A devolatilization apparatus comprising a hollow double-plate assembly

A devolatilization apparatus for devolatilizing a composition comprising a volatile component, the devolatilization apparatus comprising:

• a vessel comprising at least one inlet for the composition to be devolatilized and at least one outlet for devolatilized composition, at least one outlet for gas;
• and
• at least one heatable tray or at least one heatable distributor,
• at least a section of the at least one heatable tray or of the at least one heatable distributor comprising a hollow double-plate assembly comprising an upper plate and a lower plate arranged on top of each other, and spaced apart so that a void chamber is defined therebetween, each plate of the hollow double plate assembly comprising a plurality of openings, each opening of the plurality of openings of the upper plate is surrounded by a wall extending through the void chamber and surrounding an opening of the plurality of openings of the lower plate so as to form a plurality of channels being fluid-tightly separated from the hollow space being defined in the void chamber between the channels, the hollow space connected with an inlet for a heat medium and with an outlet for the heat medium, the upper plate and the lower plate of the hollow double-plate assembly are connected with each other at sides thereof through sidewalls, between which the void chamber is defined, the at least one heatable tray or the at least one heatable distributor extends over 20 to 90% of a cross-sectional area of the vessel and is surrounded by a non-perforated weir, and an entirety of a peripheral area of the at least one heatable tray or at least one heatable distributor is not directly connected with a wall of the vessel.