Continuous polymerization apparatus and process

A device for the production of water soluble polymers which comprises a tubular premixer which is surrounded by a jacket in which a heated or cooled fluid is circulated to control the temperature of fluids being passed through the premixer, means to feed a monomer solution to the premixer, means to feed an initiator solution to the premixer, static mixers disposed inside the tubular premixer to provide thorough mixing of the monomer solution and the initiator solution, a tubular preheater into which the monomer-initiator mixture is passed said tubular preheater being surrounded by a jacket in which a heated fluid is circulated to increase the temperature of the monomer-initiator mixture, static mixers disposed inside the tubular preheater to provide mixing for uniform heat transfer to the monomer-initiator mixture, a tubular polymerizer which contains static mixers and a jacket which surrounds the tubular polymerizer through which fluid is pumped to control the temperature of the monomer-initiator mixture being polymerized, and means to dispense the polymer solution from the tubular polymerizer.