Polymerisation method and apparatus therefor

An apparatus for carrying out a polymerisation reaction to produce a drag reducing polymer, said apparatus comprising a housing in which a distended receptacle is arranged, wherein said distended receptacle is arranged to receive reagents for reaction in the apparatus, wherein said distended receptacle includes a fluid (F1) which is contained within the distended receptacle and/or which causes distension;

• said apparatus includes a container (C1) for containing a coolant fluid, wherein the apparatus is arranged for delivery of coolant fluid from the container (C1) to a region outside the distended receptacle;
• said apparatus includes a container (C2) for containing a monomer, wherein the apparatus is arranged for delivery of monomer into the distended receptacle;
• wherein said apparatus includes a container (C3) for containing a catalyst, wherein the apparatus is arranged for delivery of catalyst into the receptacle;
• the apparatus includes a mixing device for mixing monomer and catalyst upstream of said distended receptacle;
• and the volume of the distended receptacle is in the range of 4000 cm3 to 0.5 m3.

A method of assembling and/or operating an apparatus for carrying out a chemical reaction, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) selecting a housing in which a precursor of a receptacle is arranged;
• and
• (ii) introducing a fluid (F1) into said precursor of said receptacle to cause the precursor to inflate to define an inflated receptacle for receiving reagents for reaction in the apparatus;
• wherein said housing has a volume in which said precursor of the receptacle is arranged wherein, in the combination described in step (i), said precursor of the receptacle occupies less than 70% of said volume;
• said housing is elongate and, in the combination described in step (i), length (L) of the precursor of the receptacle extends at least 90% along the elongate extent of an internal region of the housing in which said precursor of said receptacle is arranged;
• said precursor of said receptacle comprises a plastic material;
• wherein the length of the receptacle is the linear distance between a first end and a second end thereof, wherein the diameter of the receptacle is substantially constant for at least 80% of the distance from the first end towards said second end;
• wherein the diameter of the receptacle is in the range of 1 cm to 45 cm across its entire extent;
• and/or the length of the receptacle is in the range of 3 m to 15 m;
• wherein step (ii) comprises introducing an inert fluid (F1) into said precursor of said receptacle to cause the precursor of said receptacle to inflate and define an inflated receptacle;
• wherein said housing includes cooling means for cooling reagents and polymer contained in the apparatus in use;
• wherein apparatus used in the method includes cooling means which includes a container (C1) for containing a cooling fluid, the method comprising delivering coolant fluid from the container (C1) to a region outside said distended receptacle and/or outside a reagent-containing receptacle;
• and wherein said apparatus includes a container (C2) for containing a monomer, the method comprising delivering monomer into the distended receptacle;
• and wherein said apparatus includes a container (C3) for containing a catalyst, wherein the method comprises delivering catalyst into the distended receptacle;
• and
• wherein containers (C2) and (C3) are arranged to deliver monomer and catalyst respectively to a mixing region where they are contacted and mixed, wherein the mixing region is upstream of said distended receptacle.