System and technique for inverting polymers under ultra-high shear

An inversion system comprising:

• a fluid pressurization device;
• a metering device in fluid communication with a source of an emulsion, the emulsion comprising a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase containing a polymer;
• a source of a process liquid in which the polymer is soluble and the continuous phase is immiscible, the process liquid being in fluid communication with the fluid pressurization device, wherein the metering device is positioned to introduce the emulsion into the process liquid upstream of the fluid pressurization device to form a dilute emulsion;
• and
• a flow restrictor positioned downstream of the fluid pressurization device, the flow restrictor comprising a plurality of channels that are configured to receive a pressurized dilute emulsion from the fluid pressurization device and divide the pressurized dilute emulsion between the plurality of channels, thereby generating a shear force for dispersing and inverting the emulsion in the process liquid.