Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for solution polymerization comprising a reactor system that is operative to receive a monomer and to react the monomer to form a polymer; a plurality of devolatilization vessels located downstream of the reactor system, where each devolatilization vessel operates at a lower pressure than the preceding devolatilization vessel; and a heat exchanger disposed between two devolatilization vessels and in fluid communication with them, where the heat exchanger has an inlet port temperature of 100° C. to 230° C., an outlet port temperature of 200° C. to 300° C., an inlet port pressure of 35 to 250 kgf/cm2 and an outlet port pressure of 20 to 200 kgf/cm2; and wherein the polymer solution remains in a single phase during its residence in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for solution polymerization comprising a reactor system that is operative to receive a monomer and to react the monomer to form a polymer; a plurality of devolatilization vessels located downstream of the reactor system, where each devolatilization vessel operates at a lower pressure than the preceding devolatilization vessel; and a heat exchanger disposed between two devolatilization vessels and in fluid communication with them, where the heat exchanger has an inlet port temperature of 100° C. to 230° C., an outlet port temperature of 200° C. to 300° C., an inlet port pressure of 35 to 250 kgf/cm2 and an outlet port pressure of 20 to 200 kgf/cm2; and wherein the polymer solution remains in a single phase during its residence in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a shell; the shell having an inlet port for introducing a polymer solution into the shell and an outlet port for removing the polymer solution from the shell; wherein the polymer solution comprises a polymer and a solvent that is operative to dissolve the polymer; a plurality of plates in the shell; where the plurality of plates is stacked one atop the other to define a central passage that is in fluid communication with the inlet port of the shell; where the plurality of plates further defines a plurality of conduits, each conduit extending radially outwards from the central passage, where the plurality of conduits is in fluid communication with the central passage; and where the apparatus is operated at a pressure and a temperature effective to maintain the polymer solution in a single phase during its travel through the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a distributor comprising a first conduit; where the first conduit has an inlet port for charging a heating fluid into the distributor; a second conduit; where the first conduit lies inside the second conduit to define a first annular space therebetween; where the second conduit has an exit port for removing the heating fluid from the distributor; a plurality of plate stacks disposed around the second conduit to define a narrowing second annular space from top to bottom of the distributor; where each successive plate stack has smaller inner diameter than the plate stack located above it; where each plate stack comprises a plurality of plates; where the plurality of plates further define a plurality of conduits, each conduit having a varying width over its length and extending radially outwards from the central passage.