Abstract: A high-shear mixing chamber is provided having a single wide slot microchannel that enables a higher throughput, less plugging, and a longer life (e.g., less wear) than typical multi-slotted mixing chambers. The provided mixing chamber may include an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a single wide slot microchannel (e.g., via an inlet and outlet plenum). In some aspects, the wide slot microchannel may have a stepped interior such that the wide slot microchannel has portions with different depths. The wide slot microchannel has a first surface opposite a second surface and one or more steps may be formed with the first surface alone, the second surface alone, or with both the first surface and the second surface. The steps may extend a full length of the microchannel between the inlet and outlet chambers.

Abstract: A high pressure processing device is configured to simplify batch processing. The high pressure processing device includes a processing module configured to reduce a particle size of a material or achieve a desired liquid processing result for the material, a pump configured to pump the material to an inlet of the processing module, a recirculation pathway configured to recirculate the material from an outlet of the processing module back to the pump, an input device configured to receive at least one user input variable, and a controller configured to (i) determine a number of pump strokes for the pump based on the user input variable, and (ii) control the pump according to the determined number of pump strokes so that the material makes a plurality of passes through the processing module.

Abstract: A new and innovative high-pressure priming valve is provided for use in high-pressure fluid systems that require a high level of fluid purity. The priming valve includes at least three ports, some of which are angled. The priming valve also includes a needle that variably blocks and unblocks a pathway to one of the ports between normal operation and a priming operation, respectively. The priming valve includes a sealing insert positioned below a stack of washers that maintain the needle's alignment in response to high fluid pressures exerted on the needle. The sealing insert helps prevent fluid from contacting the stack of washers, which helps prevent biological growth within the valve. The angled ports help facilitate priming valve drainage to further help prevent biological growth. By helping prevent biological growth, the sealing insert helps prevent fluid contamination and enables the priming valve to be utilized for high-purity fluid applications.