Thermally processing polyester pellets, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate pellets, comprises feeding polyester melt to underwater pelletizer, feeding pellets to water/solids separating device, and feeding dried pellets to agitation device

摘要

Thermally processing polyester pellets to achieve partial crystallization, comprises feeding polyester melt to underwater pelletizer and pelletizing polyester melt in pelletizer to obtain pellets; feeding pellets to a water/solids separating device to dry the pellets; feeding dried pellets at pellet temperature of greater than 100[deg]C to an agitation device; and removing pellets from the agitation device at a pellet temperature of over 80[deg]C. An independent claim is also included for an apparatus for thermal processing of polyester pellets to achieve partial crystallization of pellets, comprising melt pump (14); screen changer (12); underwater pelletizer (2); water/solids separating device (3); and conveyor device (4) for transporting pellets, and arranged downstream of the underwater pelletizer and the water/solids separating device. The conveyor device is constructed and arranged to agitate pellets and crystallize pellets during transport through specific heat of the pellets.