Patent ID: 8562882

Claim:
In a process for continuous production of semicrystalline polycondensate pellets, comprising the following steps: producing a polycondensate melt having a crystallization temperature range; shaping polycondensate pellets; solidifying the polycondensate melt in a liquid coolant prior to or after the pellet shaping step; separating the pellets from the liquid coolant, as soon as the polycondensate pellets have cooled to an average temperature which is within the crystallization temperature range of the polycondensate; and crystallizing the pellets in a treatment space in which the pellets are maintained in a fluidized condition by means of a treatment gas, the improvement wherein: the treatment gas in the treatment space is conducted in countercurrent with respect to the polycondensate pellets, the flow rate of the treatment gas is slightly above the fluidization point of the polycondensate pellets, and at least 95% of the polycondensate pellets in the treatment space have a minimum residence time of more than 20% of the average residence time.