Patent ID: 7942955

Claim:
A static devolatilisation apparatus comprising a container for receiving a liquid containing a polymer, said container having a lower sump region for collecting devolatilised polymer, an upper region for discharging gas and a central region between said lower region and said upper region; a heat exchanger in said container for passing the liquid to be treated in heat exchange relation with a heating medium for transfer of heat into the liquid; a discharge pump located at a base of said sump region for discharging devolatilised polymer therefrom, an extraction line located at said upper region for discharging gas therefrom; and at least one self-contained phase separation chamber in said upper region of said container including an inlet connected to an upper end of said heat exchanger for receiving heated liquid therefrom, a plurality of polymer discharge openings in a lower umbrella shaped portion for discharging polymer downwardly towards said sump region and at least a single gas discharge opening in an upper umbrella shaped portion for discharging gas upwardly to said extraction line.