Patents by Inventor Sean Mueller

Sean Mueller 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: 20240116247
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system, and associated methods, comprise an image projection system comprising a plurality of image projectors that project a composite image onto a build area within a resin pool. The composite image comprises a plurality of sub-images arranged in an array. The properties of a sub-image and the alignment of the position of the sub image within the composite image can be adjusted using a set of filters comprising an irradiance mask that normalizes irradiance, and a gamma adjustment mask that adjusts sub-image energy based on a reactivity of the resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Intrepid Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Wynne, Jamie Lynn Etcheson, Christopher Sean Tanner, Robert Lee Mueller, Ivan Dejesus Chousal
  • Patent number: 9249081
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of dehydrating a crude alkylenating agent stream to form a dehydrated alkylenating agent stream and a water stream. The process further comprises reacting acetic acid with at least a portion of the dehydrated alkylenating agent stream to form a crude acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product and alkylenating agent stream. The dehydrating of the crude alkylenating stream is accomplished using at least one evaporator or at least one distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Ilias S. Kotsianis, Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan, Craig J. Peterson, Josefina T. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9193661
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of providing a crude product stream comprising the acrylate product and an alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form an alkylenating agent stream and an intermediate product stream. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J. Peterson, Josefina T. Chapman, Ilias S. Kotsianis, Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan
  • Patent number: 9120743
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product comprising the step of reacting a reaction gas mixture A comprising methanol and oxygen to form a product gas mixture A. The process may further comprise the step of combining at least a portion of the product gas mixture A and acetic acid to form a reaction gas mixture B. The process may further comprise the step of reacting at least a portion of the acetic acid in the reaction gas input mixture B with at least a portion of the formaldehyde in the reaction gas input mixture B to form a product gas mixture B. The process may further comprise the step of separating at least a portion of the product gas mixture B to form an alkylenating agent stream comprising at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and an intermediate acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J. Peterson, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan, Himanshu Lodha
  • Patent number: 9108184
    Abstract: The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, bismuth and titanium. Preferably, the catalyst comprises 0.3 wt % to 30 wt % vanadium, 0.1 wt % to 69 wt % bismuth and 0.1 wt % to 61 wt % tungsten, in an active phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan, Craig J. Peterson, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Patent number: 9073846
    Abstract: A process for producing a crude product stream including an acrylate product and an alkylenating agent and separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form alkylenating agent and intermediate product streams. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate products in high concentration. The crude product stream is formed by contacting acetic acid and formaldehyde in the presence of at least one aldol condensation catalyst under conditions effective to form the stream. Catalysts which are particularly useful are multielement oxide active materials of the general formula V1PbFecX1dX2eOn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Craig J. Peterson, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller, Himanshu Lodha
  • Patent number: 8962515
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises a metal phosphate matrix containing vanadium and bismuth. Preferably, the catalyst comprises, in an active phase, vanadium to bismuth at a molar ratio of at least 0.02:1. Preferably, the catalyst composition is substantially free of titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Craig J. Peterson, Heiko Weiner, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Publication number: 20150005529
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product comprising the step of reacting a reaction gas mixture A comprising methanol and oxygen to form a product gas mixture A. The process may further comprise the step of combining at least a portion of the product gas mixture A and acetic acid to form a reaction gas mixture B. The process may further comprise the step of reacting at least a portion of the acetic acid in the reaction gas input mixture B with at least a portion of the formaldehyde in the reaction gas input mixture B to form a product gas mixture B. The process may further comprise the step of separating at least a portion of the product gas mixture B to form an alkylenating agent stream comprising at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and an intermediate acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J. Peterson, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan
  • Publication number: 20140378702
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting, optionally in a reaction zone, a reaction mixture comprising an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product. The crude acrylate product comprises acrylate product and acetic acid. The process further comprises the step of reacting, in a separation zone, at least a portion of the acrylate product and at least a portion of the acetic acid to form an intermediate acrylate product. The intermediate acrylate product comprises a Michael addition by-product, e.g., 3-acetoxypropionic acid and/or 3-acetoxypropanoic acid. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the intermediate acrylate product to form a by-product stream and a purified acrylate product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Craig J. Peterson, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Publication number: 20140364644
    Abstract: A process for producing a crude product stream including an acrylate product and an alkylenating agent and separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form alkylenating agent and intermediate product streams. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate products in high concentration. The crude product stream is formed by contacting acetic acid and formaldehyde in the presence of at least one aldol condensation catalyst under conditions effective to form the stream. Catalysts which are particularly useful are multielement oxide active materials of the general formula V1PbFecX1dX2eOn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Craig J. Peterson, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Publication number: 20140171684
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting in a reactor a reaction mixture comprising an alkanoic acid and a liquid alkylenating agent source comprising methanol in an amount less than 0.5 wt. % over a catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product comprising acrylate product and alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude acrylate product to form at least one alkylenating agent stream and at least one purified acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Craig J. Peterson, Josefina T. Chapman
  • Patent number: 8729299
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting a reaction mixture comprising an alkanoic acid, an alkylenating agent, and oxygen over a catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product. Preferably, the reaction mixture comprises from 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % oxygen. The crude acrylate product comprises acrylate product and alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product to form at least one alkylenating agent stream and at least one purified acrylate product stream. The purified acrylate product stream comprises acrylate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Sean Mueller, Josefina Chapman, Craig Peterson, Dick Nagaki
  • Publication number: 20140128636
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of providing a crude product stream comprising the acrylate product and an alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form an alkylenating agent stream and an intermediate product stream. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J. Peterson, Josefina T. Chapman, Ilias S. Kotsianis, Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan
  • Publication number: 20140121409
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product comprising the step of providing a reaction system comprising at least one reaction zone and at least one regeneration zone. Each reaction zone and regeneration zone has a size and comprises a catalyst. A ratio of the combined size of the at least one reaction zone to the combined size of the at least one regeneration zone ranges between 1:1 to 6:1. The process further comprises the step of reacting, in the at least one reaction zone, a reaction mixture comprising an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent to form a crude acrylate product. The process further comprises the step of regenerating, in the at least one regeneration zone, the respective catalyst. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude acrylate products to form a purified acrylate product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tianshu Pan, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Publication number: 20140121410
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst to produce a crude acrylate product stream, and to product a used catalyst. The used catalyst may then be contacted with a regenerating stream to form a regenerated catalyst. Alkanoic acid and alkylenating agent may then be reacted over the regenerated catalyst to product additional crude acrylate product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan, Craig J. Peterson, R. Jay Warner, Josefina T. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20140121403
    Abstract: A process for producing an acrylate product from methanol and acetic acid, in which, in a reaction zone A, the methanol is partially oxidized to formaldehyde in a catalyzed gas phase reaction, the product gas mixture A obtained and an acetic acid source are combined to form a reaction gas input mixture B which comprises acetic acid in excess over formaldehyde, and the formaldehyde in reaction gas input mixture B is aldol-condensed to acrylic acid in the presence of a catalyst in a reaction zone B to form an acrylic acid-containing product gas mixture B from which an acrylate product stream may be separated. Suitable aldol condensation catalysts include vanadium-bismuth, vanadium-titanium-bismuth, vanadium-bismuth-tungsten, vanadium-titanium-tungsten, vanadium-titanium and vanadium-tungsten.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Craig J. Peterson, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Publication number: 20140073812
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing acrylic acid, comprising the step of providing from a distillation column in a carbonylation process a purified acetic acid stream comprising at least 0.15 wt % water. The process further comprises the step of condensation acetic acid of the purified acetic acid stream and an alkylenating agent in the presence of a catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product comprising acrylic acid and water. Acrylic acid is recovered from the crude acrylate product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Tianshu Pan, Mark O. Scates, Ronald D. Shaver, G. Paull Torrence, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Publication number: 20140073813
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylic acid, comprising the step of reacting, in a carbonylation system, carbon monoxide with at least one reactant in a reaction medium under conditions effective to produce a crude alkanoic acid stream comprising alkanoic acid. Preferably, the reaction is an exothermic carbonylation reaction. The process further comprises the step of removing from the carbonylation system at least a portion of heat generated by the carbonylation reaction and transferring a portion of the heat to a heat transfer system that utilizes at least one steam condensate stream. The process further comprises the step of conveying at least a portion of the heat transferred to the heat transfer system of the condensation reaction zone and/or the condensation separation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Tianshu Pan, Ronald D. Shaver, G. Paull Torrence, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Patent number: 8669201
    Abstract: The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, titanium and tungsten. Preferably, the catalyst comprises vanadium to tungsten at a molar ratio of at least 0.02:1, in an active phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan, Craig J. Peterson, Heiko Weiner, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Publication number: 20140066651
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting in a reactor a reaction mixture comprising alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude acrylate product to recover a finished acrylate product. The reaction is conducted at a reaction pressure less than 120 kPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Craig J. Peterson, Josefina T. Chapman