Patent ID: 9714300
Date: 2017-07-25
CPC Classifications: B01J,C08F

Claim:
1. A continuous emulsion polymerization apparatus comprising: a tubular reactor comprising (1) a circulating loop section and (2) a secondary line section having one end connected to a discharge opening of the loop section and a polymer outlet at its other end; one or more inlets though which a polymerizable monomer charge can be supplied to the tubular reactor; a pump for continuously circulating the monomer charge within the circulating loop section under conditions to effect polymerization thereof; a pig for cleaning the tubular reactor; a pig receiving station which accommodates the pig between cleaning operations; flow control devices operable to connect the pig receiving station to the tubular reactor so that during a cleaning operation the pig leaves the pig receiving station and passes through and cleans both the circulating loop section and the secondary line section of the reactor; and wherein the tubular reactor is in fluid communication with a suction side of the pump through an orifice in the wall of the tubular reactor.