Patent ID: 8013110
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: C08G

Abstract:
1. A process for making a polyester in a polyester production facility, the process comprising: (a) forming a reaction medium comprising at least one of terephthalic acid (TPA) and an ester derivative of TPA, and at least one diol monomer; (b) reacting at least a portion of the reaction medium in the polyester production facility to thereby produce the polyester; (c) heating the reaction medium during the reacting in a first heat exchanger containing the reaction medium and a high-pressure steam; (d) heating a heat transfer medium (HTM) in a second heat exchanger with the high-pressure steam to thereby form a heated HTM; and (e) heating at least a portion of one or more process fluid streams comprising the reaction medium with a third heat exchanger containing the heated HTM and the reaction medium.