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BR-112020023823-B1 - DISTRIBUTOR

BR112020023823B1BR 112020023823 B1BR112020023823 B1BR 112020023823B1BR-112020023823-B1

Abstract

DISTRIBUTOR AND METHOD. A distributor comprising a first conduit is disclosed in this document; wherein the first conduit has an inlet port for loading a heating fluid into the distributor; a second conduit; wherein the first conduit lies within the second conduit to define a first annular space between them; wherein the second conduit has an outlet port for removing the heating fluid from the distributor; a plurality of stacks of plates arranged around the second conduit to define a second narrow annular space from top to bottom of the distributor; wherein each successive stack of plates has an internal diameter smaller than the stack of plates located above it; wherein each stack of plates comprises a plurality of plates; wherein the plurality of plates further defines a plurality of conduits, wherein each conduit has a variable width along its length and extending radially outward from the central passage.

Inventors

  • BRADLEY K. BLANCHARD
  • Maria Pollard
  • SEAN W. EWART

Assignees

  • DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20190531
Priority Date
20180531

Claims (10)

  1. 1. Distributor (100) characterized in that it comprises: a first conduit (102); wherein the first conduit (102) has an inlet port (101) for loading a heating fluid (250) into the distributor (100); a second conduit (104); wherein the first conduit (102) is inside the second conduit (104) to define a first annular space (122) between them; wherein the second conduit (104) has an outlet port (103) for removing the heating fluid (250) from the distributor (100); a plurality of plate stacks (112) arranged around the second conduit (104) to define a second narrow annular space (124) from top to bottom of the distributor (100), wherein the second annular space (124) is in contact with an inlet (111) that receives a polymer solution, wherein each successive plate stack (112) has a smaller inner diameter and a smaller outer diameter than the plate stack (112) located above it; wherein each plate stack (112A, 112B, 112C) comprises a plurality of plates; wherein the plurality of plates further defines a plurality of conduits, wherein each conduit has a variable width along its length and extends radially outward from the second annular space (124), wherein the plurality of conduits is in fluid communication with the second annular space (124); and wherein the distributor (100) is operated at an effective pressure and temperature to promote the separation of a solvent from a polymer solution during the transport of the polymer solution through the distributor (100).
  2. 2. Distributor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conduit in the stack of plates (112) has an increasing cross-sectional area as the radial distance from a center of the first conduit (102) increases.
  3. 3. Distributor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conduit in the stack of plates (112) has a decreasing cross-sectional area as the radial distance from a center of the first conduit (102) increases.
  4. 4. Distributor (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the conduit with decreasing cross-sectional area is located further from a polymer solution inlet port (111) than a conduit in the plate stack (112) with a cross-sectional area that increases with radial distance from the center of the first conduit (102).
  5. 5. Distributor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conduit in the stack of plates (112) has an increasing width along a portion of its length and has a decreasing width along a portion of its length; wherein the length is measured as the radial distance from a center of the first conduit (102).
  6. 6. Distributor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature and pressure of the distributor (100) are effective in facilitating the start of solvent vaporization in the conduit.
  7. 7. Distributor (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the temperature and pressure of the distributor (100) are effective in facilitating a solvent remnant vaporizing out of the conduit after the polymer solution has been transported through the conduit.
  8. 8. Distributor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the plates intersect with tubes that carry a heating fluid (250) or with rods that facilitate maintaining an alignment of the plates.
  9. 9. Distributor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the devolatilization chamber (600) comprises a first port (602) for removing a solvent and a second port (604) for removing a polymer; wherein the second port (604) is equipped with a positive displacement pump (606).
  10. 10. Distributor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the plates in the stack are designed to have an optimized cross-sectional area to ensure uniform distribution of the polymer solution through the distributor (100).

Description

BACKGROUND [001] This disclosure relates to a polymer solution devolatilization dispenser, methods for manufacturing the same, and articles that use the dispenser. [002] Polymers and polymer products (hereinafter referred to as “polymers”) are frequently manufactured in the presence of solvents and other volatile components (e.g., monomers and byproducts) (solvents and volatile components will hereinafter be referred to as “volatiles”). After a polymer product is made, it is desirable to remove residual volatiles from the polymer. The removal of volatiles from the polymer is called “devolatilization”. [003] The separation of volatiles from a polymer solution is generally carried out by evaporation, in which the polymer solution is heated to a temperature above the boiling point of the volatiles, while simultaneously (concomitant with heating) or sequentially (after heating) evolved volatiles are extracted from the polymer solution. One devolatilization method involves transporting the dissolved polymer solution through a heat exchanger and then to a reduced pressure zone. Suitable heat exchangers for this purpose, such as, for example, shell and tube heat exchangers, comprise a plurality of tubes in a vessel, which are heated by means of a heating fluid that transfers heat to the polymer solution and facilitates devolatilization when the pressure is reduced. [004] In the heat exchanger, it is desirable to retain the polymer solution in a single phase, preferably a liquid phase. The use of a single phase facilitates more efficient heat transfer and also allows for a more predictable heat transfer rate to the polymer. [005] The hot polymer solution is then discharged into a devolatilization vessel where reduced pressure allows the volatiles to vaporize, causing the polymer to separate from the volatiles. The process for separating the polymer from the volatiles involves the production of foam bubbles. These bubbles generally comprise a polymer skin in which the volatiles are trapped. When the bubbles reach a sufficient size, they coalesce and rupture, allowing the volatile compounds to be released from the polymer skin. It is desirable that this release of volatiles (from the bubbles) occurs in a separate device, such as a dispenser, as opposed to a heating device. SUMMARY [006] A distributor comprising a first conduit is disclosed in this document; wherein the first conduit has an inlet port for loading a heating fluid into the distributor; a second conduit; wherein the first conduit lies within the second conduit to define a first annular space between them; wherein the second conduit has an outlet port for removing the heating fluid from the distributor; a plurality of stacks of plates arranged around the second conduit to define a second narrow annular space from top to bottom of the distributor; wherein each successive stack of plates has an internal diameter smaller than the stack of plates located above it; wherein each stack of plates comprises a plurality of plates; wherein the plurality of plates further defines a plurality of conduits, wherein each conduit has a variable width along its length and extends radially outward from the central passage, wherein the plurality of conduits is in fluid communication with the second annular space; and in which the distributor is operated at a pressure and temperature effective in promoting the separation of a solvent from a polymer solution during the transport of the polymer solution through the distributor. [007] Also disclosed in this document is a method comprising loading a polymer solution into a dispenser; wherein the dispenser comprises a first conduit; wherein the first conduit has an inlet port for loading a heating fluid into the dispenser; a second conduit; wherein the first conduit lies within the second conduit to define a first annular space between them; wherein the second conduit has an outlet port for removing the heating fluid from the dispenser; a plurality of stacks of plates arranged around the second conduit to define a second narrow annular space from top to bottom of the dispenser; wherein each successive stack of plates has an inner diameter smaller than the stack of plates located above it; wherein each stack of plates comprises a plurality of plates; wherein the plurality of plates further defines a plurality of conduits, wherein each conduit has a variable width along its length and extends radially outward from the central passage, wherein the plurality of conduits is in fluid communication with the second annular space; and wherein the distributor is operated at an effective pressure and temperature to promote the separation of a solvent from a polymer solution during the transport of the polymer solution through the distributor; removing the solvent from the distributor by means of a first port; and removing a polymer from the distributor by means of a second port. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [008] Figure 1A is an illustra