Heat exchanger and process for devolatilizing polymer using same

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for devolatilizing a polymer comprising passing the polymer through a devolatizer comprising a plate heat exchanger wherein the plates of the plate heat exchanger are heated by a plurality of heating tubes and wherein the heating tube comprises a return tube nested inside of a supply tube. The use of the disclosed invention allows for a comparatively small heat profile across heating plates as compared to prior art plate heat exchangers.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A plate heat exchanger comprising: 
 at least one heating plate and a plurality of heating tubes, wherein the heating tubes are positioned such that they can heat the heating plates using a heat transfer fluid flowing through the heating tubes, and wherein the heating tube comprises a return tube nested inside of a supply tube;    wherein the supply tube receives and then carries the heat transfer fluid, and wherein heat is conducted from the heat transfer fluid into the heating plate;    wherein upon reaching a bottom of the heating tube the heat transfer fluid has lost at least a part of the heat it carried to the heating plate and said fluid is relatively cooler; and    wherein the relatively cooler heat transfer fluid then enters the return tube and passes out of the heating tube.    
   
   
       18 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 17  having two or more heating tubes.  
   
   
       19 . A plate heat exchanger comprising at least one heating plate and a plurality of heating tubes wherein the heating tubes are positioned such that they can heat an object using a heat transfer fluid flowing through the heating tubes and wherein the heating tube comprises a supply tube nested inside of a return tube; 
 wherein a heat transfer fluid passes first into the supply tube and travels down through the annulus between the interior of the supply tube and exterior of the return tube, and wherein the heated transfer fluid conductively heats any object in contact with the tube;    wherein upon reaching a bottom of the heating tube, the heat transfer fluid has lost at least a part of the heat it carried to the heating object late and said fluid is relatively cooler; and    wherein the relatively cooler heat transfer fluid then enters the return tube and passes out of the heating tube.    
   
   
       20 . A process for cooling a material comprising passing a material to be cooled through the heat exchanger of  claim 19 .  
   
   
       21 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 17  wherein the return tube is made of a nonconductive material.  
   
   
       22 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 21  wherein by conductively isolating the returning heat transfer fluid from the supply side transfer fluid, a loss of heat to the relatively cooler returning heat transfer fluid can be mitigated.  
   
   
       23 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 17  having two or more heating tubes are in contact with a heating plate.  
   
   
       24 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 19  wherein the return tube is made of a nonconductive material.  
   
   
       25 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 19  wherein by conductively isolating the returning heat transfer fluid from the supply side transfer fluid, a loss of heat to the relatively cooler returning heat transfer fluid can be mitigated.  
   
   
       26 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 19  wherein the object that is heated comprises a heating plate.  
   
   
       27 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 26  having two or more heating tubes are in contact with the heating plate.