Abstract: A rotary processor has enclosed processing passages defined by channels in the rotor and a stationary coaxial closure. At least one processing passage is used as a stabilizing passage and another as a metering passage, whose volume and cross section are less than the stabilizing passage. A feed of plastic or polymeric material enters the stabilizing passage and may be subject to fluctuations or disturbances arising in external upstream equipment or within upstream stages of the processor itself. Substantially all material in the stabilizing passage is diverted through a first transfer passage to an entrance into the metering passage. An adjustable metering (throttling) element allows a controlled first flow of material to be carried downstream through an adjustable gap between this metering element and the bottom of the metering passage. This controlled first flow is discharged for providing material having uniform flow or at least a marked reduction in such fluctuations and disturbances.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors and devolatilizing methods which provide extremely efficient devolatilization of materials, including viscous and visco-elastic materials and which involve a devolatilizing stage including a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage of the devolatilizing stage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material to transfer grooves formed in the closure surface and operationally communicate with a vacuum source to provide a highly efficient devolatilizing stage.

Abstract: Rotary processors and methods for mixing a low viscosity liquid with a viscous material while controlling plugging of the means for introducing low viscosity liquid to the processor. Viscous material is introduced to a mixing rotary processor comprising at least one annular channel carried by a rotor and enclosed by a housing to form a mixing passage. The material is dragged forward by the rotating channel walls from the passage inlet past a spreader as films on the channel walls, forming a void downstream of the spreader between the films. Low viscosity liquid is sprayed from a point within the void to be deposited on and carried downstream with the films of material and to be mixed with material collected at a passage end wall.In one embodiment, pressure sealing means permits spraying into a saturated vapor zone in the void so that liquid vaporizes and is condensed onto the films as well distributed fine droplets.

Abstract: Rotary processors and methods for purifying a viscous liquid material by liquid-liquid extraction. Material is introduced to an extracting apparatus including a mixing rotary processor comprising at least one annular channel carried by a rotor and enclosed by a housing to form a mixing passage. The material is dragged forward by the rotating channel from the passage inlet past a blocking member. Solvent introduced to the passage, such as by spray means, is carried downstream with the material and dispersed in material collected at a passage end wall. In one embodiment the blocking member comprises a spreader which spreads the material as films on the channel walls. In another embodiment, sparging means sparges solvent into a pool of the material collected upstream of the blocking member. Separation of the solvent from the material may involve rotary devolatilizing or phase separating processors, which may be arranged with the mixing processor for cocurrent or countercurrent, multi-stage series operation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for physically separating a heterogeneous mixture of immiscible liquids utilizing the difference in the viscosities of the components. At least one moveable surface is enclosed by at least one stationary surface to form a processing passage. Viscous-drag-induced momentum is transferred preferentially from the moving surface(s) to the more viscous component of the mixture, moving it downstream toward a collecting and pressurizing obstructing member. The resulting pressure "squeezes" the less viscous droplets upstream to separate from the collected material and drain from the passage through a drainage opening.In a preferred embodiment, an annular channel rotates within a housing, dragging the mixture from an inlet to an obstructing member extending into the passage near an outlet. The separated less viscous component drains from a drainage opening in the housing, while the more viscous component is discharged through the outlet.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors and devolatilizing methods which provide extremely efficient devolatilization of materials, including viscous and visco-elastic materials and which involve a devolatilizing stage including a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage of the devolatilizing stage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material to transfer grooves formed in the closure surface and operationally communicate with a vacuum source to provide a highly efficient devolatilizing stage.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors which involve a devolatilizing stage including a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage of the devolatilizing stage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material transfer grooves formed in the closure surface.The rotary processors of this invention include a novel vacuum system to evacuate the devolatilizing stage.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors including sealing means to control leakage of pressure and/or material between processing passages which are maintained at significantly different pressure levels. The processors comprise a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that viscous material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material transfer grooves formed in the closure surface.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors including sealing means to control leakage of pressure and/or material between processing passages which are maintained at significantly different pressure levels. The processors comprise a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material transfer grooves formed in the closure surface.