Polyester process using a pipe reactor
DCFirst Claim
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1. A process for making a polyester polymer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
- (a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface, the esterification pipe reactor comprising a substantially empty pipe;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor and react with each other to form a polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid;
(c) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor formed separately of the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor in fluid communication with the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface, the polycondensation pipe reactor comprising a substantially empty pipe; and
(d) directing the fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondition reactor, the monomer reacting to form an oligomer and then the oligomer reacting to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to polyester processes that utilizes a pipe reactor in the esterification, polycondensation, or both esterification and polycondensation processes. Pipe reactor processes of the present invention have a multitude of advantages over prior art processes including improved heat transfer, volume control, agitation and disengagement functions.
238 Citations
243 Claims
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1. A process for making a polyester polymer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface, the esterification pipe reactor comprising a substantially empty pipe;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor and react with each other to form a polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid;
(c) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor formed separately of the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor in fluid communication with the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface, the polycondensation pipe reactor comprising a substantially empty pipe; and
(d) directing the fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondition reactor, the monomer reacting to form an oligomer and then the oligomer reacting to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A process for making a polyester polymer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor and react with each other to form a polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid, wherein the reactants comprise terephthalic acid or dimethylterephthalate;
(c) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor formed separately of the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor in fluid communication with the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface; and
(d) directing the fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondensation reactor, the monomer reacting to form an oligomer and then the oligomer reacting to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A process for making a polyester polymer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor and react with each other to form a polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid;
(c) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor formed separately of the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor in fluid communication with the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface; and
(d) directing the fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondition reactor, the monomer reacting to form an oligomer and then the oligomer reacting to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166)
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33. A process for making a polyester polymer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing a combined esterification and prepolymer polycondensation pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor and react with each other to form a polyester oligomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester oligomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester oligomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid;
(c) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor formed separately of the combined esterification prepolymer pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor in fluid communication with the esterification/prepolymer pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface; and
(d) directing the fluid polyester oligomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the oligomer flows through the polycondensation reactor, the oligomer reacting to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the oligomer and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid.
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34. A process for making a polyester polymer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor and react with each other to form a polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid;
(c) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor integrally combined with the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor in fluid communication with the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface; and
(d) directing the fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondensation reactor, the monomer reacting to form an oligomer and then the oligomer reacting to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid.
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35. A process for making a polyester oligomer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor and react with each other to form a polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid;
(c) providing a prepolymer polycondensation pipe reactor formed separately of the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor in fluid communication with the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface; and
(d) directing the fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondensation reactor, the monomer reacting to form the oligomer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the oligomer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer and the oligomer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid.
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36. A process for making a polyester oligomer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor and react with each other to form a polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid;
(c) providing a prepolymer polycondensation pipe reactor integrally combined with the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor in fluid communication with the esterification pipe reactor, the polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface; and
(d) directing the fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondensation reactor, the monomer reacting to form the oligomer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the oligomer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer and the oligomer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid.
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167. A process for making a polyester monomer from plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, an interior surface, and at least one weir attached to the interior surface thereof;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor, the reactants reacting with each other to form the polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid, and wherein the esterification fluids flow over the weir. - View Dependent Claims (174)
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168. A process for making a polyester monomer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor, the reactants reacting with each other to form the polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, and wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid; and
(c) recirculating a portion of the process fluids and directing the recirculation effluent back to and therethrough the esterification reactor proximate the inlet of the esterification reactor or between the inlet and outlet of the esterification reactor.
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169. A process for making a polyester monomer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor, the reactants reacting with each other to form the polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid; and
(c) removing vapors from the pipe reactor intermediate its inlet and its outlet and/or proximate its outlet through a vent of empty pipe.
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170. A process for making a polyester monomer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface, the inlet being positioned at least 20 vertical feet below the outlet;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor, the reactants reacting each other to form the polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, and wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid.
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171. A process for making a polyester monomer from a plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor, the reactants reacting with each other to form the polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid, and wherein the fluids present in the pipe reactor are in a bubble or froth flow regime.
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172. A process for making a polyester monomer from plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface, wherein the pipe reactor has alternating linear and monomer sections extending in its lengthwise direction between the inlet and outlet thereof;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow;
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor, the reactants reacting with each other to form the polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the reactants and the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid.
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173. A process for making a polyester monomer from plurality of reactants, comprising:
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(a) providing an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) adding at least one reactant into the pipe reactor proximal the inlet so that the reactants flow through the pipe reactor, the reactants reacting with each other to form the polyester monomer within the pipe reactor and the polyester monomer exits from the outlet thereof, wherein the at least one reactant the polyester monomer flowing through the esterification pipe reactor are each an esterification fluid. - View Dependent Claims (175)
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176. A process for making a polyester polymer, comprising:
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(a) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface, the first end being disposed vertically above the second end, the polycondensation pipe reactor having alternating linear and non-linear sections extending in its lengthwise direction between its first the end and its second end;
wherein the polycondensation pipe reactor is operated in a least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) directing a fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondensation reactor, the monomer reacting to form an oligomer and then the oligomer reacting to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (181, 182)
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177. A process for making a polyester polymer, comprising:
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(a) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, an inside surface, and at least one weir attached to the inside surface thereof, wherein the pipe reactor is made of a substantially empty pipe;
wherein the polycondensation pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) directing a fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondensation reactor, the monomer reacting to form an oligomer and then the oligomer reacting to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid, and wherein at least one of the polycondensation fluids flows over the weir. - View Dependent Claims (183)
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178. A process for making a polyester polymer, comprising:
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(a) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface;
wherein the polycondensation pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) directing a fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondensation reactor, the monomer reacting to form an oligomer and then the oligomer reacting to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid; and
(c) removing vapors from the pipe reactor intermediate its inlet an its outlet and/or proximate its inlet or outlet through a vent comprising substantially empty pipe.
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179. A process for making a polyester polymer, comprising:
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(a) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface;
wherein the polycondensation reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) directing a fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondensation reactor, the monomer reacting to form an oligomer and then the oligomer reacting to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid, and wherein the fluids present in the pipe the reactor are in a stratified flow regime.
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180. A process for making a polyester polymer, comprising:
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(a) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface;
wherein the polycondensation pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) directing a fluid polyester monomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the monomer flows through the polycondensation reactor, the monomer reacts to form an oligomer and then the oligomer reacts to form the polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor, and the polymer exits from the second end of the reactor, wherein the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer flowing through the polycondensation pipe reactor are each a polycondensation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (184, 185, 186, 187, 238, 239, 240, 241)
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188. A process for making a polyester polymer, comprising:
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(a) providing a polycondensation pipe reactor having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface;
wherein the polycondensation pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) directing a fluid polyester oligomer into the first end of the polycondensation pipe reactor so that the oligomer flows through the polycondensation pipe reactor, the oligomer reacting to form the polyester polymer within the polycondensation pipe reactor and the polyester polymer exits from the second end thereof.
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189. An apparatus for producing a polyester oligomer polymer, comprising:
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(a) an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface through which esterification fluid reactants are passed;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) a polycondensation pipe reactor formed separately of and in fluid communication with the esterification reactor, wherein the polycondensation reactor has an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface through which at least one polycondensation fluid reactant is passed, wherein the esterification and polycondensation reactors comprise substantially empty pipe.
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190. An apparatus for producing a polyester oligomer polymer, comprising:
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(a) an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface through which esterification fluid reactants are passed;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) a polycondensation pipe reactor formed separately of and in fluid communication with the esterification reactor, wherein the polycondensation reactor has an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface through which at least one polycondensation fluid reactant is passed. - View Dependent Claims (191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233)
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203. An esterification pipe reactor apparatus for producing a polyester monomer, comprising:
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(a) an esterification pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface;
wherein the esterification pipe reactor is operated in at least on flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) a recirculation loop having an influent and an effluent, the effluent being in fluid communication with the esterification pipe reactor. - View Dependent Claims (215)
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209. An apparatus for producing a polyester monomer, oligomer, or polymer, comprising:
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(a) a pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface through which the fluid reactants are passed; and
(b) a weir connected to a portion of the interior surface of the piper reactor and adjacent the outlet thereof, wherein the pipe reactor is operated at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
wherein the reactor comprises substantially empty pipe.
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210. An apparatus for producing a polyester monomer, oligomer, or polymer, comprising:
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(a) a pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface through which the fluid reactants are passed;
wherein the pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow; and
(b) a vent in fluid communication with the reactor, the vent further comprising an upstanding degas stand pipe coupled to the vent, the degas stand pipe having a receiving end in fluid communication with the vent and an opposed venting end disposed vertically above the receiving end, and wherein the degas stand pipe is non-linear extending in its lengthwise direction between the receiving end and the venting end thereof, and wherein the degas stand pipe is formed of three contiguous sections each in fluid communication with each other, a first section adjacent the receiving end and extending substantially vertically from the vent, a second section coupled to the first section and oriented at an angle relative to the first section in plan view, and a third section coupled to the second section and oriented at a complimentary angle relative to the second section in plan view so that the third section is oriented substantially horizontally. - View Dependent Claims (211, 212, 213)
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214. An apparatus for producing a polyester monomer, oligomer, or polymer comprising:
(a) a pipe reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior surface through which the fluid reactants are passed;
wherein the pipe reactor has alternating linear and non-linear sections extending in their respective lengthwise directions between the inlet and outlet thereof; and
wherein the pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow.- View Dependent Claims (216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 242, 243)
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234. An apparatus for venting a process of gas or vapor while effectively disengaging liquid from the gas or vapor, the liquid, gas and vapor being fluids, separating the liquid from the gas or vapor, and returning the liquid back to the process, comprising:
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(a) a vessel or process pipe containing (i) liquid and (ii) gas or vapor; and
(b) a vent in fluid communication with the vessel or process pipe, the vent further comprising an upstanding degas stand pipe coupled to the vent, the degas stand pipe having a receiving end in fluid communication with the vent and an opposed venting end disposed vertically above the receiving end, and wherein the degas stand pipe is non-linear extending in its lengthwise direction between the receiving end and the venting end thereof, and wherein the degas stand pipe is formed of three contiguous sections each in fluid communication with each other, a first section adjacent the receiving end and extending substantially vertically from the vent, a second section coupled to the first section and oriented at an angle relative to the first section in plan view, and a third section coupled to the second section and oriented at an angle relative to the second section in plan view so that the third section is oriented substantially horizontally;
wherein the pipe reactor is operated in at least one flow regime selected from the group consisting of bubble flow, plug flow, stratified flow, wavy flow, slug flow, dispersed flow and froth flow. - View Dependent Claims (235, 236, 237)
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Specification