Patent ID: 8110149

Claim:
A device for the continuous production of high-molecular polyester by at least one of esterification of dicarboxylic acids in the presence of catalysts and transesterification of dicarboxylic acid esters with diols in the presence of catalysts comprising at least one tower reactor for the production of a prepolymer and a polymerization reactor which forms an end reactor, the tower reactor configured in the lower third in the form of a hydrocyclone with a suspended heat exchanger and having a supply line for at least one of a paste, a slurry and a liquid raw material mixture, a static reaction mixer below the heat exchanger, a pressure line for coupling the hydrocyclone to the top side of the tower reactor, the top side of the tower reactor configured in its upper third in the form of a falling-film cascade, a line coupling the cascade to the middle part of the tower reactor, the cascade being configured in the form of one of a single step falling-film zone with prepressure reduction and a multi-step falling-film zone with prepressure reduction, the falling-film zones comprising falling-film pipes which have a filling comprising at least one of structured packing, filling materials, expanded metals and conducting spirals, the end reactor including a reactor housing including inner surfaces, end walls and a mounting device, a rotor which rotates in the reactor housing, the reactor having an inlet and outlet, the reactor including stub shaft arrangements extending beyond the end walls for mounting the reactor horizontally via the mounting device, annular film-forming elements disposed on the rotor, strippers disposed between the annular film-forming elements on the inner surfaces of the reactor housing, the cylindrical rotor having a heatable portion, the heatable portion being provided in the direction of the outlet and the rotor further including an unheated portion in the direction of the inlet.