High speed and direct driven rotating equipment for polyolefin manufacturing
An apparatus and method for melting polymer is provided. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing, two or more rotatable members at least partially contained within the housing, where each rotatable member having a shaft coupled thereto. The apparatus also includes a motor having a drive shaft directly coupled to the shaft of the rotatable members such that the rotatable members rotate at a speed of the motor drive shaft. The rotatable members are preferably non-intermeshing and counter-rotating.
1. A method for polyolefin production, comprising:
directing a polyolefin through a continuous mixer to provide a molten polymer, the continuous mixer comprising:
a first housing having two or more non-intermeshing screws contained therein; and
a motor directly coupled to the two or more screws and adapted to counter-rotate the two or more screws at a rate of about 600 rpm or more;
adding one or more additives to the molten polymer within the first housing;
mixing the molten polymer and the one or more additives to provide a mixed polymer comprising the one or more additives at least partially dispersed therein;
directing the mixed polymer to a gear pump comprising:
a second housing having two or more gears contained therein; and
a motor directly coupled to at least one of the two or more gears and adapted to rotate the two or more gears at a rate of about 10 rpm to about 1200 rpm; and
pressurizing the mixed polymer within the gear pump to transfer the mixed polymer for further processing.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molten polymer is mixed at a variable speed.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the motor drive shaft of the motor in the continuous mixer rotates at a rate of about 600 rpm to about 3600 rpm.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the motor drive shaft of the motor in the continuous mixer rotates at a rate of 720 rpm or more.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the motor drive shaft of the motor in the continuous mixer rotates at a rate of 900 rpm or more.