Polymerization Reactors For Addition Polymer Preparation Patents (Class 526/918)
-
Patent number: 11707719Abstract: Fabrication of functional polymer-based particles by crosslinking UV-curable polymer drops in mid-air and collecting crosslinked particles in a solid container, a liquid suspension, or an air flow. The particles can contain different phases in the form or layered structures that contain one to multiple cores, or structures that are blended with dissolved or emulsified smaller domains. A curing system produces ultraviolet rays that are directed onto the particles in the jet stream from one side. A reflector positioned on other side of the jet stream reflects the ultraviolet rays back onto the particles in the jet stream.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Purdue Research FoundationInventors: Congwang Ye, Roger D. Aines, Sarah E. Baker, Caitlyn Christian Cook, Eric B. Duoss, Joshua D. Kuntz, Elaine Lee, James S. Oakdale, Andrew J. Pascall, Joshuah K. Stolaroff, Marcus A. Worsley, Carlos J. Martinez
-
Patent number: 11578145Abstract: A method of operating a dump tank of a polymer production process by transferring all or a portion of a content of a polymerization reactor into the dump tank, wherein the reactor contents comprise solid polymer, and liquid and gaseous non-product components, and removing at least a portion of the liquid and gaseous non-product components from the dump tank by: reducing a pressure of the dump tank, subjecting the solid polymer to a first cleaning stage comprising heating the solid polymer by introducing a first heated treatment gas into the dump tank, and subjecting the solid polymer to a second cleaning stage comprising purging the solid polymer by introducing a second heated treatment gas into the dump tank.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Joseph A. Curren, James E. Hein, Ralph W. Romig, Ai-Fu Chang
-
Patent number: 8927665Abstract: Process for polymerizing in a loop reactor an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin comonomer in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry including solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent. The Froude number is in the range 3 to 10, the internal diameter of the loop reactor is over 600 millimeters, the solids concentration of the slurry in the loop reactor is above 20% by volume and, when the polymer produced is polyethylene and the diluent is an alkane, the solids concentration is above 40 wt % based on the total weight of the slurry.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: INEOS Manufacturing Belgium NVInventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Daniel Marissal, Brent R. Walworth
-
Patent number: 8853333Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating a mixing kneader, comprising one or more shafts on whose surfaces are disposed kneading bars and which are surrounded by a casing, comprising the following steps: (a) supplying reactants at an addition site in the mixing kneader, (b) converting the reactants in an exothermic reaction, the reaction at first forming a coherent kneadable intermediate, (c) tearing and dividing the coherent kneadable intermediate to form a product, the exothermic reaction optionally continuing during the tearing and division, (d) withdrawing the product at a withdrawal site in the mixing kneader, wherein at least one of the shafts and/or the casing is heated to a temperature above 20° C. during the operation of the mixing kneader.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: BASF SEInventors: Oskar Stephan, Monte Peterson, Karl J. Possemiers, Steven Lippens
-
Patent number: 8841389Abstract: A process for preparing a polymer in the form of an aqueous dispersion or a water-redispersible powder includes free-radically initiated heterophase polymerization of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers and optionally subsequent drying of the polymer dispersions obtained, wherein the polymerization is performed in a jet loop reactor.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: WACKER Chemie AGInventors: Dirk Kutschera, Josef Eisenlauer, Wolf-Dieter Hergeth, Hans-Peter Weitzel, Mathias Wiedemann
-
Patent number: 8785573Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for continuously feeding wet gel polymers into a drying step of a dry polymer synthesis operation. A number of pistons are arranged having inner chambers through which monomers and other reagents are fed and polymerized into wet gel polymers. Each piston operates according to a coordinated schedule so that as one piston finishes extruding polymer into the drying step, a second piston has completed polymerizing more polymer and continues to feed more polymer without interruption. The then finished is re-fed more reagents so as to be ready again when needed next. As a result, cost effective continuous feeding can be achieved without the contamination and impurity problems that have plagued previous attempts to accomplish this.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Ecolab USA IncInventor: Jeffrey R. Cramm
-
Patent number: 8735517Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Christopher K. Morgan, Shiraz A. H. Pradhan, Michael W. Ackman
-
Patent number: 8653215Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles by polymerizing an aqueous monomer solution in a kneader having at least two shafts in axially parallel rotation, wherein the reaction mixture is transported in axial direction and the region at the start of the kneader is trace-heated.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: BASF SEInventors: Matthias Weismantel, Ulrich Riegel, Markus Braun, Martin Wendker, Thomas Gieger
-
Patent number: 8653207Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 30, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Westlake Longview CorporationInventors: Bailey James Salmon, Alan G. Wonders, Wayne S. Strasser
-
Patent number: 8586685Abstract: A process for the polymerization of olefins is disclosed. The process may include: feeding a catalyst, a liquid diluent, and an olefin to a polymerization vessel having, from a polymerization vessel bottom to a polymerization vessel top, a vapor introduction zone, a three-phase reaction zone and a vapor disengagement zone; contacting the catalyst and olefin under conditions of temperature and pressure in the presence of the liquid diluent as a continuous phase in the three-phase reaction zone to form a solid phase polyolefin; withdrawing a gas phase composition from an outlet in fluid communication with the vapor disengagement zone; circulating the gas phase composition through a gas circulation loop to an inlet in fluid communication with the vapor distribution zone at a rate sufficient to agitate the solid and liquid phases within the three-phase reaction zone; and withdrawing a reaction mixture comprising polyolefin and diluents from the three-phase reaction zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: F. David Hussein, Michael E. Muhle, Ping Cai, Mark W. Blood
-
Patent number: 8580202Abstract: A process comprising polymerizing in a loop reactor an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin commoner in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the Froude number is maintained at or below 20 is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NVInventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Daniel Marissal, Brent R. Walworth
-
Patent number: 8541528Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein an aqueous polymer gel is dried in a forced-air belt drier on a circulating conveyor belt and the surface of the conveyor belt has a multitude of elevations or depressions which are suitable for restricting the mobility of the aqueous polymer gel in transverse direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: BASF SEInventors: Rüdiger Funk, Thomas Pfeiffer, Matthias Weismantel, Stefan Blei, Wilfried Heide, Volker Braig, Thomas Gieger, Andreas Brockmeyer
-
Patent number: 8492490Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a polymer resin comprises a polymerization vessel, a bearing part, a protection part, a circulating cooling means, a raw material-injecting nozzle and a flow path-constituting part. The protection part forms a first flow path between the protection part and the side face of the agitation axis. The circulating cooling means includes a circulating inlet nozzle provided on a side face of the protruding part so as to be opposite to the protection part. The flow path-constituting part is provided between the bearing part and the protection part so as to cover the side face of the agitation axis, to fix the bearing part and the protection part. This flow path-constituting part forms a second flow path between the side face of the agitation axis and the flow path-constituting part and a third flow path for coupling the second flow path with the raw material-injecting nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Toyo Engineering CorporationInventors: Kenichirou Matsuba, Kazushige Kimura
-
Patent number: 8461278Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein heated water-absorbing polymer particles are remoisturized and cooled in a high-speed mixer.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2011Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: BASF SEInventors: Rüdiger Funk, Thomas Pfeiffer
-
Patent number: 8354483Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor system and process for the catalytic polymerization of olefin monomer and optionally comonomer(s), having one or more inlets for olefin monomer, catalyst, optionally for comonomer, chain growth controllers or chain transfer agents, and/or inert gas, an outlet for gas and an outlet for polymerized particles. The reactor system has at least one fluidized bed unit and at least one moving bed unit, wherein the fluidized bed unit has means for maintaining a fluidized bed in the fluidized bed unit and wherein the moving bed unit is provided with an inlet and an outlet which are connected to the fluidized bed unit, wherein the outlet of the moving bed unit is provided with means for displacing metered quantities of polymerized particles from the moving bed unit into the fluidized bed unit, and to the use of such reactor system.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Borealis Technology OYInventors: Michiel Bergstra, Erik Eriksson, Gunter Weickert
-
Patent number: 8349947Abstract: Process for polymerising, in a loop reactor, at least one olefin monomer in a liquid diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and said diluent, wherein the ratio between the actual volumetric solids concentration of the slurry and the maximum possible geometric volume solids concentration of the slurry as measured by the bulk density of an unpacked settled bed of particles, SVCR, is V*0.065 or greater, and the ratio of the cumulative settling distance of an average size particle at any point in the reactor in any direction perpendicular to the direction of the flow, to the internal diameter of the loop reactor, is maintained below [0.084*(V?6.62)+(0.69?SVCR)* 1.666], where V is the circulation velocity of the slurry in m/s and “cumulative settling distance” is defined as the cumulative distance, expressed as a fraction of the diameter, travelled by a particle in any direction perpendicular to the direction of the flow since the previous upstream pump.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NVInventor: Daniel Marissal
-
Patent number: 8278402Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor system for the catalytic polymerization of olefin monomer and optionally comonomer(s), having one or more inlets for olefin monomer, catalyst, optionally for comonomer, chain growth controllers or chain transfer agents, and/or inert gas, an outlet for gas and an outlet for polymerized particles. The reactor system has at least one fluidized bed unit and at least one moving bed unit, wherein the fluidized bed unit has means for maintaining a fluidized bed in the fluidized bed unit and wherein the moving bed unit is provided with an inlet and an outlet which are directly connected to the fluidized bed unit, wherein the outlet of the moving bed unit is provided with means for pneumatically displacing polymer particles from the moving bed unit into the fluidized bed unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Borealis Technology OyInventors: Michiel Bergstra, Erik Eriksson, Gunter Weickert
-
Patent number: 8148480Abstract: The invention relates to a stirred-tank reactor and to a method for carrying out a polymerization reaction of unsaturated monomers using a stirred-tank reactor. According to the invention, said stirred-tank reactor is characterized in that the product discharge point is designed as the central base outlet that is at least partially traversed by the agitator shaft. Said polymerization is performed continuously under positive pressure, so that the stirred-tank reactor is operated hydrodynamically.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Evonik Roehm GmbHInventors: Ruediger Carloff, Joachim Heid, Olaf Pickenaecker
-
Patent number: 8148477Abstract: In the present invention, a tubular flow reactor can maintain a plug flow property even though the tubular flow reactor is downsized, and provided is the tubular flow reactor with which uniform resin fine particles exhibiting a narrow particle size distribution and a narrow molecular weight distribution can be prepared when the tubular flow reactor is used for preparation of the resin fine particle via emulsion polymerization or the like. Disclosed is a tubular flow reactor possessing a stirring blade and a cylindrical channel, wherein a ratio d/D is 0.3-0.9 when a diameter of the stirring blade is represented by d and an inner diameter of the cylindrical channel is represented by D, and a ratio Lb/La is 0.80-0.99 when a length of the stirring blade is represented by Lb and a length of the cylindrical channel is represented by La.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2009Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Yasuharu Saita, Masashi Mamino
-
Patent number: 8138282Abstract: The present invention relates to a loop reactor suitable for olefin polymerization process comprising: a plurality of interconnected pipes defining a flow path for a polymer slurry, said slurry consisting essentially of an olefin reactant, a polymerization catalyst, liquid diluent and solid olefin polymer particles, means for introducing olefin reactant, polymerization catalyst and diluent into said reactor, a pump suitable for maintaining the polymer slurry in circulation in said reactor, and single settling leg connected to said loop reactor through (a) a take off line extending from said reactor to said settling leg and configured to remove said polymer slurry from said reactor, and (b) a return line extending from said settling leg to said reactor, characterized in that said take off line is radially connected to said single settling leg.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Total Petrochemicals Research FeluyInventor: Louis Fouarge
-
Patent number: 8129483Abstract: A continuous gas phase circulating bed reactor, including: a riser for contacting a catalyst and a first gas composition comprising an olefin to form a polyolefin under fast-fluidization regime or a dilute-phase pneumatic conveying regime conditions; a downer for contacting the catalyst and a second gas composition comprising an olefin to form additional polyolefin under fast fluidization regime or a dilute-phase pneumatic conveying regime conditions; and a transport section for conveying at least a portion of the catalyst, polyolefin, and additional polyolefin from the downer to the riser. Also disclosed is a polymerization process using such a circulating bed reactor.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Ping Cai, F. David Hussein, Ian D. Burdett, David M. Gaines, Roger B. Painter
-
Patent number: 8101692Abstract: A process comprising polymerising in a loop reactor of continuous tubular construction an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin comonomer in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the internal diameter of at least 50% of the total length of the reactor is at least 700 millimeters and the solids concentration in the reactor is at least 20 volume % is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2009Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NVInventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Brent R. Walworth, Daniel Marissal
-
Patent number: 8067509Abstract: A process for the polymerization of olefin's, including: introducing an olefin and a polymerization catalyst into a polymerization reactor to form a polyolefin, the polymerization reactor including: a fluidized bed region having a top and a bottom; and a motive bed region; wherein a first end of the motive bed region is fluidly connected to the top of the fluidized bed region; and wherein a second end of the motive bed region is fluidly connected to the bottom of the fluidized bed region; and wherein a diameter of the fluidized bed region is greater than a diameter of the motive bed region; circulating at least a portion of the olefin, the catalyst, and the polyolefin through the fluidized bed region and the motive bed region; maintaining a dense-phase fluidized bed within the fluidized bed region; recovering polyolefin from the fluidized bed region, is provided. A reactor system directed to the process is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2009Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Fathi D. Hussein, Ping Cai, Jose F. Cevallos-Candau, Ian D. Burdett, W. Scott Hamilton, Daniel N. Thomas, Jr.
-
Patent number: 7994264Abstract: Process comprising polymerizing in a loop reactor of a continuous tubular construction an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin comonomer in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent, wherein the average internal diameter of at least 50% of the total length of the continuous tubular loop reactor is at least 700 mm wherein the HMW polymer is produced in a reactor upstream of the LMW polymer reactor and the ratio of the average internal diameter of the HMW reactor to the average internal diameter of the LMW reactor is between 0.8 and 1.4.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NVInventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Daniel Marissal, Brent R. Walworth
-
Patent number: 7985813Abstract: A process comprising polymerising in a loop reactor of a continuous tubular construction an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin comonomer in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the average internal diameter of at least 50% of the total length of the reactor is at least 650 millimeters, the solids concentration in the reactor is at least 15 volume % and having a particle size distribution such that (D90?D10)/D50 is less than 2.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NVInventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Daniel Marissal, Brent R. Walworth
-
Patent number: 7915356Abstract: A fluoropolymer [polymer (F)], a polymerisation process for its manufacture, and a molding process using such fluoropolymer [polymer (F)]. The polymerisation process comprises polymerising at least one fluorinated monomer in a polymerization medium, in which the polymerization medium is mixed by means of a stirring system comprising at least two counter-rotating impellers. Surprisingly and advantageously, the polymerization occurs without fouling or deposit formation on the reactor walls, and moreover, occurs with improved homogeneity, without composition, pressure or temperature gradients, thus enabling obtaining homogeneous polymer composition with no risk of local overheating. A polymer (F) obtained from such process has improved morphology (percentage of organized structures, i.e.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2007Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Valeri Kapeliouchko, Stefano Ferrero, Aniello Gargiulo
-
Patent number: 7906598Abstract: A process for producing polymer and more particularly adhesive using a recirculating loop reactor. In one embodiment the reactor includes one or more mixers to mix feed stock with the polymerized material recirculating in the reactor. In another embodiment a planetary roller extruder (PRE) may be used for this purpose. In still another embodiment, a combination of one or more static mixers and one or more PREs may be used.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Intertape Polymer Corp.Inventors: Mark D. Barbieri, Richard W. St. Coeur, John K. Tynan, Jr., Mark A. Lewandowski
-
Patent number: 7829640Abstract: A process for producing polymer and more particularly adhesive using a recirculating loop reactor. In one embodiment the reactor includes one or more mixers to mix feed stock with the polymerized material recirculating in the reactor. In another embodiment a planetary roller extruder (PRE) may be used for this purpose. In still another embodiment, a combination of one or more static mixers and one or more PREs may be used.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Intertape Polymer Corp.Inventors: Mark D. Barbieri, Richard W. St. Coeur, John K. Tynan, Jr., Mark A. Lewandowski
-
Patent number: 7820116Abstract: A process comprising polymerizing an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin comonomer in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a diluent in a loop reactor which comprises at least 2 horizontal sections and at least 2 vertical sections to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the Froude number in at least 20% of the length of the vertical sections of the reactor loop is less than 85% of the Froude number in at least 20% of the length of the horizontal sections of the loop is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2009Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NVInventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Brent R. Walworth, Daniel Marissal
-
Patent number: 7816447Abstract: The invention relates to the production of polymers using polymerization processes and reactor systems including a plurality of multi-zone circulating reactors. In particular, the invention relates to the production of impact copolymers using reactor systems including a plurality of multi-zone circulating reactors.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2004Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Kevin Wayne Lawson, Lawrence Carl Smith, Randell Wayne Dickey, Robert Tan Li, Prasadarao Meka
-
Patent number: 7790119Abstract: A process comprising polymerising in a loop reactor an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin commoner in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the Froude number is maintained at or below 20 is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2009Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NVInventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Daniel Marissal, Brent R. Walworth
-
Patent number: 7781548Abstract: A microchannel polymerization reactor comprising: (a) a first microchannel adapted to carry a reactant stream; (b) a fluid conduit adapted to carry a fluid in thermal communication with the first microchannel; and (c) a static mixer in fluid communication with the first microchannel adapted to provide a mixing zone operative to change the cross-sectional fluid flow profile at a predetermined point along the first microchannel without changing the primary direction of the reactant stream through the first microchannel.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: Sean P. Fitzgerald, David J. Hesse, Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Laura J. Silva
-
Patent number: 7781546Abstract: A process comprising polymerising in a loop reactor of continuous tubular construction an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin comonomer in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the internal diameter of at least 50% of the total length of the reactor is at least 700 millimeters and the solids concentration in the reactor is at least 20 volume % is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NVInventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Brent R. Walworth, Daniel Marissal
-
Patent number: 7776973Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the catalytic polymerization of olefins, wherein olefins are contacted with a particulate catalyst in a fluidized bed and in a moving bed such that the residence time in the fluidized bed and the residence time in the moving bed are independently controlled, to a reactor system comprising a fluidized bed reactor provided with a reactant inlet, a product outlet and means for maintaining a fluidized bed in the fluidized bed reactor and with a moving bed reactor provided with an inlet directly connected to the fluidized bed reactor and an outlet connected to the fluidized bed reactor such that the residence time in the fluidized bed reactor and the residence in the moving bed reactor are independently controlled, and to its use for the catalytic polymerization of olefins.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2004Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Inventor: Gunter Weickert
-
Patent number: 7745552Abstract: Reactor designs and processes for operating such reactor designs to minimize or eliminate fouling in homogeneous polymerization processes (solution and supercritical). The process includes providing a reactor with one or more feed entry ports, wherein the reactor feed components are fed through each of the one or more feed entry ports at a linear velocity of greater than or equal to 0.3 m/min. The one or more feed entry ports may also be optionally extended beyond the interior reactor wall by greater than or equal to 2% of the internal radius of the reactor to further decrease the propensity for fouling. A stirred reactor may also include a stirrer feed port for purging the stirrer with a stirrer purge stream at a linear velocity of greater than or equal to 0.3 m/min to decrease stirrer fouling.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2008Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Gabor Kiss, Robert P. Reynolds, Jr., Charles K. Morgan, John W. Chu, Megan Meier
-
Patent number: 7718743Abstract: Methods and system for in-situ measurement of polymer growth within an olefin polymerization reactor are provided. The method includes polymerizing one or more olefins within a reactor at a first temperature sufficient to deposit a polymer coating therein. A second temperature is created within the reactor, and a rate of temperature change is measured from the first temperature to the second temperature. The rate of temperature change is correlated to a thickness of the polymer coating deposited within the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Kevin B. Stavens, Cynthia A. Mitchell
-
Patent number: 7718732Abstract: Process for polymerising an olefin monomer in at least one continuous tubular loop reactor of a multiple reactor system, optionally together with an olefin comonomer, in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst in a diluent, to produce a slurry containing solid particulate olefin polymer and diluent. The average internal diameter of at least 50% of the total length of the continuous tubular loop reactor is at least 700 mm. A high molecular weight (HMW) polymer is made in a first reactor and a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer is made in a second reactor, the first (HMW) reactor having a space time yield (defined as production of polymer in kg/h per unit volume of reactor) greater than 100 kg/m3/h, and the ratio of space time yield in the first (HMW) reactor to the second (LMW) reactor is greater than 1.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NVInventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Daniel Marissal, Brent R Walworth
-
Patent number: 7619046Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of polymer which comprises the steps of i) feeding an aqueous mixture comprising a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer or a mixture of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and an initiator into the top of a reactor ii) polymerizing the monoethylenically unsaturated monomer to form a gel-like aqueous mixture comprising the polymer, iii) squeezing the gel-like aqueous mixture comprising the polymer out of the bottom of the reactor using inert gas, wherein the reactor is either a vertical fully conical reactor having an angle (alpha) between top diameter (d1) of the reactor and inner wall of the reactor of smaller than 90° but larger than 45° or is made up of 2 to 5 connected vertical fully conical parts, which are on top of one another, each having an angle between top diameter of the part and inner wall of the part of smaller than 90° but larger than 45°.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2006Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals CorporationInventors: Simon Broughton, Gareth Ian Naylor, Anthony Moran
-
Patent number: 7582709Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of ethylene polymers and copolymers in which ethylene is compressed in a primary compressor at a throughput of at least 55 tonnes/hour, mixed with recycled ethylene and further compressed in a two-stage reciprocating secondary compressor having at least 14 cylinders to a pressure of at least 2300 bar at a throughput of at least 120 tonnes/hour, heating at least a portion of that ethylene to a temperature of at least 95° C. and introducing it into a tubular reactor of diameter at least 65 mm and a length of at least 1500 m, introducing initiator in at least three reaction zones to give a conversion of at least 28% and maintaining a pressure drop over the reactor to maintain a flow velocity of at least 6 m/s.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Ivo T. Goossens, Fausto F. Ciancio, Paul Clymans, Philip H. Cornelissen, Martin J. Decoster, Willy De Koster, Henri A. Lammens, Tom Van Nuland
-
Patent number: 7572866Abstract: A process comprising polymerizing an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin comonomer in the presence of a polymerization catalyst in a diluent in a loop reactor which comprises at least 2 horizontal sections and at least 2 vertical sections to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the Froude number in at least 20% of the length of the vertical sections of the reactor loop is less than 85% of the Froude number in at least 20% of the length of the horizontal sections of the loop is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NVInventors: Stephen Kevin Lee, Brent R. Walworth, Daniel Marissal
-
Patent number: 7524904Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating polymer solids, hydrocarbon fluids, and purge gas in an intermediate pressure zone and a purge zone. The purge gas in the purge zone is used to remove hydrocarbon fluids from the polymer solids, and a stream containing the purge gas and hydrocarbons is passed to a hydrocarbon/purge gas recovery zone. High-purity purge gas from the recovery zone is efficiently used by passing a portion back to the purge zone and another portion to an extruder feed zone. Hydrocarbon fluids separated from polymer solids in the intermediate pressure zone and in the hydrocarbon/purge gas recovery zone are liquefied and passed to a recycle zone, and the hydrocarbons (typically liquid diluent and/or unreacted monomer) are recycled to the reactor without fractionation.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2003Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John D. Hottovy
-
Patent number: 7482411Abstract: A continuous process for the olefin polymerization in a fluidized bed reactor, said process comprising continuously passing a gaseous stream comprising one or more ?-olefin monomers through the fluidized bed in the presence of a polymerization catalyst under reactive conditions, withdrawing polymeric product and unreacted fluids from the reactor, cooling part of said unreacted fluids below the dew point to form a two-phase mixture of gas and condensed liquid and reintroducing said two-phase mixture into the reactor, the process being characterized in that said two-phase mixture is reintroduced under the distribution plate of the reactor so that a part of condensed liquid is separated from the gas and is successively fed above the fluidized bed through an external pipe connecting the bottom of the reactor to a point situated above the upper limit of the fluidized bed of polymer particles.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2004Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.Inventors: Guiseppe Penzo, Gabriele Mei, Gerben Meier
-
Patent number: 7473744Abstract: A polymer can be prepared using a loop reactor and process including feeding a process stream through the loop reactor and maintaining the loop reactor at a steady state by controlling a flow of coolant fluid to maintain a temperature in the loop reactor at a preset point. The temperature in the loop reactor may be maintained at a preset point by using a coolant fluid flow controller and valve unit having a substantially linear response over the normal operating range of the controller and valve unit. The normal operating range of the controller and valve unit may be sufficient to provide a flow range not limiting to the throughput of the loop reactor.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2005Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.Inventors: Harold Chenoweth, Jeffrey Tilley
-
Patent number: 7459506Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out chemical and physical processes, wherein flowable substances are mixed together, comprising a vertical, cylindrical vessel with inlets and outlets, as well as a central shaft and radial agitator blades arranged on the said central shaft and extending close to the wall. In this context, viewed in the peripheral direction, the agitator blades are curved and are combined in pairs of agitator elements one above the other to form groups, the blades of one element of the group being curved in a radially concave manner and the blades of the other element being curved in a radially convex manner.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2004Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Novolen Technology Holdings, C.V.Inventors: Hermann Gebhart, Karl Huber, Christiane Boss, Franz Langhauser
-
Patent number: 7459508Abstract: A microchannel polymerization reactor comprising: (a) a first microchannel adapted to carry a reactant stream; (b) a fluid conduit adapted to carry a fluid in thermal communication with the first microchannel; and (c) a static mixer in fluid communication with the first microchannel adapted to provide a mixing zone operative to change the cross-sectional fluid flow profile at a predetermined point along the first microchannel without changing the primary direction of the reactant stream through the first microchannel.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: Sean P. Fitzgerald, David J. Hesse, Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Laura J. Silva
-
Patent number: 7435784Abstract: A method for continuous ethylene polymerization under high pressure using a polymerization reaction zone comprises a primary reaction zone and a secondary reaction zone wherein the secondary reaction zone has a length of 1.5-6.5 times the length of the primary reaction zone and a cross-sectional area of 1.2-4 times the cross-sectional area of the primary reaction zone. Ethylene is fed continuously into the primary reaction zone at the starting point of the primary reaction zone. Low temperature initiator alone, or an initiator mixture containing mainly low temperature initiator is introduced into the primary reaction zone at the starting point of the primary reaction zone. Initiator alone or an initiator mixture is introduced into the secondary reaction zone at two or more different points of the secondary reaction zone. Ethylene polymer products of various physical properties are produced with high productivity, while the pressure drop is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2005Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Samsung Total Petrochemicals Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jin-Suk Lee, Byoung-Yong Chung, Myung-Jae Lee, Kun Lo
-
Patent number: 7414098Abstract: Process for the gas-phase catalytic polymerization of olefins carried out in a plurality of interconnected polymerization zones, the process comprising feeding one or more monomers to said polymerization zones in the presence of a catalyst under reaction conditions and collecting the polymer product from said polymerization zones, in which process the polymer particles grow within a first polymerization zone where a fluidized bed is formed, at least a part of said polymer particles leave said first polymerization zone to enter a second polymerization zone through which they flow downward, leave said second polymerization zone and enter a third polymerization zone through which they flow upward under fast fluidization or transport conditions, leave said third polymerization zone and are reintroduced into the first polymerization zone, thus establishing a circulation of polymer between the different polymerization zones.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Basell Polioefine Italia S.p.A.Inventors: Massimo Covezzi, Gerben Meier, Gabriele Mei
-
Patent number: 7339016Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a water-absorbent polymer composite comprising the steps of contacting a droplet containing a solvent and said polymerizable monomer before polymerization and/or under polymerization with first fibers fed through a first supply port of said reactor in a gas phase, proceeding with polymerization of said polymerizable monomer, contacting the resultant droplet containing said solvent, the polymerizable monomer under polymerization and said first fibers with second fibers fed through a second supply port of said reactor in a gas phase, and proceeding with further polymerization of said polymerizable monomer to form said water-absorbent polymer composite.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical CorporationInventors: Shunichi Himori, Kiichi Itoh, Yoshiaki Mori, Yasunari Sugyo, Taisuke Ishii
-
Patent number: 7279535Abstract: Production of vinyl polymers by the polymerization of vinyl monomers in a planetary gear extruder.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2004Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: tesa AGInventors: Sven Konig, Jessica Erwin, Klaus Massow, Stephan Zollner
-
Patent number: 7265190Abstract: There is disclosed a process to uniformly and rapidly carry out the mixing of a monomer liquid and a polymerization initiator and thus for the resulting polymer not to adhere to the inner surface of the piping or the inside of the apparatus in an art of producing a water-absorbent resin by continuously mixing the monomer liquid and the polymerization initiator together and thereby carrying out polymerization. This process comprises the steps of: (a) continuously supplying a monomer liquid 20 to such as a supply pipe 10 to continuously stir the monomer liquid 20 in the supply pipe 10 with such as a stirring apparatus 12; (b) causing a polymerization initiator 30 to join into a flow of the monomer liquid 20 being in a stirred state, thereby obtaining a mixed liquid 40 of the monomer liquid 20 and the polymerization initiator 30; and (c) continuously supplying the mixed liquid 40 from the supply pipe line 10 to a polymerization apparatus to cause the mixed liquid 40 to run a polymerization reaction.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yorimichi Dairoku, Yasuhiro Fujita, Shinichi Fujino, Hirofumi Shibata, Kenji Tada, Yoshio Irie