# US 11,077,585 B2 · System for processing of low viscosity polymers

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,077,585 B2
- Document ID: US11077585B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/535,792
- Filed: 2015-12-10
- Published: 2017-12-28
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2014-12-18
- Assignees: Dow Global Technologies LLC
- Applicants: Dow Global Technologies LLC
- Inventors: Michael J. Zogg, Jr.; Timothy W. Gambrel; Johan Van Leeuwen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077585B2

## CPC

- B29B 9/065: {under-water, e.g. underwater pelletizers}
- B29C 48/285: Feeding the extrusion material to the extruder
- B29C 48/365: using pumps, e.g. piston pumps
- B29C 48/37: Gear pumps
- B29C 48/695: Flow dividers, e.g. breaker plates
- B29C 48/78: Thermal treatment of the extrusion moulding material or of preformed parts or layers, e.g. by heating or cooling
- B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system comprising a first pump; a pelletization system that comprises an underwater pelletizer; where the pelletization system is located downstream of the first pump and is in fluid communication with it; a direct line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the direct line does not contain a pump or a heat exchanger; and a bypass line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the bypass line comprises a second pump; where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the direct line when the polymer has a melt viscosity greater than 105 centipoise; and where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the bypass line when the polymer has a melt viscosity less than 105 centipoise.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a first pump;
a pelletization system that comprises an underwater pelletizer; where the pelletization system is located downstream of the first pump and is in fluid communication with the first pump;
a direct line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the direct line does not contain a pump or a heat exchanger; and
a bypass line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the bypass line comprises a second pump; where the first pump is operative to discharge a polymer to the pelletization system via the direct line when the polymer has a melt viscosity greater than 105 centipoise; where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the bypass line when the polymer has a melt viscosity less than 105 centipoise,
wherein the bypass line further comprises a heat exchanger that is configured to cool the polymer; and wherein the heat exchanger is located downstream of the second pump and upstream of the palletization system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, where the first pump discharges the polymer at a pressure of less than 15 kilograms per square centimeter when the polymer has the melt viscosity greater than 105 centipoise.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, where the second pump discharges the polymer at a pressure of 15 to 150 kilograms per square centimeter when the polymer has a melt viscosity less than 103.9 centipoise.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, where the bypass line contacts the direct line via a line that contains a valve.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a reactor and a devolatilizer;
where the reactor and the devolatilizer are disposed upstream of the first pump and where the reactor and the devolatilizer are in fluid communication with one another and with the first pump.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of devolatilizers that remove solvent from the polymer; where the plurality of devolatilizers are in fluid communication with each other.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, where the first pump and the second pump are each a gear pump.