Patent ID: 8202962
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: C08G,Y02P

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 monomer that includes terephthalic acid (TPA) and/or an ester derivative of TPA; (b) subjecting at least a portion of the reaction medium to one or more chemical reactions in the polyester production facility to thereby produce the polyester; (c) heating at least a portion of the reaction medium via indirect heat exchange with high-pressure steam, wherein the heating causes at least a portion of the high-pressure steam to condense and thereby provide pressurized condensed water; (d) flashing at least a portion of the pressurized condensed water to thereby produce lower-pressure steam; and (e) heating one or more process fluid streams of the polyester production facility via indirect heat exchange with at least a portion of the lower-pressure steam, wherein the process fluid streams include any stream that is formed predominately of the reaction medium and/or the at least one monomer.