Including Reactant Agitating Means In Reaction Chamber Patents (Class 422/135)
  • Patent number: 11865500
    Abstract: Disclosed are an instant dissolving device by mass transfer and stretching with a cleaning structure and a dissolving method thereof. The dissolving device consists of a liquid inlet, a stretching repetition unit and a mass transfer unit, the stretching unit is sequentially composed of an upper fixed fluted disc, a movable fluted disc and a lower fixed fluted disc all with a plurality of through holes, and the upper fixed fluted disc and the lower fixed fluted disc are fixed to the dissolving device housing; the polymer gel solution is formed into a “uniform” solution after passing through the mass transfer unit. The dissolving device in the present invention is easy to install, and achieves instant dissolution of the polymers and improves the dissolution efficiency through the joint action of forced stretching and mass transfer by high gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: Southwest Petroleum University;, Chengdu Technological University
    Inventors: Zheng Shu, Zhongbin Ye, Leiting Shi, Xiao Shu, Yalan Yang, Yong Qi, Hongqiao Liu
  • Patent number: 11834530
    Abstract: There is a procedure for polymerisation in solution for the production of polymers. The procedure has the following steps: (A) continuously feeding one or more monomers, one or more solvents in a quantity comprised between 70% and 90% by weight with respect to the reagent mixture, and a catalytic system, to a first stirred reaction volume, wherein a single mixing cell is formed, in which the polymerisation begins, until a conversion is attained that varies from 20% to 70% with respect to the final conversion achieved and (B) proceeding the polymerisation in at least one second stirred reaction volume connected in series to the first reaction volume, in which two or more mixing cells are formed, at the outlet of which the final conversion of the monomer is attained. In the first reaction volume, the average residence time of the reagent mixture varies within an interval ranging from 10% to 25% with respect to the average residence time of the entire reaction volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventors: Gianni Marchetti, Giovanni Regattieri
  • Patent number: 11731101
    Abstract: The invention refers to a modular continuous flow device for automated chemical multistep synthesis under continuous flow conditions. The device comprises a plurality of different types of continuous flow modules and a valve assembly for connecting the continuous flow modules to each other in a parallel or radial manner. This arrangement allows conducting chemical reaction sequences by pre-synthesizing and intermediately storing or simultaneously synthesizing at least one intermediate product which is needed in the main synthetic reaction sequence in order to obtain the final product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V.
    Inventors: Kerry Gilmore, Peter H. Seeberger, Bartholomaus Pieber, Sourav Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 11680496
    Abstract: A method for extracting and storing, respectively, energy in the form of concentration gradients wherein a process of extracting energy comprising the steps of feeding stored gaseous working medium into a working volume (2), compressing the working medium in the working volume (2), spraying a dilute solution into the working volume (2) before or during compression, increasing the temperature of the working medium fed in the working volume (2) by compression, evaporating the dilute solution with the working medium of increased temperature, removing heat from the working medium by the evaporating solution, keeping the heat extracted from the working medium in the form of latent heat of the vapor in the working volume (2), further increasing the temperature of the working medium until the partial pressure of the vapor in it approaches the vapor pressure of a solution of higher concentration at a corresponding temperature, spraying a solution of higher concentration of a vapor pressure of up to 60% of the vapor p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: WiGNER FIZIKAI KUTATÓKÖZPONT
    Inventor: Zoltán Németh
  • Patent number: 11597783
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a multimodal polyolefin polymer in a first polymerization reactor and a second polymerization reactor connected in series, wherein a first polyolefin polymer is prepared in the first polymerization reactor in suspension in the presence of hydrogen and a second polyolefin polymer is prepared in the second polymerization reactor in the presence of a lower concentration of hydrogen than in the first polymerization reactor, the process comprising: a) withdrawing a suspension of solid polyolefin particles in a suspension medium from the first polymerization reactor, wherein the suspension medium comprises hydrogen and a hydrocarbon mixture having an initial boiling point of at least 50° C. and a final boiling point of at most 120° C.; b) feeding the suspension to a flash drum having a pressure controlled by a vacuum pump, wherein the pressure of the flash drum is less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Job Daniel Guzman-Carrazco, Peter Groefsema, Maryam Tammadoni, Victor Mattheij
  • Patent number: 11583825
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for preparing oligomer including: a reactor; a gas-liquid separator; a solvent transfer line; a second transfer line; a first spray nozzle unit; and a second spray nozzle unit. The apparatus is capable of improving stability of the entire process by including a first spray nozzle unit and a second spray nozzle unit in a reactor and thus preventing by-products containing polymer substances such as C20+ from being entrained with a desired product during a reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Moon Sub Hwang, Jeong Seok Lee, Jong Hun Song, You Na Kim, Hong Min Lee
  • Patent number: 11572539
    Abstract: Reactors, systems and processes for the production of biomass by culturing microorganisms in aqueous liquid culture medium circulating inner loop reactor which utilize nonvertical pressure reduction zones are described. Recovery and processing of the culture microorganisms to obtain products, such as proteins or hydrocarbons is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Calysta, Inc.
    Inventors: Luan Thanh Nguyen, Joshua A. Silverman, Graham Ian Aylen
  • Patent number: 11498247
    Abstract: An expanded particle producing apparatus includes a vessel and a blade stirrer that is located inside the vessel. The blade stirrer comprises a stirrer base and an impeller blade that is attached to the stirrer base. A distance from the bottom of the vessel to the center of the stirrer base (L1) and a depth of the vessel (L2) have a ratio (L1/L2) of 0.01 to 0.2. L1 is measured in a depth direction parallel to L2, and a central axis of the blade stirrer coincides with a central axis of the vessel. The apparatus is configured to produce expanded particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Iwata
  • Patent number: 11492422
    Abstract: A process for producing an olefin polymer employs a gas phase polymerization reactor having a product discharge system comprising first and second pairs of lock hoppers, wherein each pair comprises an upstream lock hopper connected by valve means to the reactor and a downstream lock hopper connected by valve means to the upstream lock hopper and by further valve means to a product recovery system, and wherein a first cross-tie is provided between the upstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers and a second cross-tie is provided between the downstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers. Operation of the second cross-tie during product removal cycles is controlled in accordance with reactor pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Handel D. Bennett, David T. Lakin, Aaron C. McGinnis, Benjamin J. Ohran, David J. Sandell
  • Patent number: 11484850
    Abstract: An aerator and an associated method and system are provided. The aerator includes an elongate body having a central bore that extends between proximal and distal ends of the body, and a plurality of channels formed in an outer surface of the body, the plurality of channels extending between the proximal and distal ends, and including at least two bends along their lengths. The bends in the channels help to provide a smoother flow of liquids passing through the aerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tasz, Inc.
    Inventor: Chakra V. Gupta
  • Patent number: 11427677
    Abstract: There is described a process for preparing a biodegradable polyester from an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and a diol where in a first reaction step the aromatic acid is esterified with the diol, and in a second reaction step the aliphatic acid is added to the reaction mixture. Furthermore, there is described an apparatus for carrying out this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TECHNIP ZIMMER GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Reisen, Rainer Linke, Eckhard Seidel, Reza Sarbandi
  • Patent number: 11117980
    Abstract: In a gas phase fluidized bed polymerization process for the production of polyolefin polymers, such as polyethylene polymers or polypropylene polymers, loss of ethylene or propylene accompanying inert gas purging is reduced by passing an ethylene- or propylene-containing purge stream through a vent column to contact a hydrocarbon liquid flowing through the vent column contercurrent to the purge stream whereby unreacted ethylene or propylene in the purge stream portion is dissolved in the hydrocarbon liquid to produce an ethylene- or propylene-enriched liquid stream and an ethylene- or propylene-depleted gaseous stream. The ethylene- or propylene-enriched liquid stream is then recycled to the fluidized bed reactor, while at least part of the ethylene- or propylene-depleted gaseous stream is purged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan W. Impelman, Richard J. Stolz, Marc L. DeChellis, David J. Sandell, Gerardo Corona
  • Patent number: 11084010
    Abstract: A system that provides for simultaneous thermal regulation of both components of a two-component system, while maintaining their separation prior to introduction into a conventional static mixer element, in order to assure that the mixed fluid, when dispensed, is at the optimal temperature and viscosity. The thermal capacity can be adjusted by altering the configuration to increase or decrease the thermal transfer area as required for each specific application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SAINT CLAIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Portelli, Michael R. Bonner
  • Patent number: 10642354
    Abstract: An environmental chamber having an interior compartment, an augmented display, and a controller is disclosed. The interior compartment is adapted for isolating an experimental setup from an environment external to the interior compartment. The augmented display is positioned to allow a user in the external environment to view the interior compartment and an image generated on the augmented display. The controller generates the image. The image includes information about a component within the interior compartment. The augment display can include a touch-enabled display screen that allows the user to interact with controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Kincaid
  • Patent number: 10640741
    Abstract: A reactor system includes a support housing having an interior surface bounding a chamber, the chamber having a vertically extending central longitudinal axis. A flexible bag is disposed within the chamber of the support housing and has an interior surface bounding a compartment. A mixing element is disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag. A drive element, such as a drive shaft, is secured the mixing element, wherein the mixing element is laterally offset from and/or is angled relative to the vertically extending central longitudinal axis of the support housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignees: Life Technologies Corporation, Baxalta Incorporated, Baxalta GMBH
    Inventors: Kurt T. Kunas, Robert V. Oakley, Fauad F. Hasan, Michael E. Goodwin, Jeremy K. Larsen, Nephi D. Jones
  • Patent number: 10450391
    Abstract: The present invention deals with an olefin polymerisation process. At least one olefin is polymerised in gas phase in a fluidised bed in the presence of an olefin polymerisation catalyst in a polymerisation reactor having a vertical body; a generally conical downwards tapering bottom zone; a generally cylindrical middle zone above and connected to said bottom zone; and a generally conical upwards tapering top zone above and connected to said middle zone. Fluidisation gas is introduced to the bottom zone of the reactor from where it passes upwards through the reactor, and withdrawn from the top zone of the reactor. The gas is then compressed, cooled and returned into the bottom zone of the reactor. A fluidised bed is thus formed within the reactor where the growing polymer particles are suspended in the upwards rising gas stream wherein the superficial velocity of the fluidisation gas is less than the transport velocity of the particles. There is no fluidisation grid in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Borealis AG
    Inventors: Vasileios Kanellopoulos, Klaus Nyfors, Pablo Ivan Aguayo Arellano, Gunter Weickert, Eric-Jan Prinsen
  • Patent number: 10201798
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerization reactor. The polymerization reactor according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a housing including a supply part for supplying a reactant; a tube which is provided inside the housing and extends along the height direction of the housing; a first impeller including a blade which spirally surrounds the tube along the height direction of the housing; a second impeller which is provided inside the housing in order to enable the reactant to flow into the tube; and a partition wall which is provided to surround the second impeller along the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Jin Shin, Young Soo Song, Ye Hoon Im
  • Patent number: 9702800
    Abstract: A method of determining rheological properties can include dispensing a fluid into a rheometer including a stator having at least one helical blade, measuring torque (T) due to relative rotation between the stator and a rotor of the rheometer at different rotational speeds (RPM's), calculating shear stress (SS) as follows: SS=T?/K, and calculating volume averaged shear rate (VASR) as follows: VASR=k1*RPM?, where K, k1, ? and ? are experimentally-derived coefficients. A method of mixing fluids and performing a rheological test on the admixed fluids can include dispensing a fluid into a rheometer, then dispensing another fluid into the rheometer, then mixing the fluids with at least one helical blade of the rheometer, and then measuring torque due to relative rotation between a stator and a rotor of the rheometer. A rotary rheometer can include a rotor, and a stator having at least one helical blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronnie G. Morgan, Sairam K. S. Pindiprolu, Balasundaram Balaraman, Ganesh S. Pangu
  • Patent number: 9670292
    Abstract: In an apparatus for producing the water-absorbent resin, gas heated by the polymerization heat accompanied by a polymerization reaction in a reactor main body flows through a first pipe into a heat exchanging structure, and a cooled fluid obtained by the cooling flows through a second pipe into the reactor main body. In the apparatus, a first pipe temperature adjusting portion adjusts a temperature of the first pipe to fall within a predetermined temperature range, and a polymerization reactor temperature adjusting portion adjusts a temperature of an upper portion of the reactor main body to fall within a predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO SEIKA CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Kotake, Kenji Nakamura, Masahiro Kuzukawa
  • Patent number: 9616404
    Abstract: A device capable of synthesizing a plurality of selected peptides by automatically mixing various amino acids, solvents, and activators and adding these to resins contained in a plurality of individual reaction vessels. A plurality of amino acids are contained in vessels within a carousel which is rotated into position where a syringe is inserted into a selected vessel to transport the amino acid within to a pre-reaction vessel for mixing with other selected amino acids which were previously drawn from the carousel. The mixture of amino acids is then transported to a reaction vessel containing the resin balls for growth of the selected peptide. The device includes a computer, controllable valves, at least one pump, pressurized gas such as nitrogen for transporting fluids, various vessels containing amino acids, solvents, activators, resins, and tubing connecting these elements. The computer is programmable to sample, mix selected components, and apply the mixture to resins for growing peptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Peptide Machines, Inc
    Inventor: Mohammad Boroomand
  • Patent number: 9439861
    Abstract: Provided herein, for example, are microspheres comprising a gelatin or gelatin substitute and a copolymer of a N-tris-hydroxymethyl methylacrylamide monomer unit, a diethylaminoethylacrylamide monomer unit and a N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide monomer unit. Also provided are methods of producing microspheres comprising a gelatin or gelatin substitute and a copolymer of a N-tris-hydroxymethyl methylacrylamide monomer unit, a diethylaminoethylacrylamide monomer unit and a N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide monomer unit. Further provided herein, for example, are compositions comprising the microspheres and methods of using the microspheres and compositions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Biosphere Medical, SA
    Inventors: Philippe Reb, Marion Pierre, Barbara De Gioannis, James Krom
  • Patent number: 9417172
    Abstract: A laboratory reactor (1) with a reaction vessel (2) for receiving media or substances to be processed has devices or units for processing or mixing media or components and for measuring, the devices or units being able to engage in the reaction vessel or reactor vessel (2) from above or below. On the lower side of the base (5), the laboratory reactor (1) has placement feet (6) which are mounted movably or flexibly and are connected to a weight measuring device or to sensors belonging to a weight-measuring device such that the weight of the product to be processed or a change in weight can be determined without complicated additional weighing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: IKA—Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Zeller, Erhard Eble
  • Patent number: 9266974
    Abstract: An olefin polymerization process and apparatus wherein a fluid slurry comprising monomer, diluent and catalyst is circulated in a continuous loop reactor by two or more pumps. The process and apparatus allow operating the reaction at significantly higher solids content in the circulating fluid slurry. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid slurry is circulated by two impellers arranged so that the downstream impeller benefits from the rotational energy imparted by the upstream impeller. An olefin polymerization process operating at higher reactor solids by virtue of more aggressive circulation has improved efficiencies, particularly in larger-volume reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Dale A. Zellers, Robert K. Franklin, III, Donald Paul Russell
  • Patent number: 9120739
    Abstract: A method of esterifying free fatty acid in natural oil comprises heating the natural oil (2) to a first temperature above a reaction temperature, feeding the heated natural oil into an acid-resistant pipe reactor (5), providing a mixture of acid catalyst (6) and short chain alcohol (8) at a second temperature below the reaction temperature, and feeding the mixture of acid catalyst and short chain alcohol into the natural oil in the pipe reactor (5). The short chain alcohol and free fatty acid react at the reaction temperature to form an ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Renewable Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Richard David Jackson, Owen Matthew Davies
  • Patent number: 9039979
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and process for forming medical devices from an injectable composition. The apparatus includes a supply assembly configured to maintain and selective dispense a first precursor and a second precursor, a mixing assembly configured to mix the first and second precursors, and at least one catalyzing element including a transition metal ion to aid in the polymerization of the first and second precursors. The process includes dispensing a volume of the first precursor and a volume of the second precursor into a mixing assembly and mixing the first and second precursors. The first and second precursors each possess a core and at least one functional group known to have click reactivity with each other. The mixed precursors are contacted with a transition metal catalyst to produce a flowable composition for use as a medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Sofradim Production
    Inventors: Sébastien Ladet, Philippe Gravagna
  • Publication number: 20150141611
    Abstract: A polymer production apparatus, including: supplying unit containing first supplying unit to supply raw materials containing monomer, and second supplying unit to supply compressive fluid; contacting unit to bring the monomer and the compressive fluid into contact together; and outlet configured to discharge reaction product of the monomer, wherein reaction unit is provided between the contacting unit and the outlet, where the reaction unit is to pass the monomer from the contacting unit side to the outlet side, while allowing the monomer to carry out a polymerization reaction in the presence of the compressive fluid, and wherein the reaction unit contains circulation unit containing first pipe and second pipe, where a fluid is passed through the first pipe from the contacting unit side to the outlet side, and the second pipe is to return the fluid from return port provided upstream extrusion unit to inlet provided upstream the return port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Yuuichi SATOH, Satoshi IZUMI, Taichi NEMOTO, Yoko ARAI, Yasuo KAMADA, Chiaki TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8991294
    Abstract: An armor plate comprising alternating protection layers of light-weight high-strength fiber and reinforcing layers of high tensile strength oblong bodies, and a method for production of armor plates, the method comprising: arranging alternating protection layers of light-weight high-strength fabric and reinforcing layers of high tensile strength oblong bodies; and fastening the layers of the construction together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Plystone Ltd.
    Inventors: Victor Shkatov, Zigmund Bluvband
  • Patent number: 8960991
    Abstract: A device is provided with which it is possible to produce poly(methyl methacrylate) bone-cement paste, which is degassed to the greatest extent possible, while avoiding large-volume mixing containers and large cement volumes contained therein. The device includes a tubular hollow body (10) having a first opening (30) on the input side and a second opening (20) on the output side, at least one rotatably-mounted shaft (40) arranged in the axial direction in the tubular hollow body (10), thread turns (50) arranged axially along the outer side of the shaft (40), wherein the shaft (40) has at least one section with thread turns (50) whose pitch decreases in the direction of the second opening (20), at least one stirring blade (60) arranged on the shaft (40), and rigid mixing elements (70) arranged on the inner side of the tubular hollow body (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Heraeus Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Vogt, Hubert Büchner
  • Patent number: 8916098
    Abstract: A continuous emulsion aggregation process for the production of particles is presented including a plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR). The plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors includes at least one feed tank of raw materials, at least one reactor for facilitating cold addition, at least two reactors for facilitating an aggregation process, at least one reactor for facilitating a shell addition process; at least one reactor for facilitating a freeze process, at least one reactor for facilitating a chelating process, at least one reactor for facilitating a ramp-up process and at least one reactor for facilitating a coalescence process, wherein the reactors are sequentially assembled in a series configuration and separated by short conduits to produce toner particles that are narrowly distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Santiago Faucher, Kimberly Nosella, David Thomas Borbely, Gaetano Lavigne, Simon Burke
  • Patent number: 8911692
    Abstract: An agitator (1) is for a liquid analysis system (3, 50). It has a chamber (5) for reception of a sample liquid. A passageway (6) from the bottom of the chamber (5) ends in an agitator chamber (7). A side wall of the agitator chamber (7) is formed by a diaphragm (8). The diaphragm (8) is connected to an electric motor (9) with an eccentric drive for reciprocating movement of the diaphragm (8). A gas inlet (10) in the opposite side of the body (2) is connected by a passageway (11) to the agitator chamber (7). The agitation chamber has a domed internal face opposed to the diaphragm, by which about 10% of the agitation chamber (7) volume is displaced by the inward movement of the diaphragm (8). Also, advantageously, there is a uniform application of displacement force within the agitation chamber (7) by virtue of the domed internal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Analytical Developments Limited
    Inventors: Martin Horan, Seamus O'Mahony
  • Patent number: 8883955
    Abstract: PROBLEM There is provided a method for producing polylactic acid, which is capable of obtaining polylactic acid at low cost, and having high molecular weight. SOLUTION A method for producing polylactic acid by polymerizing molten lactide using at least one reactor having plug flow characteristics with ?(?), calculated from the following FORMULA (1), of 0.3 or smaller: ?(?)=?0?(E(?)×ABS(1??))d???(1) in the Formula (1), E(?) is a residence time distribution function determined by impulse response by starch syrup having a viscosity of 3 Pa·s, and ? is ratio of elapsed time ? and mean residence time ?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: Toyo Engineering Corporation, Masashino Chemical Laboratory, Ltd
    Inventors: Kenichiro Matsuba, Tsuyoshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20140328722
    Abstract: Monomer solution and liquid solution immiscible with the monomers in the monomer solution are cocurrently jetted upwardly in a pulsating manner in a reaction vessel. Monomer droplets are allowed to rise up in a controlled and smooth manner under the dynamic forces exerted by differential flow rate and differential pressure between the monomer and liquid solutions and the differential densities between the monomer and liquid solutions without causing coalescence, agglomeration and breakup of the monomer droplets and to stabilize by partial polymerization of the droplets at 50-60° C. The monomer droplets flow out horizontally into a polymerization reactor and get polymerized in the polymerization reactor under agitation at 80-85° C. The polymer beads are dried at 80-100° C. and sieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: THERMAX LIMITED
    Inventors: Apte Ashutosh, Naik Shirish
  • Publication number: 20140319417
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for restabilizing free-radically polymerizable monomers. The process comprises the steps: (a) introduction of a solution of an inhibitor of the free-radical polymerization by means of an inert pressurized gas into a vessel (1) comprising the monomers via a line (10) which comprises an ascending region, and (b) mixing of the contents of the vessel and the inhibitor solution by blowing gas through the line (10). In step (a), the flow velocity of the pressurized gas is set so that plug flow or annular flow is obtained as flow regime of the inhibitor solution and in step (b) the superficial gas velocity is set to ?0.1 mm/s. The present invention further relates to a supply unit (11) for carrying out the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Friedrich-Georg MARTIN, OLIVER ODENWALD
  • Publication number: 20140309384
    Abstract: Process for transferring polyolefin particles from a first gas-phase polymerization reactor to a second gas-phase polymerization reactor in a multistage polymerization of olefins carried out in at least two serially connected gas-phase polymerization reactors, wherein the first gas-phase reactor is a fluidized-bed reactor comprising a gas distribution grid and a settling pipe, which is integrated with its upper opening into the distribution grid and contains a bed of polyolefin particles which moves from top to bottom of the settling pipe, the process comprising the steps of introducing a fluid into the settling pipe in an amount that an upward stream of the fluid is induced in the bed of polyolefin particles above the fluid introduction point; withdrawing polyolefin particles from the lower end of the settling pipe; and transferring the withdrawn polyolefin particles into the second gas-phase polymerization reactor, process for polymerizing olefins comprising such a process for transferring polyolefin partic
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Massimo Covezzi, Giuseppe Penzo, Gabriele Mei, Giulia Mei, Pietro Baita, Gerhardus Meier, Antonio De Lucia, Ulf Schueller, Gianpiero Ferraro
  • Patent number: 8846816
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the preparation of a crosslinkable rubber mixture for vehicle tires, lines, drive belts and other industrial rubber articles, which can be carried out at least semicontinuously. The present invention is based on the discovery that the experiments known from the prior art to carry out the batchwise process usually used at least partly continuously have failed in particular because of the problem that the crosslinking agents have to be mixed rapidly and homogeneously with the base mixture, also referred to as rubber base mixture, without the mixture consisting of the base mixture and the crosslinking agents heating up too strongly. According to the invention, attention was therefore focussed on reliably mixing the base mixture homogeneously with the crosslinking agents and minimizing the mixing time. A first measure for achieving the desired aim consists in first mixing the crosslinking agents with one another before they are mixed with the base mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH
    Inventors: Anno Borkowsky, Andreas Schröder, Hans-Martin Issel, Florian Fischer, Reinhard Uphus
  • Patent number: 8828323
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein a polymer gel is removed from a polymerization reactor, stored intermediately as a particulate polymer gel in a delay vessel, removed by means of a first conveying device at the lower end of the delay vessel and dried, the intermediately stored particulate polymer gel being conveyed within the delay vessel by means of at least one second conveying device above the first conveying device in the direction of the first conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Ann Becker, Leo Van Miert
  • Patent number: 8815182
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a contact lens during in vitro testing includes a first support member, a second support member, an alignment rod, and a cage member. The first support member includes a first end cap and a body portion. The body portion includes grooves formed in a lateral surface extending from the first end cap. The alignment rod is configured for interconnecting the body portion and a second end cap of the second support member. The cage member is positionable about the body portion between the first and second end caps, and includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings between the inner surface and the outer surface. The inner surface and the lateral surface cooperatively define an annular space therebetween and a plurality of fluid flow paths between the inner space and the openings. The annular space is configured for receiving the contact lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Deon Smit, Jeffrey Kuhn, Jeremy Fetvedt
  • Patent number: 8759459
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the maintenance of active chromium-based catalysts and their use in polymerization processes are described. In one embodiment, a system for the introduction of multiple polymerization components to activate a chromium based catalyst within a mix tank is described. Other described features may include materials and methods to purify the liquid medium of a catalyst slurry so that the catalyst slurry maintains a high level of activity. The active chromium-based catalyst may provide polyolefins with a number of desirable properties in a reliable, consistent, and predictable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Benham, Max P. McDaniel, Kathy S. Collins
  • Publication number: 20140148561
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reactor (10) and a process for continuous polymerization, where the reactor (10) has an essentially tubular reactor housing (16). The reactor housing (16) has a drive (38) which runs along the geometric central axis (12) in the flow direction (22) and is configured as a central shaft. A rotatably arranged scraper or wiper (36) is provided within the reactor housing (16); the scraper or wiper (36) has at least one scraper or wiper blade (42) to run along an interior side (44) of the reactor housing (16). The rotational movement of the scraper or wiper (36) results in radial mixing of a stream within the reactor housing (16) which dominates gravity effects and, by virtue of shaping of the scrapers or wipers, optionally makes plug flow or a loop flow or backflow within the reactor (10) or else via an additional external pumped circulation system (23) possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: LANXESS INTERNATIONAL S.A.
    Inventors: Hanns-Ingolf Paul, Rolf Feller, Paul Wagner, John Lovegrove, Joachim Ritter, Ricarda Leiberich, Jörg Kirchhoff, Udo Wiesner
  • Patent number: 8735517
    Abstract: Provided is a stirred tank polymerization reactor system having a reactor tank, a stirring assembly including a rotatable shaft that extends through a wall of the tank, and a triple barrier mechanical seal. The mechanical seal includes an outer cylinder mounted in the wall of the tank, an inner cylinder that is rotatable relative to the outer cylinder and connected to the shaft, and first, second, and third fluid barrier seals mounted between the outer and inner cylinders at different positions along the axis of rotation of the inner cylinder. First and second sources of pressurized barrier fluid are connected between the first and second pressure fluid barrier seals and the second and third barrier seals, respectively. The three barrier seals advantageously “step down” the differential pressure experienced by the uppermost barrier seals, substantially reducing mechanical stresses experienced by the annular sealing rings and seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher K. Morgan, Shiraz A. H. Pradhan, Michael W. Ackman
  • Patent number: 8697761
    Abstract: There are disclosed a regenerated rubber, a method and apparatus for obtaining regenerated rubbers from vulcanized crumb rubber, such as rubber from scrap. The apparatus is a thermokinetic mixer having the particularity to have an air tight stationary chamber with inner non-uniform surface. The method comprises the steps of raising the speed of the rotor shaft in order to increase a temperature of a mixture made of vulcanized crumb rubber and a lubricant, such as oil, until a devulcanizing temperature is reached; and reducing the temperature of the mixture to a lower temperature during a second period of time. The method of the invention is environmentally friendly or “green”, since the regeneration method does not use chemicals, includes a shorter period of treatment at higher temperature avoiding the risks of rubber cracking and spontaneous combustion, and further allowing mass-production of regenerated rubber with lower energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Phoenix Innovation Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvain Martel, Stephen Murphy, Patrick Legault
  • Publication number: 20140086801
    Abstract: A low temperature polymerization reactor for the production of butyl rubber by catalytic polymerization of isobutylene with small amount of a conjugated diolefin such as isoprene includes: an extended upper head with fluid deflector fixed to the top tube-sheet, the shapes of the head and deflector being optimized in order to reach a very homogeneous slurry velocity in the rows of tubes and to minimize the pressure drop due to the inversion of flow from up-flow to down-flow and to the entrance of the slurry in the tubes; an hemispheric bottom head with fluid deflectors placed between the impeller and the bottom itself and designed to minimize the pressure drop due to the inversion of flow from down-flow to up-flow; and straightening baffles inside the draft tube, which shape and dimensions are optimized to turn the radial velocity components produced by the rotation of the impeller into axial velocity components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: CONSER SPA
    Inventors: Flavio Simola, Aldo Appetiti, Andrea Angeletti
  • Publication number: 20140080981
    Abstract: Monomer solution and liquid solution immiscible with the monomers in the monomer solution are cocurrently jetted upwardly in a pulsating manner in a reaction vessel. Monomer droplets are allowed to rise up in a controlled and smooth manner under the dynamic forces exerted by differential flow rate and differential pressure between the monomer and liquid solutions and the differential densities between the monomer and liquid solutions without causing coalescence, agglomeration and breakup of the monomer droplets and to stabilize by partial polymerization of the droplets at 50-60° C. The monomer droplets flow out horizontally into a polymerization reactor and get polymerized in the polymerization reactor under agitation at 80-85° C. The polymer beads are dried at 80-100° C. and sieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Thermax Limited
    Inventors: Apte Ashutosh, Naik Shirish
  • Patent number: 8663565
    Abstract: A continuous emulsion aggregation process for the production of particles is presented including a plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR). The plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors includes at least one feed tank of raw materials, at least one reactor for facilitating cold addition, at least two reactors for facilitating an aggregation process, at least one reactor for facilitating a shell addition process; at least one reactor for facilitating a freeze process, at least one reactor for facilitating a chelating process, at least one reactor for facilitating a ramp-up process and at least one reactor for facilitating a coalescence process, wherein the reactors are sequentially assembled in a series configuration and separated by short conduits to produce toner particles that are narrowly distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Santiago Faucher, Kimberly D. Nosella, David Thomas Borbely, Gaetano Lavigne, Simon C. Burke
  • Patent number: 8653207
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for preparing an ethylene polymer by free radical polymerization under ultra-high pressure. The polymerization is carried out in an autoclave reactor in the presence of a free radical initiator. The autoclave reactor is characterized by having one or more elongated baffles affixed to the interior reactor wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Westlake Longview Corporation
    Inventors: Bailey James Salmon, Alan G. Wonders, Wayne S. Strasser
  • Publication number: 20130331614
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a polyether polyol, said process comprising polymerising one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of a multimetal cyanide complex catalyst and an initiator compound, wherein the process is carried out in a reactor vessel equipped with means for agitating its contents and the one or more alkylene oxides are supplied to an agitated mixture comprising the multimetal cyanide complex catalyst and the initiator via a feed inlet device, said feed inlet device comprising a sparger. The present invention also provides a reactor system for the preparation of polyols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Michiel Barend Eleveld, Wouter Koen Harteveld, Cornelis Hyacinthus Maria Van Der Hulst
  • Publication number: 20130267675
    Abstract: A process is described for producing a high molar mass polylactic acid, which comprises the following steps: a) polycondensation in a reactor (R1) of a lactic acid solution, by heating in the form of temperature gradients and under controlled pressure, resulting in a polylactic acid oligomer within the range of 300 to 5000 g/mol; b) conversion, in reactor (200), of the polylactic acid of low molar mass obtained in step a) to a lactide, in the presence of a depolymerization catalyst; c) separation of the volatile fractions; d) recrystallization of the lactide in the vessel (R3), in order to obtain ethanol; e) polymerization, in a tube reactor (300), of the recrystallized lactide obtained in step d), via ring opening in the presence of the catalyst, producing a high molar mass polylactic acid; f) devolatilization, at (400), of the polymeric mass obtained in step e); and g) recovery of the final polylactic acid product with a high degree of purity, with a molar mass of between 50 000 and 200 000 g/mol and a reac
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: COMPANHIA REFINADORA DA AMAZONIA
    Inventor: Paulo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8551417
    Abstract: In order to provide, when a plurality of fluids each containing a different kind of substance are mixed and reacted, a reactor having a mixing channel capable of forming a multi-layered flow in a radial direction in the cylindrically-shaped mixing channel; improving mixing performance by synergizing swirling effects of mixture of turbulent flows and a swirling flow; and producing a reaction product with a high yield as well as high efficiency, a mixing channel 1 which mixes fluids 4 and 5 each containing the different kind of substance is cylindrically shaped, and inlet passages 2 and 3 which introduce the fluids 4 and 5, respectively, are plurally arranged in a manner offset from a central axis of the mixing channel 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Shiraishi, Tsutomu Kawamura, Takeyuki Kondo
  • Publication number: 20130253089
    Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of amphiphilic graft polymers, wherein a vinyl ester component (B) composed of vinyl acetate and/or vinyl propionate (B1) and, if desired, a further ethylenically unsaturated monomer (B2), is polymerized in the presence of a polyalkylene oxide (A), a free radical-forming initiator (C) and, if desired, an additive (D), at a mean polymerization temperature at which the initiator (C) has a decomposition half-time of from 1 to 500 min, in at least one tubular reactor segment with a feed side and an outlet side, through which the reaction mixture comprising at least a part of component (A) to (C), and if desired (D), streams, a tubular reactor segment and the use of the inventive amphiphilic graft polymer. The invention further relates to an inventive amphiphilic graft polymer and the use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Faissal-Ali El-Toufaili, Michaela Heussler, Christian Schwede, Aaron Flores-Figueroa, Rainer Dobrawa, Dieter Boeckh, Wolfgang Loth, Gerd Konrad
  • Publication number: 20130237717
    Abstract: A method and system for producing dispersed waxes, including a high shear mechanical device. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a dispersion of wax globules in a carrier liquid in a high shear device prior to implementation in a waxy product. In another instance the system for producing waxy products comprises a high shear device for dispersing wax in a carrier liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: H R D Corporation
    Inventors: Abbas HASSAN, Aziz Hassan, Gregory G. Borsinger