Recirculating polymerization method and apparatus with evaporative cooling

Claim 1

An improved polymerization reactor, the reactor comprising in cooperative combination a reaction vessel generally in the configuration of a closed loop, a recirculating means for recirculating a polymerizing viscous liquid material about the closed loop, a supply or feed means in communication with the interior of the reactor adapted to supply reaction materials to the reactor, a discharge means in operative communication with the reactor adapted to remove materials therefrom, the improvement which comprises a housing defining an evaporation chamber integral within the closed loop, the evaporation chamber adapted to receive and discharge material flowing within the loop, the chamber having a vapor space through which the material circulating within the loop passes, the evaporation chamber being elongate and generally vertically disposed, the chamber having an upper end and a lower end, the evaporation chamber having an inlet adjacent the upper end and discharge means adjacent the lower end for discharging said viscous polymerizing liquid material into said reaction-loop, the inlet defining a plurality of openings to thereby divide a stream entering the evaporation chamber into a plurality of falling strands, a condenser connected to the housing, the condenser being in operative communication with the evaporation chamber to condense vapor therefrom, and to thereby provide evaporative cooling for said material.