Abstract: A control circuit for automatically stopping the flow of a gas in a primary circuit, includes a valve, a sensor and a controller. The valve is couplable with a primary pressure-regulator that controls the flow of another gas in a primary circuit. The valve has an inlet operable to receive a gas and an outlet operable to distribute the gas. The sensor is positionable in the primary circuit and operable to sense a parameter of the flow of the gas in the primary circuit and generate a signal that represents the sensed parameter. The controller is operable to receive the sensor's signal and, in response to the signal, direct the valve to close if the parameter of the flow of gas in the primary circuit lies outside of a predetermined range.

Abstract: An injection mixer is provided, which includes an injection module, a valve seat module, and an adjusting module. The injection module may be disposed to penetrate one end of a bucket container. The valve seat module may be disposed at the end of the injection module, and the valve seat module may be disposed with at least one fluid supply channel and at least one outlet channel. The adjusting module may be disposed at the valve seat module to penetrate therethrough. The adjusting module may be movably connected to the injection module. When the adjusting module is driven to move the injection module towards or away from the valve seat module, an annular protrusion may approach or move away from the inner wall of the bucket container, and a size of the predetermined gap may be reduced or increased.

Abstract: An air cannon has a pressure vessel, a discharge valve, and a discharge tube assembly. The discharge tube assembly comprises a fluid passageway and a blast guard valve. The discharge valve is capable of opening and closing and allows pressurized gas to be discharged from the pressure vessel into the fluid passageway of the discharge tube assembly only when open. The blast guard valve is capable of opening and closing and obstructs the fluid passageway of the discharge tube assembly when closed. The blast guard valve allows gas to pass through the fluid passageway when open. The discharge valve and the blast guard valve are operatively connected to each other in a manner such that the discharge valve can open only when the blast guard valve is open.

Abstract: A new accumulator for generating mixing bubbles comprises pivoting, counterbalanced buckets, the buckets receiving air directed from blowers, either directly from injectors connected to the blowers, or from diffusers used for aeration of the liquid in the tank. A bucket, weighed down by a counterbalance, receives air from injectors or diffusers below, and, as the air displaces liquid in the bucket, the buoyancy of the bucket increases until it exceeds the downward force of the counterweight, at which time the bucket pivots upward to release a large mixing bubble into the tank. An assembly for installation of the accumulator affixes the accumulator on a rigid vertical piece depending from a horizontal bridge.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a pulse jet mixing vessel for mixing a plurality of solid particles. The pulse jet mixing vessel is comprised of a sludge basin, a flow surface surrounding the sludge basin, and a downcoming flow annulus between the flow surface and an inner shroud. The pulse jet mixing vessel is additionally comprised of an upper vessel pressurization volume in fluid communication with the downcoming flow annulus, and an inner shroud surge volume separated from the downcoming flow annulus by the inner shroud. When the solid particles are resting on the sludge basin and a fluid such as water is atop the particles and extending into the downcoming flow annulus and the inner shroud surge volume, mixing occurs by pressurization of the upper vessel pressurization volume, generating an inward radial flow over the flow surface and an upwash jet at the center of the sludge basin.

Abstract: Uses of a method of producing small bubbles of gas in a liquid include gas transfer in airlift bioreactors and anaerobic digesters, and particle separation. The method uses a source of the gas under pressure, a conduit opening into a liquid and oscillating the gas passing along the conduit. The oscillation is effected by fluidic oscillator, comprising a diverter that divides the supply into respect outputs, each output being controlled by a control port, wherein the control ports are interconnected by a closed loop. Separation of algae from water involves delivering a laminar flow of microbubbles in the range 10 to 100 ?m diameter. Such bubbles also deliver a laminar flow in bioreactors that delivers enhanced liquid flow despite the small bubbles, which improves mixing and also enhances efficiency of gas exchange and retention of the bubbles in the reactor.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling aeration and mixing processes are disclosed.

Abstract: A means for mixing drinking water stored in large storage tanks, preventing stratification of the water, detects incipient stratification of water along thermoclines, and, responsive to thermocline detection, generates large mixing bubbles toward the bottom of the tank, causing mixing of layers of water in the tank through turbulence created as the bubbles rise through the tank.

Abstract: A method of producing small bubbles (90) of gas in a liquid comprises a source (16) of the gas under pressure, a conduit (64a) opening into a liquid and oscillating the gas passing along the conduit at a frequency between 1 and 100 Hz. The oscillation is effected by fluidic oscillator (10) comprising a diverter that divides the supply into respect outputs (A, B), each output being controlled by a control port, wherein the control ports are interconnected by a closed loop (22). There may be at least two of said conduits (62a, 64a), each output port being connected to one or the other of said conduits, in which one phase of the oscillating gas is employed to drive liquid across the conduit (64a) after formation of a bubble in the other phase of oscillation, whereby the bubble is detached by the force of said driven liquid.

Abstract: A means for mitigating or precluding formation of ice in water stored in large storage tanks generates large mixing bubbles toward the bottom of the tank, causing mixing of thermally stratified layers of water in the tank through turbulence created as the bubbles rise through the tank. Incipient stratification of water along thermoclines is detected and the mixer is engaged only when temperatures of portions of stratified water in the tank approach freezing.

Abstract: Phosphine gas is generated by agitating a reaction mixture of a metal phosphide and water with agitation air in a reaction pot of a phosphine gas generator. The resulting phosphine gas is then diluted with dilution air to produce a fumigant phosphine gas which is directly delivered to a commodity for fumigation. The reaction pot does not have any rotating means such as agitators, rotors, or stirrers. The generator provides on-site generation of phosphine gas in a rapid manner improving the fumigation efficiency for a commodity, such as grain, preferably contained within a storage structures, such as a grain silo. The generator has a built in deactivation system for the unused metal phosphide and phosphine gas.

Abstract: A microfluidic device including a reaction chamber, a first gas providing unit and a liquid providing unit. The reaction chamber includes an inlet through which gas or liquid flows into the reaction chamber. The first gas providing unit and a liquid providing unit are connected to the inlet of the reaction chamber in a fluid communicable manner.

Abstract: A process for blending a plurality of fluids utilizes an apparatus including a blending tank having at least one inlet and an outlet; a first supply line and a second supply line in fluid communication with the at least one inlet; the first supply line being in fluid communication with a first fluid source and having a first timing valve disposed between the first fluid source and the at least one inlet; the second supply line being in fluid communication with a second fluid source and having a second timing valve disposed between the second fluid source and the at least one inlet; a controller operatively connected to the first and second timing valves for controlling frequency and duration of actuation of the first and second timing valves.

Abstract: The flow-through cavitation device is provided for mixing and manipulating fluids that comprises feeding a fluidic mixture in a multi-stage flow-through hydrodynamic cavitation system, subjecting said fluid to a controlled multi-stage cavitation and continuing the treatment for a period of time sufficient for obtaining desirable changes in the physical and/or chemical properties and generating upgraded products.

Abstract: A liquid transport system including a bag adapted to hold fluids, the bag being constructed of a flexible fabric. The bag has a top portion, a bottom portion and a sidewall portion forming an interior and exterior. The system includes a discharge port, a fill port and a series of injector ports on the bag providing fluid access to the interior of the bag from the exterior, where each of the ports are sealingly closable. The discharge port and the fill port are adapted to allow product to flow into and out of the bag, and the injector ports are adapted to accommodate an injector probe.

Abstract: An aeration system for circulating an aerating fluid through a chemical composition within a container. The aeration system is closed-loop such that the aeration fluid is supplied by a fluid supply system to the interior of a container to aerate the chemical composition therein. The aeration fluid is returned to the fluid supply system for subsequent redelivery to the container. A filtering mechanism may be employed to remove large particulate matter from the aeration fluid prior to flowing back to the fluid supply system. The aeration process improves the flowability of the chemical composition thus facilitating the transferring and/or discharging of the chemical composition from the container. The aeration process may occur during transport, prior to discharging, and/or during a discharging or transferring operation.

Abstract: The present invention is for dissolving a metal complex and a low-pressure additive gas in a supercritical fluid and supplying the same continuously to a reaction vessel, aiming to provide a method and an apparatus for adding a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure supercritical fluid continuously, so that a gas which should be handled with care, such as a combustible gas, can be added to a supercritical fluid without compression. The method for continuously adding a low-pressure gas to a supercritical fluid comprises supplying a reactant gas to a supercritical fluid or a subcritical fluid by repeating, in an alternate manner, a step of storing a reactant gas midway through a piping in a low-pressure state and a step of carrying the reactant gas toward a reaction vessel with the supercritical fluid or the subcritical fluid, so that the reactant gas is continuously charged in the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A method of producing small bubbles (90) of gas in a liquid comprises a source (16) of the gas under pressure, a conduit (64a) opening into a liquid and oscillating the gas passing along the conduit at a frequency between 1 and 100 Hz. The oscillation is effected by fluidic oscillator (10) comprising a diverter that divides the supply into respect outputs (A, B), each output being controlled by a control port, wherein the control ports are interconnected by a closed loop (22). There may be at least two of said conduits (62a, 64a), each output port being connected to one or the other of said conduits, in which one phase of the oscillating gas is employed to drive liquid across the conduit (64a) after formation of a bubble in the other phase of oscillation, whereby the bubble is detached by the force of said driven liquid.

Abstract: A process and system mixes drinking water stored in large water tower type storage tanks, preventing stratification of the water, by generating large mixing s bubbles in the tank's standpipe, causing mixing of layers of water in the tank through turbulence created as the bubbles rise through the tank. Embodiments of the present invention, adapted for use in storage tanks in which the standpipe serves as both water inlet and outlet, detect flow in the standpipe and provide mixing only when the standpipe is not serving as a water outlet.

Abstract: A means for mitigating or precluding formation of ice in water stored in large storage tanks generates large mixing bubbles toward the bottom of the tank, causing mixing of thermally stratified layers of water in the tank through turbulence created as the bubbles rise through the tank. Incipient stratification of water along thermoclines is detected and the mixer is engaged only when temperatures of portions of stratified water in the tank approach freezing.

Abstract: Phosphine gas is generated by agitating a reaction mixture of a metal phosphide and water with agitation air in a reaction pot of a phosphine gas generator. The resulting phosphine gas is then diluted with dilution air to produce a fumigant phosphine gas which is directly delivered to a commodity for fumigation. The reaction pot does not have any rotating means such as agitators, rotors, or stirrers. The generator provides on-site generation of phosphine gas in a rapid manner improving the fumigation efficiency for a commodity, such as grain, preferably contained within a storage structures, such as a grain silo. The generator has a built in deactivation system for the unused metal phosphide and phosphine gas.

Abstract: A slurry mixer comprises a container assembly and pressurized air delivery system for mixing gravitationally separable heavy particulate of target slurry. The container assembly essentially comprises an inferior container portion, a superior container portion, a vertical container diameter, and accumulator plates, which plates are spatially located in superior adjacency to the inferior container portion orthogonal to the vertical container diameter. The air delivery system delivers compressed air to a gas outlet cooperable with the accumulator plates for outletting gas into the container assembly. The accumulator plate feature functions to plate-shape the outlet gas into a substantially planar initial bubble shape. The initially planar bubble shape is upwardly directed toward the superior tank portion in radial adjacency to the vertical container diameter.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus and method wherein the mixing apparatus includes a hopper having a port piston for periodically retracting to open a fluid port to allow a slug of gas to be quickly injected into the bottom of a hopper, which produces a mixing and blending of the materials in the hopper as the slug of gas flows upward through the materials in the hopper. The port piston periodically closes to seal the fluid port without allowing the material in the hopper to backflow, which would prevent between the port piston and a hopper sealing member from being brought into sealing engagement.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus and method wherein the mixing apparatus includes a hopper having a port piston for periodically retracting to open a fluid port to allow a slug of gas to be quickly injected into the bottom of a hopper, which produces a mixing and blending of the materials in the hopper as the slug of gas flows upward through the materials in the hopper. The port piston periodically closes to seal the fluid port without allowing the material in the hopper to backflow, which would prevent between the port piston and a hopper sealing member from being brought into sealing engagement.

Abstract: A method of mixing plural liquids in a liquid chamber is provided which comprises steps of introducing plural liquids into the liquid chamber, and repeating expansion and shrinkage of a bubble in the liquids in the liquid chamber. In this method, the liquid may be heated to produce the bubble. A liquid-mixing apparatus for mixing plural liquids in a liquid chamber to obtain a liquid mixture is also provided. The liquid-mixing apparatus comprises a liquid chamber; flow channels for introducing the plural liquids into the liquid chamber; a heating part placed in the liquid chamber for heating the liquid mixture in the liquid chamber; and an energy-supplying means for causing expansion and shrinkage of a bubble in the liquid mixture in the liquid chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device that sets liquid or solid substances in motion and to a method for the implementation of said device. The invention more specifically relates to a device that sets liquid or solid substances in motion by means of gas bubbles, comprising a receptacle for said substances, at least one moveable gas emitting nozzle arranged in the lower part of said receptacle, and a system for conveying the gas to said nozzle.

Abstract: Non-Newtonian fluids, such as partially polymerized monomers or solutions of polymer in monomer may be pressure atomized below the free surface of a continuous liquid phase to produce a dispersed phase. A uniform or customized droplet size distribution can be obtained by imposing a required pressure pulsation on a flowing monomer upstream the atomizer inlet. This initial particle size distribution can be maintained or modified during subsequent polymerization process in a low shear, controlled turbulence flow pattern, created without mechanical agitation within the continuous liquid, by continuously or periodically injecting an inert gas at selected locations within the reactor.

Abstract: A mixing and blending method for powdered or granular material includes supplying pulsating vibration air into an airtight tank from a bottom thereof. An airtight tank having a porous bottom plate on which the material is stored is provided for the mixing and blending method. In the system pulsating vibration air is generated by periodically increasing and decreasing the amount of blowing air at a low frequency. Pulsating vibration air is introduced into the airtight tank from the bottom of the airtight tank so as to generate air flow going upward through the porous bottom of the airtight tank. As a result, powdered or granular material stored on the porous bottom plate in the airtight tank is uniformly mixed and blended in the airtight tank while continuously moving up and down as in a convectional manner.

Abstract: A device and method for holding a predetermined volume of liquid having suspended particles. The device includes a container for holding the predetermined volume of liquid, the container having a tapered neck and a flat bottom. At least one conduit having a first end extending out a the tapered neck and the second end terminating at the flat bottom is disposed in the container. The conduit defining two chambers communicating with each other through a first passage formed at the bottom of the container and communicating with the atmosphere outside of the container by at least two openings. A pressure in a gas circuit flowing through the device is alternated between a positive pressure and a negative pressure using the two chambers.

Abstract: A pressure-differential liquid stirrer which includes a liquid tank which holds the liquid to be stirred, the liquid tank having a top opening, a bottom wall, and a sealing cover covered on the top opening, the sealing cover having a hole; a single-outlet tube vertically disposed inside the liquid tank, having a bottom opening facing the bottom wall of the liquid tank and spaced from it by a gap for permitting the liquid to flow between the liquid tank and the single-outlet tube; an air pipe having one end inserted through the hole of the sealing cover into the inside of the liquid tank, and an opposite end coupled to an air control device; and an air control device coupled to the air pipe and controlled to force compressed air into the liquid tank and to release air out of the liquid tank so as to force the liquid to be stirred.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus receives a sealed container of food inside a cooking chamber. A controller operates a motor to drive a rack and pinion gear set to lower a nozzle to puncture the cover of the container. Limit switches position the nozzle at a predetermined location within the container. The controller activates solenoids which open steam and/or water valves to permit steam and/or water from a boiler to be introduced inside the food container through the nozzle to mix and complete cooking of the food contents of the container. The controller operates the motor to withdraw the nozzle from within the container and activates a solenoid of a steam valve to provide steam through a confinement cylinder that subjects the nozzle to a steam bath after the nozzle has been retracted from within the food container. A limit switch cooperates with the controller to prevent the nozzle from being withdrawn from the cooking chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is a compost apparatus that is simple, economical, reliable and may be transportable, yet contains all odorous emissions. Odorous materials are handled in a fully enclosed manner using containers which may be capable of providing in-vessel agitation using pressurized air. The container consists of side walls and a bottom wall. A cover may also be included. A perforated second floor is positioned above the bottom wall for supporting organic waste. The container is capable of allowing pressurized air to be introduced between the perforated second floor and the bottom floor for aerating the organic waste. The container is further capable of allowing odorous gases collected within the container to be exhausted. A bladder may be positioned within the container to agitate the organic waste load.

Abstract: A device for promoting the flow rate of solid particulates from a fluidized bed of solids into a downcomer extending from a discharge outlet in a wall or the bed includes a hollow, funnel-like, horn element having a lower end connected upstream of the discharge outlet and an upper end portion spaced upwardly of the lower end and flared outwardly at progressively higher levels to form an enlarged flow entrance for the fluidized solid particulates to move from said bed toward said discharge outlet into the downcomer. The funnel-like, horn element has an enlarged open upper end formed with a rim around the flow entrance spaced above the lower wall of the bed and has a flow cross-section substantially greater than that of the discharge outlet. A bubble ring is provided adjacent the rim for injecting gaseous fluid into the solids to fluidize the solid particulates for movement in a generally horizontal direction towards a center axis of the flow entrance of the funnel-like, horn element.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an annular vessel for holding radioactive soions which contain solids. The vessel has an inclined bottom and a discharge at the lowest point of the vessel. A plurality of pulsators charged with air are mounted in the ring-shaped interior of the vessel so as to extend into the solution. The pulsators operate to completely and evenly discharge the undissolved solids out of the vessel with the flow of solution and to prevent sedimentation. At their bottom ends, the pulsators have respective outlet nozzles which are arranged parallelly to the vessel bottom and are directed toward the lowest point thereof.

Abstract: A dry bulk cement storage and mixing system comprises one or more generally cylindrical storage tanks or bins having somewhat wedge shaped bottom discharge sections with tapered flight conveyor screws extending across the diameter of the bin at the convergence of opposed sloping sidewalls of the bottom section. The conveyor screw is connected to a pneumatic fluidizing plenum wherein compressed air is introduced into the plenum for conveying material to a mixer or recirculating the material back into a selected storage tank through a distributor device mounted on top of the tank which distributes the material to minimize segregation of smaller or less dense particles during discharge of the material into the storage tank. One embodiment of the storage tank is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and includes a transversely extending cement unloading and vent conduit extending within the tank chamber.

Abstract: An aseptic storage tank includes a draught tube into which food product enters in use. By increasing and decreasing relative pressure in the headpiece of the tube the contents in the tube are forced into and out of the tank to keep the food product therein in motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating microbubbles in a flowing liquid stream for use in a froth flotation system. The system utilizes a microbubble generator having a tubular housing with an inlet end and an outlet end. Located coaxially within the housing is an inner member with an elongated, tapered, exterior surface. A porous tubular sleeve is mounted between the housing and the inner member coaxially therewith to define with the cylindrical interior surface of the housing an elongated air chamber of annular cross section. The porous sleeve has a cylindrical inner surface that defines with the exterior surface of the inner member an elongated liquid flow chamber of thin, annular cross section. An aqueous liquid is supplied to the liquid flow chamber at a relatively high flow rate and air under pressure is supplied to the air chamber so that air is forced radially inwardly through the porous sleeve to be diffused in the form of microbubbles in the flowing stream.

Abstract: A chip separation and alignment apparatus capable of accurately and readily accomplishing separation and alignment of chips with a simple construction. The apparatus includes a chip separation and alignment section and a chip separation section. The chip separation and alignment section includes a chip cassette formed into a flat rectangular box-like shape, in which are formed a chip storage chamber, a chip alignment hole provided with an upper end opening through which the chip alignment hole is communicated with a lower portion of the chip storage chamber and a lower end opening, and at least one air ejection port arranged near the upper end opening to intermittently eject air therethrough. The chip separation section is arranged at the lower end opening of the chip alignment hole to separate chips one by one and to successively supply the separated chips to a subsequent step.

Abstract: Pressurized air is applied to dry granular materials as they enter the top of a vessel to mix the materials together and the mixed materials continuously flow out of the vessel through a bottom discharge opening.

Abstract: A vertically oriented generally cylindrical vessel or hopper holds dry granular materials which are mixed together by applying repeated short bursts of pressurized air from nozzles in an air manifold which direct the air substantially parallel or slightly inward to the longitudinal axis of the hopper to repeatedly lift and drop the materials in the hopper to create a tumbling action. Adjustable throttling valve means are provided in the pressurized input to the manifold to control the air flow to and the pressure at the manifold.

Abstract: A pressurized fluid is injected into a mass of material through at least one length of hose or other tubing of inherently resilient, elastomer material having one end closed and provided with at least one series of potential openings cut into the elastomer material along the length of the tubing so as to be normally tightly closed by reason of the resilency of the elastomer material but stretched open under the influneces of the pressurized fluid, which is introduced through the opposite end of the length of tubing. Gravity discharge of particulate material from a vessel having a hopper portion at its bottom can be effectively activated in this manner by the fluid-injection device of the invention.

Abstract: A method for producing selectively controlled pressure pulses in a mass of gas, particularly contained in a space of large dimensions. To achieve a sufficiently high power in the pulses, the pulses are generated by a valveless displacement machine in which the pressure when the machine opens towards its outlet port differs from the pressure of the mass of gas. The pulse is generated as the working fluid, due to said pressure difference, flows at high velocity through the outlet port. An acoustic power of the generated pulses of up to 20 kW can be attained by the method. The invention also concerns a rotary displacement machine for performing the method.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for the blending of bulk materials by means of a jet gas blender, whereby the blending porcess is initiated only when full gas pressure is reached and when the valve immediately upstream of the storage tank (3) has been closed. At the end of the set time period "t.sub.1 " the valve (4) leading to the blending container (6) is closed in effect simultaneously and the valve (4.1) leading to the storage tank (3) is reopened, whereby the blended material settles in the blending container (6) without being disturbed by turbulence in this control position and whereby this phase is maintained for a set period of time.Only at the end of that period of time is the line cross-section leading to the filter (8) opened to allow exhaust air to go through, and its passage is thereby adjusted so that the quantity of exhaust air going through the filter remains approximately constant per time unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decomposing a sodium aluminate liquor supersaturated with alumina, obtained from alkaline action on bauxite by the Bayer process, is initiated by introduction of alumina trihydrate seed, thereby forming a suspension. The suspension is fed in at the top of a non-agitated reactor described as a "decomposer", and removed from the bottom of the decomposer; the speed at which the suspension moves downwardly is regulated at 1.5 to 10 meters per hour. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical-conical reactor which is fitted with an arrangement for feeding in the suspension at the top, and with an arrangement for taking out the suspension at the bottom. In one embodiment of the apparatus the suspension is taken from the base of the decomposer through an internal tube, with air injected into the bottom of it, is raised to the level of the top of the decomposer and is then sent downstream.

Abstract: A process for mixing a liquid sample to be analyzed with periodic air movements includes the steps of placing the sample in a sample container and alternately directing air jets onto different regions of the surface of the sample, wherein the air jets displace the surface regions and produce turbulence in the sample. An apparatus is provided for practicing the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing and blending system in which pulsed air or gas bubbles (45,46,47) of predetermined variable size and frequency are injected into a tank (10,60,80) containing materials to be agitated or stirred for mixing and blending. The air introduced at the bottom of the tank through an air inlet opening (24, 25). There may be more than one air inlet and the inlets may be provided with accumulator plates (42) depending upon diameter and height of the tank in which the mixing and blending is taking place. The inlets are located so as to create circular toroidal flow (48, 50, 52, 54) of fluid in a generally vertical plane. The accumulator plate has the purpose of assisting the formation of essentially a single bubble (46) from the compressed air charge made to the air inlet and increasing the time required for the bubble to rise through the liquid by causing it to be formed more quickly and closer to the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: Activator for fluidizing slow-moving material in fluid containers (10). The activator comprises a flat activator hose (15) which is suspended on a support member (16) arranged like a coat-hanger, a conduit (17) projecting into the activator hose between the layers thereof for the supply of pressurized gas pulses to the space between the front and rear layers of the activator hose. At least the front layer of the activator hose is gas-permeable and allows transmission of the pressurized gas pulses to the material in the container, a rhythmical movement simultaneously being imparted to the front layer in relation to the rear layer in pace with the pressurized gas pulses.

Abstract: A certain amount of gas is directed under the liquid surface in a solution reactor, advantageously into the bottom of the reactor, for dispersing the gas into small bubbles and distributing it as evenly as possible over the entire cross-sectional area of the reactor. When the gas discharges and disperses from a flexible-structured member, the reaction force produced by the discharging gas imparts to the dispersing member a whip-like movement having a continuously decreasing radius of curvature. This movement produces strong mechanical mixing in the liquid. This is further enhanced by the strong gas jet discharging from the end of the dispersing member and changing its place randomly. Due to the resultant strong mixing, the solid in the reactor remains in motion and continuously maintains the good degree of suspension and does not accumulate in piles on the bottom of the reactor.

Abstract: Mixing silo for pneumatically homogenizing fine-grained or dust-like material, the bottom of which comprises groups of aeration zones which can be alternately supplied with compressed air in such a manner that in each group a bottom zone partially limited by the outer limit of the silo bottom is heavily aerated and a bottom zone located between the heavily aerated bottom zones is aerated only weakly. An even, progressive circulation of the entire silo contents with little expenditure of energy is achieved by separating the heavily aeratable bottom zones from each other with a star-shaped, exclusively weakly aeratable bottom zone and by constructing the outlet as an overflow.

Abstract: A combined storage silo and homogenizing device for powdery materials such as cement raw meal. A silo is divided into an upper storage vessel and a lower homogenizing chamber. The storage silo has a slab floor having a plurality of spaced apart openings therein which serve as outlets for the vessel and communicate with inlets for the homogenizing chamber. The homogenizing chamber includes a small pneumatic blending device having a lateral outlet in its bottom feeding blended material to a column having a top outlet for the device.