Abstract: A thin-film treatment apparatus for treating viscous material includes a process housing oriented at an incline of at most 20° with a heatable and/or coolable housing casing, which surrounds a housing interior forming a material treatment space, an inlet nozzle arranged in an inlet zone of the process housing to introduce the material to be treated into the material treatment space, an outlet nozzle arranged in an outlet zone of the process housing to discharge the treated material from the material treatment space, and a drivable rotor shaft arranged in the material treatment space and extending coaxially for producing a material film on the inner surface of the housing casing and for conveying the material in the direction of an outlet zone. The rotor shaft includes at least one lift element arranged on the rotor shaft body, for producing a lifting force in the direction of the rotating rotor shaft body.

Abstract: A method for producing a cellulose solution with a solvent from a cellulose suspension in the solvent and a volatile non-solvent, including the introduction of the suspension into an inlet of a thin-film treatment apparatus, application and distribution of the suspension in a film-like form on a housing casing, temperature-controlled using a heat exchanger, by sweeper elements rotating about a common axis in a process housing of the treatment apparatus, evaporation of volatile non-solvent so that the cellulose is dissolved, and output of the solution of cellulose from the treatment apparatus through an outlet, wherein at least a part of the sweeper elements cause the cellulose to be advanced in the direction of the outlet so that the discharge at the outlet is between 300 kg/h and 600 kg/h cellulose solution per m2 of the temperature-controlled surface of the housing casing.

Abstract: A thin-film treatment apparatus for treating viscous material includes a process housing oriented at an incline of at most 20° with a heatable and/or coolable housing casing, which surrounds a housing interior forming a material treatment space, an inlet nozzle arranged in an inlet zone of the process housing to introduce the material to be treated into the material treatment space, an outlet nozzle arranged in an outlet zone of the process housing to discharge the treated material from the material treatment space, and a drivable rotor shaft arranged in the material treatment space and extending coaxially for producing a material film on the inner surface of the housing casing and for conveying the material in the direction of an outlet zone. The rotor shaft includes at least one lift element arranged on the rotor shaft body, for producing a lifting force in the direction of the rotating rotor shaft body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for purifying a chain-extended aliphatic polyester constructed from aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and aliphatic diols in a degassing apparatus, wherein the crude polyester is degassed for 3 to 30 minutes at a pressure of 0.01 to 5 mbar in the presence of 1% to 7% by weight, based on the total weight of the crude polyester, of an entraining agent.

Abstract: A device for the thermal treatment of material comprises a housing having a heatable housing jacket, which surrounds a treatment chamber and forms a rotationally symmetrical treatment surface extending in an axial direction, and a drivable rotor, which is arranged in the treatment chamber and extends coaxially. The rotor comprises a shaft, arranged in a manner distributed over the circumference of which are spreading elements. The device also comprises a condensation space, in which a condenser is formed and into which gaseous material components escaping from the material during the thermal treatment can pass, a condensate outlet for discharging the material components condensed in the condensation space, and a vacuum connection, which is fluidically connected to the condensation space. The vacuum connection is arranged in a region of the housing that lies downstream of the treatment surface, as viewed in the transport direction of the material.

Abstract: A device for the thermal treatment of material comprises a housing having a heatable housing jacket, which surrounds a treatment chamber and forms a rotationally symmetrical treatment surface extending in an axial direction, and a drivable rotor, which is arranged in the treatment chamber and extends coaxially. The rotor comprises a shaft, arranged in a manner distributed over the circumference of which are spreading elements. The device also comprises a condensation space, in which a condenser is formed and into which gaseous material components escaping from the material during the thermal treatment can pass, a condensate outlet for discharging the material components condensed in the condensation space, and a vacuum connection, which is fluidically connected to the condensation space. The vacuum connection is arranged in a region of the housing that lies downstream of the treatment surface, as viewed in the transport direction of the material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for purifying a chain-extended aliphatic polyester constructed from aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and aliphatic diols in a degassing apparatus, wherein the crude polyester is degassed for 3 to 30 minutes at a pressure of 0.01 to 5 mbar in the presence of 1% to 7% by weight, based on the total weight of the crude polyester, of an entraining agent.

Abstract: A housing having a heatable housing jacket, which surrounds a treatment chamber and forms a rotationally symmetrical treatment surface extending in the axial direction, and a drivable rotor, arranged in the treatment chamber and extending coaxially, for producing a material film on the treatment surface. The rotor comprises a hollow shaft, arranged in a manner distributed over the circumference of which are spreading elements. The hollow shaft surrounds a condensation space, in which a condenser is arranged. At least some of the spreading elements are configured as transport elements, which impart a transporting component to the material in the direction from the material inlet to the material outlet. Some of the spreading elements are configured as transport elements and some as distributing elements, which project from the hollow shaft and which comprise teeth, the shearing edge of which encloses an angle of less than 45° relative to the axial direction.

Abstract: A housing having a heatable housing jacket, which surrounds a treatment chamber and forms a rotationally symmetrical treatment surface extending in the axial direction, and a drivable rotor, arranged in the treatment chamber and extending coaxially, for producing a material film on the treatment surface. The rotor comprises a hollow shaft, arranged in a manner distributed over the circumference of which are spreading elements. The hollow shaft surrounds a condensation space, in which a condenser is arranged. At least some of the spreading elements are configured as transport elements, which impart a transporting component to the material in the direction from the material inlet to the material outlet. Some of the spreading elements are configured as transport elements and some as distributing elements, which project from the hollow shaft and which comprise teeth, the shearing edge of which encloses an angle of less than 45° relative to the axial direction.

Abstract: The large volume reactor or a thin film evaporator including a housing enclosing a reactor chamber . A reactor rotor driven about an axis of rotation is located in the reactor chamber. The housing comprises a reactor chamber inlet opening and a product outlet. A premixing unit is located adjacent the reactor chamber inlet opening, which is configured to mix a starting material fed through one or more product inlet openings to form a prepared substance which is fed directly to the reactor chamber.

Abstract: The large volume reactor 10 or a thin film evaporator 10? comprises a housing 12 enclosing a reactor chamber 14. A reactor rotor driven about an axis of rotation is located in the reactor chamber 14. The housing 12 comprises a reactor chamber inlet opening 22 and a product outlet 24. A premixing unit 30 is located adjacent the reactor chamber inlet opening 22, which is configured to mix a starting material fed through one or more product inlet openings 66, 68, 68? to form a prepared substance which is fed directly to the reactor chamber 14.

Abstract: A large-volume reactor (10) for treating a free-flowing material, having a housing (12) which surrounds an interior space (14), a material feed (11) at one end of the housing (12) and a material discharge (13) at the other end of the housing (12). A rotor shaft (22), which is driven in rotation about its axis and conveys the material in the direction from the material feed (11) to the material discharge (13), is arranged in the interior space (14). A partition wall (16) in the interior space (14) defines two separate process spaces (18?, 18?) from one another, and the partition wall (16) includes a build-up system (24) having a build-up system passage (26) which leads from an inlet opening (40) which opens out into the first process space (18?), to an outlet opening (42) which opens out into the second process space (18?).

Abstract: A method is described for forming a solution of cellulose in a tertiary amine oxide (such as N-methylmorpholine N-oxide) and a non-solvent for cellulose (such as water). The method involves the preparation of a mixture containing excess non-solvent, and removing the excess by heating the mixture to a temperature in excess of the boiling point of the non-solvent at a predetermined sub-atmospheric pressure, and feeding the heated mixture into the introduction zone of a mixing chamber at the predetermined sub-atmospheric pressure, so as to cause flash evaporation of some of the excess non-solvent. The mixture in the mixing chamber is then agitated by a rotor and transported through the mixing chamber whilst further evaporation of the non-solvent occurs. The cellulose solution thus formed is extracted from the mixing chamber, and the evaporated non-solvent withdrawn in cocurrent mode from the same end of the mixing chamber. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.