Apparatus for the continuous performance of chemical processes, more particulary esterification, and/or transesterification and polycondensation processes

Claim 1

Apparatus for continuously performing chemical and physical processes and reactions conducive to the formation and treatment of liquid intermediates with concurrent production of volatile coproducts of the reaction, such as esterification, transesterification and polycondensation processes forming the initial and intermediate stages of methods for the production of polyesters in a continuous run, comprisIng a reactor having a metal peripheral wall whose inner face is vertical at least in the upper and middle portions of the reactor and which defines a chamber with a vertical axis, means for circulating a fluid thermal medium in contact with the external surface of said wall to heat said wall, a shaft rotatably mounted in said reactor with the axis of said shaft coaxial with the axis of said chamber, a vessel having a perforated perimetrical wall secured to said shaft at a first level in the upper part of said chamber to rotate with said shaft, a disc secured to said vessel at a lower level than said first level and forming a flange around said vessel, said flange extending substantially radially outwardly from said perimetrical wall, means for introducing into the reactor a reagent liquid said introducing means being located between said inner face of said peripheral wall and said perimetrical wall and positioned to cause said reagent liquid to drop onto the upper surface of said disc, means for removing a reacted liquid product continuously from the bottom of said reactor, means for withdrawing a portion of the removed reacted product for subsequent treatment, means for recirculating to the top of the reactor and into said vessel at a point closer to said shaft than the point at which the reagent liquid is delivered onto said disc the remaining portion of the removed reacted product, and means for rotating said shaft and said vessel and said disc therewith so that the recirculated reacted liquid product is thrown through the perforations in said vessel wall onto the inner face of said reactor wall and the reagent liquid is hurled by said disc also against said inner face but at a level lower than that which the recirculated liquid product is projected against said inner face so that the reagent liquid is dispersed into a liquid film formed by the recirculated liquid product on said inner face and the two liquids flow downwardly together on said inner face mingling and absorbing the heat therefrom.