Abstract: A microfluidic device for processing a liquid in ludci includes at least one pneumatic substrate with a pneumatic cavity and a fluidic substrate with a fluidic cavity for accommodating the liquid. The fluidic cavity is arranged opposite the pneumatic cavity. In addition, the microfluidic device has a flexible membrane which is arranged between the pneumatic substrate and the fluidic substrate. The flexible membrane is designed to fluidically separate, from one another, a fluidic chamber extending at least in part in the fluidic cavity and a pneumatic chamber extending at least in part in the pneumatic cavity. The microfluidic device further includes a first pneumatic channel for applying a first pneumatic pressure to the pneumatic chamber and a second pneumatic channel for applying a second pneumatic pressure to the pneumatic chamber.

Abstract: A flow disturbance apparatus includes: a refrigerant pipe having a flow space in which refrigerant flows; and at least one disturbance member disposed inside the refrigerant pipe that is vibrated by the flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe to disturb the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe.

Abstract: A concrete vibrator for a hopper which feeds concrete to a slip form is mounted to the outer surface of the hopper wall. The vibrator is fixed to the end of a tube which extends into the hopper through a hole in the hopper wall. A rubber isolator molded on the tube is clamped between flanges one of which is welded to the outer surface of the hopper wall.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a mixing system at a peak energy efficiency point, maximum response point or reduced sound generation point based on displacement, velocity, acceleration or jerk operating conditions.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a microfluidic agitator device may be provided. The microfluidic agitator device may include: an air inlet; an air outlet; an elastic diaphragm provided between the air inlet and the air outlet and configured to oscillate if an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet is provided; and a chamber coupled to the elastic diaphragm.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing by producing shear and/or cavitation, and components for the apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a mixing and/or cavitation chamber with an element such as an orifice component that is located adjacent the entrance of the cavitation chamber. The apparatus may further include a blade, such as a knife-like blade, disposed inside the mixing and/or cavitation chamber opposite the orifice component. In one version of such an embodiment, at least some of the portions of the orifice component surrounding the orifice and/or the blade are made of a material or materials that have a Vickers hardness of greater than or equal to about 20 GPa. A process for mixing by producing shear and/or cavitation in a fluid is also contemplated herein.

Abstract: A reaction system and a reactor which comprises of two or more reaction cells wherein said cells are separated by inter cell conduits and having a means of causing agitation within the cells which does not require a mechanical connection of the agitating mechanism within the cell to a drive mechanism which is outside the cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing element for a flowable substance, comprising a body enclosing a cavity, wherein the cavity has at least one opening and the cavity and the opening are located relative to the body such that a fluid flow of the flowable substance out of the cavity through the opening transfers a torque to the mixing element. The invention further relates to the use of a tube or hose section as such a mixing element and a mixing device comprising such a mixing element, a container, and a sound source coupled thereto for generating an oscillating pressure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying oscillatory motion to a substance in a vessel to provide improved mixing, in particular to enable different mixing patterns to be applied to a substance in a vessel without “stop, change and start” protocol, has a member and a control means operatively linked such that the movement of the member is determined by a control signal generated by the control means.

Abstract: A device for producing emulsions, suspensions and the like of at least two media has a substantially tubular reservoir provided with a first inlet at one axial end so that a first medium is supplied substantially in an axial direction, a second inlet for a second medium provided in a substantially tubular wall of the reservoir so that the second medium is supplied into the reservoir substantially transversely to the axis and therefore to the first medium to produce a mixture, and an outlet for discharging the mixture of the first and second media, means for imparting vibrations and located downstream of the first inlet.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a high pressure fluid processing device for shearing particles in a fluid mixture. The fluid processing device makes use of annular flow paths. For example, a fluid mixture can be separated into two flow paths which are introduced to first and second annular flow paths on opposite sides of a flow path cylinder. The two annular flow paths flow toward one another through the cylinder, and meet one another within the cylinder. An outlet extends through the cylinder where the two annular flow paths collide allowing the fluid mixture flowing down the annular flow paths to be expelled through the gap.

Abstract: A method of removing a gravel packed screen to reach another zone is described. The method involves a bottom hole assembly comprising an isolation device for the screen and a tool to latch on to it. A perforating gun is shot off to put holes in the screen to allow gravel to come through. A flow through a reversing valve is initiated to urge the gravel into the newly perforated screen while a vibrator shakes the screen and stimulates gravel flow through the screen. Alternatively, the screen is not isolated and a reverse circulation from the surface in conjunction with vibration urges the gravel to flow through the screen and out through the tubing supporting the bottom hole assembly.

Abstract: A device treats liquids such as water by mechanical vibration. This vibration reaches a useful frequency by the harmonics of the primary vibration, for the destruction or inhibition of microbiological organisms contained in the water. This primary vibration is obtained by the passage of the liquid through a helix that carries the liquid, which in turn impacts and displaces a plurality of rods or elongated elastic bodies in order to obtain a mechanical vibration. This vibration is preferably controlled by the action of the electrical capacitance between the vibrating rods and the helix vanes that conduct the liquid, for which purpose the rods are connected to a pulsating electric energy source. This primary vibration is also controlled by the action of a permanent magnetic field produced by semi conducting media arrayed on a central tubular support of the helix, in such a way that the harmonics of the vibration that affect the incompressible liquid are transmitted to the biological contents of the liquid.

Abstract: The invention features an emulsifying module comprising a cylindrical body (1) with a direct input block (5) or mixing block (4), at one of its ends, and an adjustable output block (3) at its other end. The body (1) contains one or more hollow cylindrical cartridges (8) allowing the mixture to pass through the cartridge from one end to the other. The cartridges (8), linked with one another and with the end blocks of the tubular body (1) via resilient spring linking mechanisms (14 to 18), each contain a plurality of vibrating discs (24) slidingly mounted on a hollow central axle (25). The hollow central axle (25) has a plurality of oscillating discs which cover and uncover lateral outlets provided in the axle to facilitate mixing. This invention is useful for emulsifying numerous liquid or gas products, in particular greasy liquid products, fuels, motor fuels, oils in various applications, heating, energy, compound products, and engines.

Abstract: The present invention describes a low frequency, low shear, in-line mixer which operates using a pressurized flow of material, in gas or liquid form, to efficiently mix the flow with another gas, liquid or solid (small, particle-sized) material. The essential components are a chamber, an inlet orifice and a tapered, cantilevered reed with a weight on the unattached end of the reed. The pressurized flow of material across the cantilevered reed induces it to vibrate, thereby mixing the materials in the pressurized flow. Mathematical formulae are used in setting the construction parameters for the reed so that it vibrates at a lower frequency, creates less shear and consumes less power than previous mixers of similar design.

Abstract: A method for treating a continuous flow of fluent materials employs an apparatus (20, 200) comprising a generally cylindrical housing (23, 202) having an inlet (22, 204), an outlet (24, 206) and a plurality of treatment stages for successively imparting pulses of energy to the fluent materials in order to disassociate the materials at the molecular level and achieve a homogeneous, highly dispersed mixture. Each of the treatment stages includes a pair of baffle plates (50, 52, 248, 250) which are relatively rotatable and oppose the flow of fluent materials through the housing, to define alternating zones of high pressure and cavitation. Each pair of the baffle plates include matched sets of openings (54, 56, 252, 254) therein which are periodically brought into alignment with each other as one plate rotates relative to the other, thereby allowing bursts of the fluent material to flow therethrough, from an upstream area (32, 212) of relatively high pressure into a cavitation area (84, 258).

Abstract: A device for treating a continuous flow of fluent materials employs an apparatus (20, 200) comprising a generally cylindrical housing (23, 202) having an inlet (22, 204), an outlet (24, 206) and a plurality of treatment stages for successively imparting pulses of energy to the fluent materials in order to disassociate the materials at the molecular level and achieve a homogeneous, highly dispersed mixture. Each of the treatment stages includes a pair of baffle plates (50, 52, 248, 250) which are relatively rotatable and oppose the flow of fluent materials through the housing, to define alternating zones of high pressure and cavitation. Each pair of the baffle plates include matched sets of openings (54, 56, 252, 254) therein which are periodically brought into alignment with each other as one plate rotates relative to the other, thereby allowing bursts of the fluent material to flow therethrough, from an upstream area (32, 212) of relatively high pressure into a cavitation area (84, 258).

Abstract: A concrete mixer having a drum, which contains mixing elements, and at least one vibrator for imparting vibrational energy to the material which is to be mixed. The vibrator is drivable by means of the water used to make up the concrete. The water may be discharged in a pulsating manner from a vibrating body which is caused to vibrate by this pulsation, or it may rotatably drive an eccentric mass in the vibrating body.

Abstract: Apparatus for homogenizing a liquid, the body of the apparatus having therein an homogenization chamber within which is located a blade caused to vibrate by a jet of liquid to be homogenized impinging thereon. Magnetostrictive or piezoelectric devices are utilized to impart vibrational energy to the liquid in the chamber additional to that imparted thereto by the blade.

Abstract: A barodynamic resonator for cavitating water in a liquid mixture to form a stable emulsion. The resonator comprises a resonator body defining a chamber therein. A resonant element is adjustably supported in the chamber. An inlet nozzle admits the mixture under pressure within the chamber to form a hollow spray pattern that impinges on the resonant element to cause the resonant element to resonate at a frequency sufficient to cause the water to cavitate into finer water globules to form a stable emulsion. An outlet port is provided in the body and communicates with the chamber to provide for the outflow of the stable emulsion therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for controlling the mixing of two fluids in which an active element is driven to induce, in the vicinity of the beginning of the mixing region, oscillations of the two fluids about an axis substantially normal to the mixing region flow axis.The active element may be driven by an external drive, or by the kinetic energy in the fluids. Several applications of the invention are described including promoting combustion in jet engines, suppressing audible jet noise, and increasing the output of ejector pumps or thrust augmentors.

Abstract: An apparatus for homogenizing liquid such as emulsions and dispersions wherein the liquid is jetted from a nozzle onto a blade which is allowed to or cause to vibrate. To each side of the blade is a tuning member such as a plate which is adjustable towards and away from the blade thereby to constrain the passage of the liquid over the blade to the spaces at opposite sides of the blade and between the tuning plates and the blade. The position of the tuning plates depends upon the conditions of or in the liquid such as pressure, temperature and viscosity and the apparatus is set for optimum running depending upon these conditions.