Patent ID: 7531618

Claim:
A polycondensation process comprising: (a) heating a polycondensation fluid in a heat exchanger to thereby produce a heated polycondensation fluid; (b) introducing at least a portion of said heated polycondensation fluid into a polycondensation reactor via a fluid inlet; (c) subjecting said heated polycondensation fluid introduced into said polvcondensation reactor to polycondensation to thereby produce a vapor product and a liquid product; (d) disengaging at least a portion of said vapor product from said liquid product in a venting section of said polycondensation reactor, wherein said venting section is oriented substantially horizontally; (e) withdrawing at least a portion of said vapor product from said venting section of said polycondensation reactor via a vapor outlet; and (f) withdrawing at least a portion of said liquid product from said venting section of said polycondensation reactor via a liquid outlet, wherein said liquid outlet is horizontally spaced from said fluid inlet, wherein said vapor outlet is located at a higher elevation than said liquid outlet, wherein said vapor outlet is coupled in fluid communication with a vacuum source.