Apparatus and method of use thereof

A method comprising:

• discharging a polymer solution in a single phase to an apparatus comprising:
• a shell;
• the shell having an inlet port for introducing a polymer solution into the shell and an outlet port for removing the polymer solution from the shell;
• where the shell does not contain any other ports other than the inlet port located at a top of the shell and the outlet port located at a bottom of the shell;
• or where the shell does not contain any other ports other than the inlet port located at the bottom of the shell and the outlet port located at the top of the shell;
• a plurality of plates in the shell;
• where the plurality of plates is stacked one atop the other to define a central passage that is in fluid communication with the inlet port to the shell;
• where the plurality of plates further defines a plurality of conduits, each conduit extending radially outwards from the central passage, where the plurality of conduits is in fluid communication with the central passage;
• operating the apparatus at a pressure and a temperature effective to maintain the polymer solution in a single phase during its travel through the apparatus from the inlet port to the outlet port of the shell;
• and
• removing from the outlet port of the apparatus the polymer solution in the single phase;
• the polymer solution at the outlet port being at a lower temperature, a higher temperature, or having a same temperature as a temperature of the polymer solution at the inlet port;
• where each conduit never decreases in width from an inner circumference to an outer circumference.