivanan, Jukka Räsänen, Henry Sleijster, Sameer Vijay, Samuli Zitting
  • Patent number: 11149096
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: (A) passing a stream of a solution into a separator wherein a liquid phase comprising polymer and a vapor phase coexist; (B) withdrawing a vapor stream and a concentrated solution stream from the separator; (C) passing at least a part of the vapour stream into a first fractionator; (D) withdrawing a first overhead stream and a first bottom stream from the first fractionator; (E) passing the first bottom stream to a second fractionator; (F) withdrawing a second overhead stream and a second bottom stream from the second fractionator; characterized in that at least a part of the second overhead stream is withdrawn as a purge stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Erik Eriksson, Guhan Mathivanan, Jukka Räsänen, Henry Sleijster, Sameer Vijay, Samuli Zitting
  • Publication number: 20210171677
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: (A) passing a stream of a solution into a separator wherein a liquid phase comprising polymer and a vapour phase coexist; (B) withdrawing a vapour stream and a concentrated solution stream from the separator; (C) passing at least a part of the vapour stream into a first fractionator; (D) withdrawing a first overhead stream and a first bottom stream from the first fractionator; (E) passing the first overhead stream to a second fractionator; (F) withdrawing a second overhead stream and a second bottom stream from the second fractionator; (G) passing the second overhead stream to a third fractionator; (H) withdrawing a third overhead stream and a third bottom stream from the third fractionator; characterised in that at least a part of the third bottom stream is withdrawn as a purge stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Mohammad AL-HAJ ALI, Erik ERIKSSON, Guhan MATHIVANAN, Jukka RÄSÄNEN, Henry SLEIJSTER, Sameer VIJAY, Samuli ZITTING
  • Patent number: 10829610
    Abstract: The present invention deals with a process for polymerising olefins in a solution and withdrawing a stream of the solution from the polymerisation reactor and passing it to a sequence of heating steps. The heated solution is passed to a separation step, which is conducted at a pressure of no more than 15 bar and in which separation step a liquid phase comprising the polymer and a vapour phase coexist. A vapour stream and a concentrated solution stream comprising the polymer are withdrawn from the separation step. At least a part of the vapour stream is passed to the first polymerisation reactor, to the second polymerisation reactor or to both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Michiel Bergstra, Erik Eriksson, Guhan Mathivanan, Jukka Räsänen, Henry Sleijster, Sameer Vijay, Christof Wurnitsch, Samuli Zitting, Vasileios Kanellopoulos, Jani Aho
  • Publication number: 20200277413
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: (A) passing a stream of a solution into a separator wherein a liquid phase comprising polymer and a vapour phase coexist; (B) withdrawing a vapour stream and a concentrated solution stream from the separator; (C) passing at least a part of the vapour stream into a first fractionator; (D) withdrawing a first overhead stream and a first bottom stream from the first fractionator; (E) passing the first bottom stream to a second fractionator; (F) withdrawing a second overhead stream and a second bottom stream from the second fractionator; characterised in that at least a part of the second overhead stream is withdrawn as a purge stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Erik Eriksson, Guhan Mathivanan, Jukka Räsänen, Henry Sleijster, Sameer Vijay, Samuli Zitting
  • Patent number: 10759880
    Abstract: A process for producing a polymer composition comprising the steps (A) to (M) as recited herein, involving the polymerization, in a polymerization reactor of a first polymer, a first stream thereof being passed into a first separator wherein a first liquid phase comprising the polymer and a first vapor phase coexist; withdrawing a first vapor stream and a first concentrated solution stream comprising the polymer from the first separator, passing at least a part of the first vapor stream to a first fractionator; withdrawing a first overhead stream and a first bottom stream from the first fractionator; recovering at least a part of the first overhead stream as a first recycle stream and passing it to the polymerization reactor; passing the first concentrated solution stream from the first separator to a second separator, wherein a second liquid phase comprising the polymer and a second vapor phase coexist; passing at least a part of the second vapor stream to a second fractionator; withdrawing a second overhead
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Borealis AG
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Erik Eriksson, Guhan Mathivanan, Henry Sleijster, Sameer Vijay, Christof Wurnitsch, Samuli Zitting
  • Patent number: 10604595
    Abstract: A process for withdrawing polyolefins from a reactor includes: continuously withdrawing a liquid solution stream from a solution polymerization reactor and passing the liquid solution stream into a low pressure separator; withdrawing a first vapour stream and a first liquid stream from the separator and passing the first vapour stream into a washing column; withdrawing a second vapour stream from the washing column and feeding it via a condenser line to a condenser; cooling the second vapour stream in the condenser so that part of the second vapour stream condenses, producing a condensed second vapour stream and an uncondensed second vapour stream; passing the condensed second vapour stream to an upper part of the washing column via a reflux line; withdrawing a second liquid stream from the washing column and passing at least part of the second liquid stream to the separator via a recycling line; and recovering heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Erik Eriksson, Sameer Vijay, Guhan Mathivanan, Jukka Rasanen, Henry Sleijster, Christof Wurnitsch, Samuli Zitting
  • Patent number: 10597472
    Abstract: An in-line blending process for polymers comprising: (a) providing two or more reactor-low pressure separator units (1,7) in parallel configuration, each reactor-low pressure separator unit comprising one reactor (2,8) fluidly connected to one low pressure separator (3,9) downstream and further a recycling line (5,11) connecting the low pressure separator (3,9) back to the corresponding reactor (2,8); (b) polymerizing olefin monomers having two or more carbon atoms in each of the reactors (2,8) in solution polymerisation; (c) forming an unreduced reactor effluents stream including a homogenous fluid phase polymer-monomer-solvent mixture in each of the reactors (2,8), (d) passing the unreduced reactor effluents streams from each of the reactors (2,8) through the corresponding low pressure separators (3,9), whereby the temperature and pressure of the low pressure separators (3,9) is adjusted such that a liquid phase and a vapour phase are obtained, whereby yielding a polymer-enriched liquid phase and a polymer-
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Henry Sleijster, Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Jukka Rasanen, Samuli Zitting, Michiel Bergstra, Erik Eriksson, Christof Wurnitsch, Guhan Mathivanan, Sameer Vijay, Vasileios Kanellopoulos, Jani Aho, Jouni Takakarhu
  • Patent number: 10358507
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for separating hydrocarbons from a solution comprising a polymer. The process comprises the steps of: (A) withdrawing a solution stream comprising the polymer from a first vessel; (B) passing the solution stream into a flash vessel; (C) spraying the solution stream into droplets in the first flash vessel thereby establishing a stream of droplets within the flash vessel. The solution forms a downwards falling film within the flash vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Vasileios Kanellopoulos, Apostolos Krallis, Henry Sleijster, Samuli Zitting
  • Publication number: 20190126511
    Abstract: Process for hydraulic conveying of polyolefin pellets comprising the steps of: (i) extruding molten polyolefin into strands and cutting the strands into pellets in an underwater pelletiser (A); (ii) withdrawing a first pellet suspension stream (1.1) from the pelletiser; (iii) concentrating the first pellet suspension stream in a first pellet separator (B); (iv) passing the concentrated pellet stream (1.4) to a hydraulic conveying line through a first vessel (D) and mixing it with water thereby producing a second pellet suspension stream (1.5); (v) withdrawing the second pellet suspension stream from the first vessel and passing it to a second pellet separator (E); (vi) separating the pellets from water in the second pellet separator thereby creating a second water stream (1.6) and a dry pellet stream (1.10) and passing the second water stream back to the first vessel; wherein any one of the first or second pellet suspension stream or the dry pellet stream comprises an antiblock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Jukka Räsänen, Samuli Zitting, Henry Sleijster, Michiel Bergstra, Sameer Vijay
  • Publication number: 20180371201
    Abstract: The present invention deals with a process for polymerising olefins in a solution and withdrawing a stream of the solution from the polymerisation reactor and passing it to a sequence of heating steps. The heated solution is passed to a separation step, which is conducted at a pressure of no more than 15 bar and in which separation step a liquid phase comprising the polymer and a vapour phase coexist. A vapour stream and a concentrated solution stream comprising the polymer are withdrawn from the separation step. At least a part of the vapour stream is passed to the first polymerisation reactor, to the second polymerisation reactor or to both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Mohammad AL-HAJ ALI, Michiel BERGSTRA, Erik ERIKSSON, Guhan MATHIVANAN, Jukka RÄSÄNEN, Henry SLEIJSTER, Sameer VIJAY, Christof WURNITSCH, Samuli ZITTING, Vasileios KANELLOPOULOS, Jani AHO
  • Publication number: 20180355075
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a polymer composition comprising the steps of: (A) polymerising, in a first polymerisation reactor in a first solvent,—a first olefin monomer having two or more carbon atoms, —in the presence of a first polymerisation catalyst for producing a first solution comprising a first polymer of the first olefin monomer and the first solvent; (B) withdrawing a first stream of the first solution from the first polymerisation reactor; (C) passing the first stream of the first solution into a first separator wherein a first liquid phase comprising the polymer and a first vapour phase coexist; (D) withdrawing a first vapour stream and a first concentrated solution stream comprising the polymer from the first separator; (E) passing at least a part of the first vapour stream to a first fractionator; (F) withdrawing a first overhead stream and a first bottom stream from the first fractionator; (G) recovering at least a part of the first overhead stream as a first recyc
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Mohammad AL-HAJ ALI, Erik ERIKSSON, Guhan MATHIVANAN, Henry SLEIJSTER, Sameer VIJAY, Christof WURNITSCH, Samuli ZITTING
  • Publication number: 20180346612
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for separating hydrocarbons from a solution comprising a polymer. The process comprises the steps of: (A) withdrawing a solution stream comprising the polymer from a first vessel; (B) passing the solution stream into a flash vessel; (C) spraying the solution stream into droplets in the first flash vessel thereby establishing a stream of droplets within the flash vessel. The solution forms a downwards falling film within the flash vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Mohammad AL-HAJ ALI, Vasileios KANELLOPOULOS, Apostolos KRALLIS, Henry SLEIJSTER, Samuli ZITTING
  • Publication number: 20180327522
    Abstract: A process for withdrawing polyolefins from a solution polymerization reactor comprising: providing—a low pressure separator 1,—a washing column 2,—a withdrawal line 3 connecting the upper part of the low pressure separator and the washing column—a condenser 4,—a condenser-line 5 connecting the top part of the washing column and the condenser—optionally a recycle solvent vessel 6—optionally a solvent-vessel-line 7 connecting the condenser with the recycle solvent vessel—a reflux line 8 connecting the condenser and the upper part of the washing column or connecting the recycle solvent vessel and the upper part of the washing column—optionally a circulation line 9 fluidly connected to the middle part of the washing column and recycling line 10—a recycling line 10 connecting the bottom of the washing column and the upper part of the low pressure separator,—optionally a wash recycle heater 11 embedded into the recycling line 10—optionally a heater 12 embedded into the circulation line 9 (a) continuously withdrawin
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Erik Eriksson, Sameer Vijay, Guhan Mathivanan, Jukka Rasanen, Henry Sleijster, Christof Wurnitsch, Samuli Zitting
  • Publication number: 20180327529
    Abstract: An in-line blending process for polymers comprising: (a) providing two or more reactor-low pressure separator units (1,7) in parallel configuration, each reactor-low pressure separator unit comprising one reactor (2,8) fluidly connected to one low pressure separator (3,9) downstream and further a recycling line (5,11) connecting the low pressure separator (3,9) back to the corresponding reactor (2,8); (b) polymerizing olefm monomers having two or more carbon atoms in each of the reactors (2,8) in soltion polymerisation; (c) forming an unreduced reactor effluents stream including a homogenous fluid phase polymer-monomer-solvent mixture in each of the reactors (2,8), (d) passing the unreduced reactor effluents streams from each of the reactors (2,8) through the corresponding low pressure separators (3,9), whereby the temperature and pressure of the low pressure separators (3,9) is adjusted such that a liquid phase and a vapour phase are obtained, whereby yielding a polymer-enriched liquid phase and a polymer-le
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Henry Sleijster, Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Jukka Rasanen, Samuli Zitting, Michiel Bergstra, Erik Eriksson, Christof Wurnitsch, Guhan Mathivanan, Sameer Vijay, Vasileios Kanellopoulos, Jani Aho, Jouni Takakarhu
  • Patent number: 7740808
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process and an apparatus for continuous polymerisation of olefin monomers. In particular, the present invention concerns a process and an apparatus for continuous polymerisation olefin monomers like ethylene and other monomers, wherein an olefin monomer is polymerised in slurry phase in an inert hydrocarbon diluent in at least one loop reactor. According to the invention, a polymer slurry is continuously withdrawn from the loop reactor and concentrated. The concentrated slurry is conducted to a flash unit in order to remove the remaining fluid phase, and gas obtained is compressed in a flash gas compressor before it is being fed to a distillation section. By means of the present invention it is possible reduce the size of the flash gas compressor and the capacity of the distillation sections. This significantly reduces investment cost for a continuously operated polymerization apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Marianna Vuorikari, Esa Korhonen, Henrik Andtsjö, Samuli Zitting
  • Publication number: 20080039597
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process and an apparatus for continuous polymerisation of olefin monomers. In particular, the present invention concerns a process and an apparatus for continuous polymerisation olefin monomers like ethylene and other monomers, wherein an olefin monomer is polymerised in slurry phase in an inert hydrocarbon diluent in at least one loop reactor. According to the invention, a polymer slurry is continuously withdrawn from the loop reactor and concentrated. The concentrated slurry is conducted to a flash unit in order to remove the remaining fluid phase, and gas obtained is compressed in a flash gas compressor before it is being fed to a distillation section. By means of the present invention it is possible reduce the size of the flash gas compressor and the capacity of the distillation sections. This significantly reduces investment cost for a continuously operated polymerization apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Borealis Technology OY
    Inventors: Marianna Vuorikari, Esa Korhonen, Henrik Andtsjo, Samuli Zitting
  • Patent number: 7115687
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process and an apparatus for continuous polymerisation of olefin monomers in a cascade of polymerisation reactors. According to the process, an olefin monomer is polymerised first in slurry phase in an inert hydrocarbon diluent in at least one loop reactor and then, subsequently, in gas phase in at least one gas phase reactor. According to the invention, a polymer slurry is continuously withdrawn from the loop reactor and optionally concentrated. The concentrated slurry is conducted to a high pressure flash unit in order to remove the remaining fluid phase, and fed to the gas phase reactor. With the process described in this invention, it is possible to produce bimodal polyethylene with good properties. The operation of the process is stable because of the truly continuous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Marianna Vuorikari, Esa Korhonen, Henrik Andtsjö, Samuli Zitting