Eastman Chemical Company

Jimmy L Ryans

Thomas Lloyd Yount

Douglas M Haseltine

The present invention discloses a polymerization system having at least two reaction chambers wherein vacuum is used to remove vapors therefrom comprising a single vacuum system for supplying vacuum in increasing amounts to successive reaction chambers. Also disclosed is a polymerization process having at least first and second reaction chambers in which the pressure is decreased successively from said first chamber to a final chamber.

Vacuum system for controlling pressure in a polyester process

The present invention discloses a polymerization system having at least two reaction chambers wherein vacuum is used to remove vapors therefrom comprising a single vacuum system for supplying vacuum in increasing amounts to successive reaction chambers. Also disclosed is a polymerization process having at least first and second reaction chambers in which the pressure is decreased successively from said first chamber to a final chamber, said process comprising the steps of: maintaining a vacuum in said final chamber by removing final chamber vapors therefrom via a final chamber ejector connected thereto by a vacuum line; directing discharge from said final chamber ejector into a first chamber precondenser to produce first chamber non-condensed materials and condensed first chamber ejector motive fluid; directing said first chamber ejector non-condensed materials from said first chamber precondenser to a second ejector connected thereto by a vacuum line; directing discharge from said second ejector into a second condenser to produce second condenser non-condensed materials and condensed second ejector motive fluid; wherein said second condenser is connected to a vacuum pump.

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Kingsport, TN, United States of America

Jimmy L Ryans