US4460545A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy-saving device for manufacturing polyethylene
Assignee: Norsolor SA
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Filing: 1981-07-06
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Granted: 1984-07-17
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Expires: 2001-07-06
Abstract
Abstract Polyethylene is produced in at least one reactor under a pressure of 800 to 2500 bars and a temperature of 150° to 350° C., and the reaction mixture exiting the reactor through an expansion valve and supplied to a separator under a pressure of 50 to 400 bars is cooled by passing a flow Q of the mixture through a turbine. The turbine comprises at least one stage with a fixed nozzle and a bladed wheel having a rotation speed of between 12,000 and 40,000 r.p.m. Ethylene discharged from the separator is recycled to the inlet of a compressor, and the discharge from the compressor is supplied to the reactor.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy Jouffroy
- 👤 Bernard Martinot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:48
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J3/00; B01J3/04; C; C08; C08F; C08F10/00; C08F10/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
An apparatus for polymerizing ethylene and for producing energy for use outside said apparatus comprising: (a) a reactor comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein said outlet discharges a mixture of ethylene and polyethylene; (b) a turbine comprising an inlet, at least one stage comprised of a nozzle and a bladed wheel, and an outlet after the last stage of said turbine, wherein said turbine is connected to and drives an energy producing means for producing energy for use outside said apparatus; (c) first conduit means connecting the outlet of said reactor with the inlet of said turbine; (d) a separator comprising an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein said first outlet discharges polyethylene and wherein said second outlet discharges a gaseous mixture comprising ethylene; (e) second conduit means connecting the outlet of said turbine to the inlet of said separator; (f) a compressor comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein said compressor has no connection with said turbine; (g) third conduit means connecting said second outlet of said separator to the inlet of said compressor; (h) fourth conduit means connecting the outlet of said compressor to the inlet of said reactor; and (i) fifth conduit means, connecting said first conduit means and said second conduit means, said fifth conduit means including an expansion valve and further including an injector downstream of said expansion valve, said injector comprising a convergent ejection nozzle, a convergent means for mixing downstream from said ejection nozzle and a diffuser downstream from said means for mixing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
254 words
An apparatus for polymerizing ethylene and for producing energy for use outside said apparatus comprising: (a) a reactor comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein said outlet discharges a mixture of ethylene and polyethylene; (b) a turbine comprising an inlet, at least one stage comprised of a nozzle and a bladed wheel, and an outlet after the last stage of said turbine, wherein said turbine is connected to and drives an energy producing means for producing energy for use outside said apparatus; (c) first conduit means connecting the outlet of said reactor with the inlet of said turbine; (d) a separator comprising an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein said first outlet discharges polyethylene and wherein said second outlet discharges a gaseous mixture comprising ethylene; (e) second conduit means connecting the outlet of said turbine to the inlet of said separator; (f) a compressor comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein said compressor has no connection with said turbine; (g) third conduit means connecting said second outlet of said separator to the inlet of said compressor; (h) fourth conduit means connecting the outlet of said compressor to the inlet of said reactor; and (i) fifth conduit means, connecting said first conduit means and said second conduit means, said fifth conduit means including an expansion valve and further including an injector downstream of said expansion valve, said injector comprising a convergent ejection nozzle, a convergent means for mixing downstream from said ejection nozzle and a diffuser downstream from said means for mixing.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
249 words
An apparatus for polymerizing ethylene and for producing energy for use outside said apparatus comprising: (a) a reactor comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein said outlet discharges a mixture of ethylene and polyethylene; (b) a turbine comprising an inlet, at least one stage comprised of a nozzle and a bladed wheel, and an outlet after the last stage of said turbine, wherein said turbine is connected to and drives an energy producing means for producing energy for use outside said apparatus; (c) first conduit means connecting the outlet of said reactor with the inlet of said turbine; (d) a separator comprising an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein said first outlet discharges polyethylene and wherein said second outlet discharges a gaseous mixture comprising ethylene; (e) second conduit means connecting the outlet of said turbine to the inlet of said separator, said second conduit means including an injector comprising a convergent ejection nozzle, a convergent means for mixing downstream from said ejection nozzle and a diffuser downstream from said means for mixing; (f) a compressor comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein said compressor has no connection with said turbine; (g) third conduit means connecting said second outlet of said separator to the inlet of said compressor; (h) fourth conduit means connecting the outlet of said compressor to the inlet of said reactor; and (i) fifth conduit means connecting said first conduit means and said second conduit means, said fifth conduit means including an expansion valve.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
249 words
An apparatus for polymerizing ethylene and for producing energy for use outside said apparatus comprising: (a) a reactor comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein said outlet discharges a mixture of ethylene and polyethylene; (b) a turbine comprising an inlet, at least one stage comprised of a nozzle and a bladed wheel, and an outlet after the last stage of said turbine, wherein said turbine is connected to and drives an energy producing means for producing energy for use outside said apparatus; (c) first conduit means connecting the outlet of said reactor with the inlet of said turbine; (d) a separator comprising an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein said first outlet discharges polyethylene and wherein said second outlet discharges a gaseous mixture comprising ethylene; (e) second conduit means connecting the outlet of said turbine to the inlet of said separator, said second conduit means including an injector comprising a convergent ejection nozzle, a convergent means for mixing downstream from said ejection nozzle and a diffuser downstream from said means for mixing; (f) a compressor comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein said compressor has no connection with said turbine; (g) third conduit means connecting said second outlet of said separator to the inlet of said compressor; (h) fourth conduit means connecting the outlet of said compressor to the inlet of said reactor; and (i) fifth conduit means connecting said first conduit means and said second conduit means, said fifth conduit means including an expansion valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the turbine is an axial-inflow turbine having a reaction ratio less than or equal to 1/2 and comprising from 4 to 12 stages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the turbine is an axial-flow impulse turbine, the wheel of which makes with the injection direction of the mixture an angle less than 30 degrees.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the turbine is a Pelton turbine having a single quasi-radial jet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nozzle of the turbine is of the convergent-divergent type, and in which the ratio S'/S of the outlet cross-section S' of the divergent part to the neck cross-section S is between 1 and 2.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nozzle of the turbine is a body of revolution of variable area and is provided internally with a conical-tipped rod engaged in the neck of said nozzle and controlled by a hydraulic servomotor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotation speed of said bladed wheel is between 12,000 and 40,000 rpm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein said apparatus includes a source of cold ethylene connected to said convergent means for mixing in said injector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein said third conduit means includes heat exchange means for cooling recycled ethylene, and wherein said apparatus includes a sixth conduit means in flow communication with said third conduit means downstream of said heat exchange means and in flow communication with said convergent means for mixing in said injector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-17 | 1988-01-16 | 1988-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-17 | 1992-01-16 | 1992-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-17 | 1996-01-16 | 1996-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |