JPH0977857A - Polycondensation reactor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the efficient surface replacement of a polymer having a relatively low viscosity and the efficient production of a sufficient polymer in a polycondensation reactor in which a polymer of high degree of polymerization is obtained by performing polymerization while removing volatile low molecule materials formed as byproducts of a reaction. SOLUTION: This reactor is provided with rotary axes 9, 9' horizontally placed at both the ends of a horizontal cylindrical container 1, and the rotary axes 9, 9' are each fixed to one of a pair of frames 8, 8'. The frames 8, 8' are connected by plural members 10 for holding up fluid, and plural pieces of disk-shaped partition boards 11 are attached on the members 10 in a substantially perpendicular state, wherein a central part has an opening and the partition boards 11 are placed with a space between them. Further, plural wire netting members 12 are attached to the adjacent partition boards 11 with both the ends of the net members 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a polycondensation reaction apparatus for promoting a polymerization reaction while removing a volatile low-molecular substance by-produced by the reaction to obtain a highly polymerized product.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is obtained by polycondensing bis-β-hydroxyethyl terephthalate at 270 to 290 ° C. under a pressure of about 1 Torr while removing by-produced ethylene glycol. In such a polycondensation reaction, in order to remove the volatile substances by-produced to proceed the polymerization reaction, the surface area of the reaction product (polymer) is increased, and the surface of the reaction product is promptly renewed to produce a by-product. It is necessary to promote the diffusion (mass transfer to the gas phase) of low molecular weight substances that do so.

In a conventional continuous polymerization apparatus, by rotating a disk, a grid, a wire net, etc. in a uniaxial or biaxial horizontal cylindrical reactor, the byproducts are diffused while updating the surface of the polymer. To promote the polycondensation reaction.

[0004]

As described above, the conventional apparatus is configured to rotate the disk, the grid, the wire mesh, etc. in the reactor. However, if the viscosity of the polymer is 1
When it is as low as 00 Poise or less, the amount of the polymer lifted up by the disc, the lattice, the wire mesh, etc. becomes small, and the mixing property of the bulk body is deteriorated, so that the ability to renew the surface of the polymer is remarkably lowered and the efficiency is lowered. Good, it becomes impossible to obtain a sufficient polymer.

The present invention solves the above problems and provides a continuous polycondensator which has a large surface renewal function even for a liquid having a relatively low viscosity and is particularly effective for producing a low-viscosity polymer. It is an issue.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems in a polycondensation reactor in which a volatile low-molecular substance by-produced by the reaction is removed and a polymerization reaction is advanced to obtain a high degree of polymerization, the present invention provides: Adopt the configuration of.

That is, in the polycondensation reactor according to the present invention, a pair of frames are provided at both ends in a horizontal cylindrical container having an inlet / outlet of a treated material, each of which is fixed to a horizontally arranged rotating shaft. And a plurality of fluid lifting members that are arranged in the horizontal cylindrical container and connect the frames.

Further, a plurality of disc-shaped partition plates mounted substantially vertically to the fluid lifting member, having an opening at the center and spaced from each other,
A plurality of wire mesh members having both ends attached to the adjacent partition plates are provided.

According to the polycondensation reactor of the present invention thus constructed, the polymer which is lifted from the liquid surface as the fluid lifting member is rotated becomes a liquid film in the gas phase through the wire mesh member. As the polymer flows down, the surface area of the reactant is large even if the polymer has a low viscosity, and a new surface can be constantly formed on the polymer.

Further, in the polycondensation reactor of the present invention, the liquid at the bottom of the container is lifted by the pump effect of the fluid lifting member,
By circulating to the liquid surface, the mixing property of the liquid body can be remarkably improved, and a homogeneous polymer can be obtained.

Further, since a plurality of partition plates can provide an appropriate residence time distribution of the polymer in the longitudinal direction, a polymer having a sharp molecular weight distribution can be obtained.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The polycondensation reactor according to the present invention will be specifically described below based on the embodiment shown in FIGS. In the polycondensation reactor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the horizontal cylindrical container 1 arranged horizontally is provided with an inlet 2 and an outlet 3 of the processed material near both ends thereof.

A jacket 4 for heating or cooling is provided on the outer circumference of the container 1, and an inlet 5 and an outlet 6 for the heating or cooling medium are provided respectively. Further, 7 is an exhaust port for volatile substances and the like provided in a substantially central portion of the container 1.

At both ends of the inside of the container 1, a pair of frames 8 and 8 ′ each having a slight gap with the container 1 and extending horizontally from the inside of the container 1 to the outside of the container 1 are formed. , 9 ', and the rotating shaft 9 or 9'
From one side, it is driven and rotated by a drive device (not shown).

Between the frames 8 and 8 ', a plurality of fluid lifting members 10 are attached in parallel with the rotating shafts 9 and 9', with a gap from the container 1 and in parallel with each other.
It should be noted that the fluid lifting member 10 has a triangular shape as shown in FIG. 2, but may have a rectangular shape other than a triangular shape.
Alternatively, it may have a semicircular shape.

Further, on the plurality of fluid lifting members 10, disk-shaped partition plates 11 arranged at intervals so as to divide the inside of the container 1 into a plurality of parts in the longitudinal direction are in contact with the container 1. And the fluid lifting member 10
Mounted substantially vertically.

The disc-shaped partition plate 11 has a donut shape having a circular opening in the center. Moreover, both ends of a plurality of wire mesh members 12 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the container 1 and substantially perpendicular to the disk-shaped partition plates 11 are fixed to the adjacent disk-shaped partition plates 11. Has been done.

The wire mesh member 12 is also arranged so as not to contact the container 1. The wire mesh member 1
2 may be arranged on a straight line with respect to the longitudinal direction, or may be arranged at different angles. Further, 13 is a sealing mechanism between the rotary shafts 9 and 9 ′ and the container 1.

In the reactor according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the amount of the processed material such as liquid is usually about half the total volume of the cylindrical container 1, and the rotary shaft 9 or 9 is used. 'Rotate. By the rotation of the rotating shaft 9 or 9 ′, a part of the processed material inside is lifted by the fluid lifting member 10 between the adjacent disc-shaped partition plates 11, 11.

When the fluid lifting member 10 reaches the upper side,
The lifted processed product flows downward through the wire mesh member 12, and by repeating this, the processed product inside the container 1 is agitated and mixed. Further, by adjusting the number of attached fluid lifting members 10 and wire mesh members 12 and the opening of the wire mesh, it is possible to obtain a proper stirring and mixing state corresponding to the viscosity of the processed material. The processed product thus stirred and mixed moves through the opening at the center of the disk-shaped partition plate 11 in the container 1 and is taken out from the outlet 3 of the processed product.

Moreover, since the plurality of disc-shaped partition plates 11 substantially divide the longitudinal direction in the container, the piston flow property of the flow of the processed product is obtained in the distribution operation, and the processed product is obtained. The reactivity of the piston is improved, and the piston flowability can be controlled by adjusting the number of attached sheets.

Further, the reactor of the present embodiment is a very simple one in which a plurality of disc-shaped partition plates 11 and a wire mesh member 12 are attached to the fluid lifting member 10, the structure is simple, and the manufacturing cost thereof is low. Can be cheaper.

[0023]

As described above, the polycondensation reactor according to the present invention has a plurality of fluid lifting members, a disk-shaped partition plate, and a wire mesh member as described in the claims. By having the configuration used, it exerts a large surface renewal function as follows.

That is, in the polycondensation reactor of the present invention, a portion having a relatively low viscosity is treated in a cylindrical container substantially partitioned by a plurality of disk-shaped partition plates attached to the fluid lifting member. The fluid lifting member also effectively lifts the object, and when the fluid lifting member rotates and reaches the upper side, the processed object is made to flow downward in the form of a film through the wire mesh member. By repeating this, the reaction by-product can be effectively evaporated and removed from the treated product.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a polycondensation reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Container 2 Treated Product Inlet 3 Treated Product Outlet 4 Jacket 5 Cooling Medium Inlet 6 Cooling Medium Outlet 7 Exhaust Port 8, 8 ′ Frame 9, 9 ′ Rotating Shaft 10 Fluid Lifting Member 11 Disc Partition 12 Wire mesh member 13 Sealing mechanism

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of frames provided at both ends in a horizontal cylindrical container having an inlet / outlet of a processed material, each of which is fixed to a horizontally arranged rotating shaft, and the frame is arranged in the container. A plurality of fluid lifting members that connect between them, a plurality of disk-shaped partition plates that are mounted substantially vertically to the members, have an opening in the center, and are spaced apart from each other; A polycondensation reactor comprising a plurality of wire mesh members, both ends of which are attached to adjacent partition plates.