Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D1/00—Evaporating
  • B01D1/22—Evaporating by bringing a thin layer of the liquid into contact with a heated surface
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J19/18—Stationary reactors having moving elements inside
  • B01J19/1887—Stationary reactors having moving elements inside forming a thin film
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
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  • B01J19/18—Stationary reactors having moving elements inside
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D1/00—Evaporating
  • B01D1/22—Evaporating by bringing a thin layer of the liquid into contact with a heated surface
  • B01D1/222—In rotating vessels; vessels with movable parts
  • B01D1/223—In rotating vessels; vessels with movable parts containing a rotor
  • B01D1/225—In rotating vessels; vessels with movable parts containing a rotor with blades or scrapers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F21/00—Dissolving
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
  • B01F27/05—Stirrers
  • B01F27/07—Stirrers characterised by their mounting on the shaft
  • B01F27/071—Fixing of the stirrer to the shaft
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
  • B01F27/05—Stirrers
  • B01F27/07—Stirrers characterised by their mounting on the shaft
  • B01F27/072—Stirrers characterised by their mounting on the shaft characterised by the disposition of the stirrers with respect to the rotating axis
  • B01F27/0721—Stirrers characterised by their mounting on the shaft characterised by the disposition of the stirrers with respect to the rotating axis parallel with respect to the rotating axis
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
  • B01F27/05—Stirrers
  • B01F27/07—Stirrers characterised by their mounting on the shaft
  • B01F27/072—Stirrers characterised by their mounting on the shaft characterised by the disposition of the stirrers with respect to the rotating axis
  • B01F27/0724—Stirrers characterised by their mounting on the shaft characterised by the disposition of the stirrers with respect to the rotating axis directly mounted on the rotating axis
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
  • B01F27/05—Stirrers
  • B01F27/09—Stirrers characterised by the mounting of the stirrers with respect to the receptacle
  • B01F27/091—Stirrers characterised by the mounting of the stirrers with respect to the receptacle with elements co-operating with receptacle wall or bottom, e.g. for scraping the receptacle wall
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
  • B01F27/50—Pipe mixers, i.e. mixers wherein the materials to be mixed flow continuously through pipes, e.g. column mixers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
  • B01F27/80—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis
  • B01F27/90—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders with stirrers rotating about a substantially vertical axis with paddles or arms 
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
  • B01F35/71—Feed mechanisms
  • B01F35/717—Feed mechanisms characterised by the means for feeding the components to the mixer
  • B01F35/71775—Feed mechanisms characterised by the means for feeding the components to the mixer using helical screws
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
  • B01F35/75—Discharge mechanisms
  • B01F35/754—Discharge mechanisms characterised by the means for discharging the components from the mixer
  • B01F35/75455—Discharge mechanisms characterised by the means for discharging the components from the mixer using a rotary discharge means, e.g. a screw beneath the receptacle
  • B01F35/754551—Discharge mechanisms characterised by the means for discharging the components from the mixer using a rotary discharge means, e.g. a screw beneath the receptacle using helical screws
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J10/00—Chemical processes in general for reacting liquid with gaseous media other than in the presence of solid particles, or apparatus specially adapted therefor
  • B01J10/02—Chemical processes in general for reacting liquid with gaseous media other than in the presence of solid particles, or apparatus specially adapted therefor of the thin-film type
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J19/0053—Details of the reactor
  • B01J19/0066—Stirrers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J19/18—Stationary reactors having moving elements inside
  • B01J19/20—Stationary reactors having moving elements inside in the form of helices, e.g. screw reactors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J3/00—Processes of utilising sub-atmospheric or super-atmospheric pressure to effect chemical or physical change of matter; Apparatus therefor
  • B01J3/006—Processes utilising sub-atmospheric pressure; Apparatus therefor
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08B—POLYSACCHARIDES; DERIVATIVES THEREOF
  • C08B1/00—Preparatory treatment of cellulose for making derivatives thereof, e.g. pre-treatment, pre-soaking, activation
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08B—POLYSACCHARIDES; DERIVATIVES THEREOF
  • C08B1/00—Preparatory treatment of cellulose for making derivatives thereof, e.g. pre-treatment, pre-soaking, activation
  • C08B1/003—Preparation of cellulose solutions, i.e. dopes, with different possible solvents, e.g. ionic liquids
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J3/00—Processes of treating or compounding macromolecular substances
  • C08J3/02—Making solutions, dispersions, lattices or gels by other methods than by solution, emulsion or suspension polymerisation techniques
  • C08J3/09—Making solutions, dispersions, lattices or gels by other methods than by solution, emulsion or suspension polymerisation techniques in organic liquids
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J3/00—Processes of treating or compounding macromolecular substances
  • C08J3/02—Making solutions, dispersions, lattices or gels by other methods than by solution, emulsion or suspension polymerisation techniques
  • C08J3/09—Making solutions, dispersions, lattices or gels by other methods than by solution, emulsion or suspension polymerisation techniques in organic liquids
  • C08J3/091—Making solutions, dispersions, lattices or gels by other methods than by solution, emulsion or suspension polymerisation techniques in organic liquids characterised by the chemical constitution of the organic liquid
  • C08J3/096—Nitrogen containing compounds
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L3/00—Compositions of starch, amylose or amylopectin or of their derivatives or degradation products
  • C08L3/02—Starch; Degradation products thereof, e.g. dextrin
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L5/00—Compositions of polysaccharides or of their derivatives not provided for in groups C08L1/00 or C08L3/00
  • C08L5/04—Alginic acid; Derivatives thereof
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
  • D01F—CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
  • D01F1/00—General methods for the manufacture of artificial filaments or the like
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/00002—Chemical plants
  • B01J2219/00004—Scale aspects
  • B01J2219/00015—Scale-up
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/00049—Controlling or regulating processes
  • B01J2219/00051—Controlling the temperature
  • B01J2219/00074—Controlling the temperature by indirect heating or cooling employing heat exchange fluids
  • B01J2219/00087—Controlling the temperature by indirect heating or cooling employing heat exchange fluids with heat exchange elements outside the reactor
  • B01J2219/0009—Coils
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/00049—Controlling or regulating processes
  • B01J2219/00051—Controlling the temperature
  • B01J2219/00132—Controlling the temperature using electric heating or cooling elements
  • B01J2219/00135—Electric resistance heaters
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/00761—Details of the reactor
  • B01J2219/00763—Baffles
  • B01J2219/00779—Baffles attached to the stirring means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/18—Details relating to the spatial orientation of the reactor
  • B01J2219/185—Details relating to the spatial orientation of the reactor vertical
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J2219/19—Details relating to the geometry of the reactor
  • B01J2219/194—Details relating to the geometry of the reactor round
  • B01J2219/1941—Details relating to the geometry of the reactor round circular or disk-shaped
  • B01J2219/1943—Details relating to the geometry of the reactor round circular or disk-shaped cylindrical
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J2301/00—Characterised by the use of cellulose, modified cellulose or cellulose derivatives
  • C08J2301/02—Cellulose; Modified cellulose

Definitions

• This invention relates to a thin film treatment apparatus suitable for the manufacture of solutions of cellulose in an aqueous organic solvent. It has particular, but not exclusive, reference to the manufacture of solutions of cellulose for use in the production of lyocell fibre.
• lyocell fibre is a well known concept. Essentially, cellulose in the form of pulp is mixed with water and an organic solvent for cellulose and a stabiliser. Under the action of heat and reduced pressure a part of the water is evaporated off to produce a solution of cellulose in the organic solvent, which additionally contains the remaining portion of the water. This solution is then passed to a spinning process whereby the solution is formed into shaped articles, typically filaments, the filaments are then treated so as to dissolve out the aqueous organic solvent, to precipitate out the cellulose and thus to form the cellulose shaped article.
• Staple fibre is a product used on a large scale and the fibre production process has to be such that the fibre can be produced at a cost to make it economically viable against rival cellulosic fibres such as cotton or viscose fibres or even man made fibres such as polyester fibres.
• the most successful form of equipment which has been found to produce the solution by this commercialised process is a vertically orientated thin film treatment apparatus such as the equipment made by Buss AG and available under the trademark Filmtruder.
• a thin film treatment apparatus of the type to which the present invention is applicable Disclosed in EP 0 356 419 Bl is a thin film treatment apparatus of the type to which the present invention is applicable.
• the pre-mix is pumped into the thin film treatment apparatus via an inlet and passes down through the thin film treatment apparatus partially under the action of gravity but mainly being forced down by transport blades on a central rotor.
• the internal surface of the thin film treatment apparatus is heated and a vacuum is applied to evaporate off excess water. This produces a solution of cellulose in aqueous solvent, which is pumped out of the thin film treatment apparatus via an exit.
• a preferred form of organic solvent is N-methyl morpholine N oxide, commonly abbreviated to NMMO.
• the cellulose solution which is produced by the thin film treatment apparatus can be used to make many types of products.
• the principal product manufactured from this cellulose solution is cellulose fibre.
• many other cellulose materials can be produced such as films or sponges or tubes.
• EP 0 660 743 discloses an improved process for producing cellulose solutions, using a thin film treatment apparatus. Especially, this document is concerned with the optimization of the process of EP 0 356 419 in terms of solution output and energy consumption.
• this object is solved by a thin film treatment apparatus according to claim 1.
• Preferred embodiments of the thin film apparatus according to the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
• the thin film treatment apparatus comprises a rotor having at least one cylindrical section, at least one wiping blade being arranged on said cylindrical section, said wiping blade comprising at least two teeth, and is characterized in that at least part of the teeth form an angle ⁇ towards the vertical direction which is more than 0°, the mean angle ⁇ m of all the teeth being less than 14°. It is known that, especially in order to make cellulose solutions, at least part of the teeth being arranged on a thin film treatment apparatus may be inclined and, thus, form an angle ⁇ towards the vertical direction, which is more than 0°, in order to force the material being transported through the apparatus downward.
• all teeth of the thin film treatment apparatus may be inclined and, thus, all angles ⁇ will be more than 0°.
• only a part of the teeth is inclined. This means that part of the teeth form an angle towards the vertical direction which is 0°, whilst the rest of the teeth form an angle towards the vertical direction which is more than 0°.
• the mean angle ⁇ m is less than 11°, preferably 10°.
• said teeth are being spaced apart from each other, thereby forming a gap, and the average ratio V between the length L of one tooth and the length (G) of the gap being located adjacent to the tooth is more than 2: 1, respectively.
• the production capacity of a thin film treatment apparatus may be significantly increased if the average ratio V between the length L of the teeth located on the blades on the thin film treatment apparatus and the length G of the gaps adjacent to the teeth is increased.
• EP 0 660 743 B 1 discloses that the teeth located on the blades (which may be in the form of strips with integrally formed teeth) may comprise 10% to 40% of the vertical length of the strip. This amounts to a ratio V of significantly lower than 2:1.
• the ratio V between the length L of the teeth and the length G of the respective adjacent gaps is not necessarily the same for all teeth and adjacent gaps, respectively, arranged on the apparatus according to the invention.
• the ratio V may be higher than 2:1 for all the teeth arranged on the apparatus.
• the ratio V in some zones of the apparatus, may be lower than 2:1, whilst in other zones, the ratio V may be significantly higher. It is important, however, that the average value of the ratio V calculated from all the teeth located on the apparatus is higher than 2:1.
• the average ratio V is more than 3:1, preferably 3.3:1. Again, the ratio V may be more than 3:1, preferably 3.3:1 for all the teeth arranged on the apparatus.
• the length L of the teeth may range from 40 to 200 mm, respectively, and preferably from 90 to 110 mm.
• the thin film treatment apparatus is characterized in that the thickness (T) of the wiping blade or the teeth, respectively, is more than 5 mm.
• the thickness T is that face of the blade that is in contact with the material to be treated, and which distributes and transports the material over the inner surface of the thin film treatment apparatus.
• the thickness T may be more than 11 mm, preferably 17 mm to 55 mm, most preferred 22 mm.
• the thin film treatment apparatus according to the present invention is especially suitable for the manufacture of a mouldable solution of cellulose in an aqueous tertiary amine oxide from a suspension of cellulose in said aqueous tertiary amine oxide.
• Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a system in accordance with the present invention
• Figure 2 is an end view of the top of the rotor of the system shown in Figure 1,
• FIG. 3 is a more detailed view of a blade to rotor connection
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Figure 3,
• Figure 5 is a view of a part of the rotor of a thin film treatment apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 6 is a schematical top view illustrating an exemplary shape of a rotor blade of a thin film treatment apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 7 is a chart showing the influence of ratio V of the teeth of the blades on the specific output of a thin film treatment apparatus.
• Figure 8 is a chart showing the influence of the mean angle ⁇ m on the specific output of a thin film treatment apparatus.
• Figure 9 is a chart showing the influence of the thickness T of the blades on the specific output of a thin film treatment apparatus.
• this shows schematically a system for performing the process of forming a cellulose solution in a tertiary amine N-oxide.
• a tertiary amine N-oxide such as N-methylmorpholine Noxide
• a container 1 is fed into a container 1 along line 2.
• Feed lines are also provided for cellulose, 3, and water, 4.
• the premix formed by mixing these components contains typically 12% by weight of cellulose, 20% by weight of water and 68% by weight of N-methylmorpholine N-oxide.
• the three components are mixed in the container 1 by means of a paddle screw 5 rotated by an electric motor 6. The paddle screw agitates the mixture and passes the mixed components along a pipeline 7 to a thin-film treatment apparatus indicated generally by 8.
• the pipeline preferably has a diameter such that it is always full, otherwise a restriction may be provided in its outlet into the thin film treatment apparatus, so that material in the pipeline 7 is not exposed to the vacuum in the treatment apparatus 8.
• the thin-film treatment apparatus 8 comprises a rotor within a cylindrical member 9 which is heated on the outside by means of a heating element 10.
• the heating element may be an electrical heating element, or an oil-filled element, or a complete steam-filled or hot-water- f ⁇ lled heating jacket.
• At the lower end of the cylindrical portion 9 there is a tapered portion 11 leading to a discharge line 12.
• a feed chamber 13 provided with an exit duct 14 through which evaporated vapours may be removed.
• Premixed material passes into the chamber 13 through the pipeline 7 and is distributed around the thin-film treatment apparatus by a distributor plate 15 on rotation of the rotor, indicated generally by 16.
• the central shaft of the rotor 16 is rotated by means of an external electric motor 17.
• the rotor 16 is provided with a series of blades 18 which are described in more detail below.
• a reduced pressure is applied through the duct 14, whereby, on heating of the premix by means of the heating element 10, the water is evaporated during operation of the thin-film treatment apparatus to reduce the water content of the premix as it is heated.
• the screw member 21 is rotated by means of an electric motor 26', and control of the electric motor 26' in conjunction with control of the electric motors 6 and 17 controls the flow of solution through the system.
• FIGs 2 to 4 show in more detail the structure of the rotor illustrated generally at 16 in Figure 1.
• the rotor comprises a cylindrical central portion 26 having at its lower end a tapered conical portion. At its upper end the cylindrical portion has a terminating plate 28 to which the rotational shaft from motor 15 is connected.
• the rotor central portion 26 is essentially a hollow cylinder having integrally projecting from it a series of, e.g., six parallel blade roots 29, 30 etc. These blade roots extend the length of the central portion 26 of the rotor.
• the blade roots are welded to and form an integral portion of the central region of the rotor.
• a blade plate 38 is bolted to a blade root 39 by means of a conventional bolt 40.
• a blade plate 41 has a series of teeth members 42,43,44 and 45 which extend to the far edges of the blade plate 41 and the blade plate 41 is secured to a blade root 46 by means of bolts 47,48 and 49.
• the blade teeth 42 to 45 may be angled to push the viscous premix and viscous solution downwards through the thin-film treatment apparatus. Because the rotor 16 of the thin-film treatment apparatus 8 is arranged in a vertical disposition, the action of the inclined blades cooperates with the action of gravity to enhance movement of the premix and solution downwards through the treatment apparatus.
• Figure 5 schematically exemplifies a preferred embodiment of the present invention by reference to two adjacent blades 41, 35 (which are not depicted) on which teeth 42, 43, 44 and teeth 42', 43' and 44', respectively, are arranged.
• part of the teeth are oriented vertically (i.e. teeth 42, 43 and 44) whilst another part of the teeth (teeth 42', 43' and 44') are inclined towards the vertical direction, thereby forming an angle ⁇ of more than 0°.
• Each tooth has a length L (depicted in Figure 5 with regard to teeth 42 and 42', respectively).
• the length L refers to the length of the projection of the tooth on the plumb line (as shown in Figure 5 with regard to tooth 42').
• Adjacent teeth e.g. teeth 42 and 43, are spaced apart from each other, therefore forming a gap G.
• the ratio of length L of the tooth to the length G of the gap is ratio V.
• the average ratio V for all the teeth and adjacent gaps located on the cylindrical section of the rotor should be more than 2:1, respectively.
• the mean angle ⁇ m which is the average value of the angles ⁇ of all teeth (including those teeth which are not inclined), should be less than 11°.
• Figure 6 illustrates schematically the shape of an embodiment of tooth 42.
• the tooth 42 has a front face 42a which is in contact with the material to be treated, and which distributes and transports the material over the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 9.
• Front face 42a runs essentially parallel to the inner surface of cylindrical portion 9.
• the front face 42a of the teeth exhibits a thickness T, which should be more than 5 mm.
• the production capacity of a thin film treatment apparatus is especially limited by two factors:
• factor 1) i.e. the maximum circumferential speed
• factor 1 may have a value of around 7 m/s.
• the maximum temperature (factor 2)) should not exceed 160° for risk of exothermic reactions.
• the product of factors 1) and 2) i.e. the maximum "F- factor" is l l20°C m/s.
• the apparatus was used to process a cellulose suspension in aqueous NMMO into a cellulose solution with 13% cellulose.
• the length of the teeth arranged on the blades was 62 mm, respectively.
• the length of the gaps adjacent the teeth was 31 mm, respectively. I.e. the average ratio V was 2:1.
• the length of the teeth was 102 mm, whilst the length of the gaps was kept constant at 31 mm. I.e. the average ratio V was 3.3.
• the term "length” refers to the actual face length of the teeth. For those teeth in the apparatus used that were inclined, the length of their projection on the plumb line was only insignificantly different from the actual face length and, hence, did not alter the average ratio V.
• the length of the teeth arranged on the blades was 62 mm, respectively.
• the length of the gaps adjacent the teeth was 31 mm, respectively.
• the mean angle ⁇ m (towards the vertical direction) of all the teeth was 14°.
• the teeth had a thickness T of 11 mm.
• the maximum output that can be obtained - without exceeding the maximum F-factor of 1120 0 C m/s - is 2550 kg/d.m 2 using a thin-film treatment apparatus having a mean angle ⁇ m of 10° as compared with 2110 kg/d.m 2 with a thin-film treatment apparatus where ⁇ m is 14°.
• the experimental setup was essentially the same as in example 1 and example 2, however, a thin film treatment apparatus having a rotor with only 4 blades was employed for this example.
• the length of the teeth arranged on the blades was 62 mm, respectively.
• the length of the gaps adjacent the teeth was 31 mm, respectively.
• the teeth had a thickness T of 11 mm.
• the teeth had a thickness T of 22 mm.
• the maximum output that can be obtained - without exceeding the maximum F-factor of 1120 0 C m/s - is 1510 kg/d.m ⁇ using a thin-film treatment apparatus with a thickness T of the teeth of 22 mm as compared with 1300 kg/d.m 2 with a thin-film treatment apparatus where T was 11 mm.

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