Continuous production method and continuous production apparatus for aromatic cyclic oligomer, and production method for aromatic polymer

A continuous production method for an aromatic cyclic oligomer containing at least one type of heteroatom selected from the group consisting of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, the continuous production method comprising:

• (a) supplying a polymerization solvent and a reaction raw material to a continuous production apparatus including a plurality of reaction vessels;
• (b) performing a polymerization reaction in the polymerization solvent in at least one of the reaction vessels to form a reaction mixture;
• (c) removing at least a part of water in gas phase parts of the reaction vessels from the reaction vessels;
• and
• (d) successively moving the reaction mixture to each of the reaction vessels;
• the steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) being performed in parallel;
• wherein an amount of the polymerization solvent in the reaction vessels positioned furthest downstream in a movement direction of the reaction mixture is not less than 1 L and not greater than 50 L per 1 mol of arylene units in the reaction raw material;
• the respective gas phase parts of the plurality of reaction vessels communicate with one another;
• and
• a pressure of each of the gas phase parts is uniform;
• and
• the plurality of reaction vessels are connected in series.