Abstract: Provided are devices and methods for discharging pretreated biomass from a pressurized reactor. Pretreated, hot biomass is added under high pressure at the top of a discharge vessel, which is partially filled with water or aqueous solution. The vessel comprises water jets situated on its sides through which water or aqueous solution is injected in order to establish a strong turbulence in the lower part of the vessel. This turbulence, preferably a vortex turbulence or “hydrocyclone,” blends biomass and water and disintegrates any clumped material prior to its ejection at high speed as a slurry through an orifice or valve at the bottom of the vessel. A stable temperature stratification is established within the discharge vessel, whereby hot water remains at the top of the vessel, reducing heat and steam loss from the pretreatment reactor.

Abstract: A digital sound system for motion picture films employs a digital time code on the film to trigger the transfer of sound data from a digital audio store to a FIFO memory. The digital audio data is read out from the FIFO memory and played back in the theater at a constant rate, with any jumps in the digital time code handled by making a corresponding jump within the digital audio store but not in the FIFO memory. Readout from the FIFO memory and clocking of the digital-to-analog converters (DACs) used for theater playback is synchronized to the AC mains that powers the theater projector, and thus allows for an uninterrupted audio playback even if time code entries on the film are obliterated. The FIFO memory need only have enough capacity to accommodate the maximum audio store access time, and can be quite small.

Abstract: Described is a motion-picture apparatus with a housing, a removable cartridge and an arrangement for reproducing a sound track in correlation with the action shown on a length of film contained in the cartridge.