Abstract: A device for storing and circulating drinking water with vortex flow includes a base, a tank and an actuator housed in the base and configured to circulate the drinking water stored in the tank with vortex flow. The base includes an inlet port through which the drinking water is received and an outlet port through which the drinking water is dispensed. The tank is mounted on the base with a sealed engagement and is configured to store the drinking water. The tank has spherical or egg shape and includes an air inlet on an upper portion of the tank through which air can flow in and out of the tank.

Abstract: A method of preparing a fracturing slurry comprising a concentrated gel and water, the method comprising preparing a concentrated gel from a polymer and water, diluting the concentrated gel with additional water to form a fracturing carrier fluid at a predefined downhole concentration, preparing a fracturing slurry comprising the fracturing carrier fluid, and pumping the fracturing slurry downhole at or below a predefined maximum slurry rate. The fracturing carrier fluid is formed upon allowing the concentrated gel sufficient residence time to at least partially hydrate.

Abstract: A blender device including a rotor designed to engage with a motor device to be rotated; and an annular ring enclosing the rotor and having at least one axial orifice and a plurality of radial orifices for the passage of the blend. The blender also includes an admission duct for admitting particles intended to be incorporated into the blend, leading into the interior of the annular ring. The blender also effectively dispenses particles in a blend by introducing the particles with a high flow and decreasing product losses.

Abstract: A mixing device having at least one rotor supporting mixing blades that is also capable of being rotated. The device further includes an annular ring surrounding the rotor and having at least one axial opening and radial mixing openings associated with the mixing blades so as to allow the passage of the mixture therethrough. At least one particle-conveying line leads to the inside of said ring. The annular ring has a recirculation stage placed between the conveying line and the radial mixing openings and further includes at least two axially consecutive rows of radial openings.

Abstract: The disclosed device disperses a substance in a liquid. The device has at least one dispersing chamber, which has at least one liquid inlet, at least one substance inlet, and at least one outlet. At least one driving means is placed inside the dispersing chamber while serving to set the liquid inside the dispersing chamber in motion so that at least one cavity with varying volume forms in the liquid for drawing in the substance through the substance inlet and forcing the substance made wet with liquid through the outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of enabling enhanced, selective agitation of liquid containing a solid-phase reagent. The apparatus includes at least one liquid-bearing container, a circular tray, and a motor. The liquid-bearing container(s) includes at least one internal baffle that imparts turbulent agitation to the liquid when flowing from one end of the container to an opposite end. The circular tray is adapted for selective rotation about a vertical axis of rotation. The rotary circular tray assembly includes container-receiving stations that selectively retain a respective liquid-bearing container in an inclined or pitched orientation with respect to a horizontal plane. The motor creates centrifugal force, which causes liquid in the container(s) to travel from the first end of the container to the second end of the container via the internal baffle(s), agitating the liquid and the solid-phase portions of the reagent.

Abstract: An aerating propeller for attaching to the end of a drive shaft includes blades having a chamber to receive a flow of fluids from a conduit in a drive shaft. A trailing face of the blade includes a first opening into the chamber to permit the flow of fluids in the chamber to exit the propeller and a tip of the blade includes a second opening extending into the chamber to permit the flow of fluids in the chamber to exit the propeller. The first opening of the first blade is aligned generally in the same plane with the leading face of the second blade which follows the first blade when the propeller is rotated.

Abstract: An impeller vane assembly for blending liquids with solid particulate matter in which a center drive shaft extends through a housing having a solid particle inlet and a liquid inlet together with an outlet, and upper and lower impeller vanes are aligned respectively with the particle inlet and liquid inlet to cause intermixing of the solids and liquids by counterflow of the liquid into the upper impeller region, the upper and lower vanes being separated by a common divider plate, the upper vanes being radially split and lower vanes having outer split tips, the vanes being operative to balance the point at which the solids and liquid are intermixed between the solid particle inlet and annular space surrounding the impeller. In one embodiment, inner concentric expeller blades are employed with the upper impeller vanes to accelerate the flow of solid particles.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating at least a portion of a well. The method includes the steps of: (a) simultaneously introducing into a mixer at least: (i) a first stream comprising water; (ii) a second stream comprising a dry, hydratable, viscosity-increasing agent for water, wherein the second stream is substantially free of water; and (iii) a third stream comprising a non-hydratable, insoluble particulate; wherein at least the first and second streams are not mixed prior to being introduced into the mixer; (b) mixing the first, second, and third streams in the mixer to form a pumpable mixture, wherein: (i) the mixer creates at least a sufficiently-high shear rate to disperse the viscosity-increasing agent and the insoluble particulate in the pumpable mixture; and (ii) the pumpable mixture has or is capable of developing a substantially-higher viscosity than the viscosity of the first stream; and (c) introducing a treatment fluid comprising the pumpable mixture into a wellbore.

Abstract: A mixer (1) for a beverage vending machine (2), wherein the mixer (1) has a blender (22) in turn having an impeller (21) housed inside a blending chamber (11) and fitted removably to a drive shaft (23) to rotate about an axis (24); the drive shaft (23) having an end portion (26) in turn having two parallel flat faces (27) on opposite sides of the axis (24); the impeller (21) having a hub (30) in turn having at least two substantially rectangular-section seats (41) coaxial with each other and with the axis (24), and each designed to receive the end portion (26) of the drive shaft (23) in sliding and angularly fixed manner,—and one of the two seats (41) being engaged by the end portion (26) of the drive shaft (23).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for feeding gaseous or liquid fluid into a medium. The method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention are especially suitable in various fields of industry for mixing gaseous and liquid chemicals and steams into a flow containing at least liquid. The method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention are most preferably suitable for feeding steam into the fiber suspensions of wood processing industry.

Abstract: Polymer mixing apparatus strips oil from polymers in an oil phase continuous emulsion and at least partially hydrates the polymers by injecting the emulsion and a pressured aqueous solution into a mixing zone. The emulsion and solution are passed through a confined space, where the oil is stripped from the polymer molecules and at least partially hydrated. The resulting solution is removed from the confined space without recirculation through the confined space.

Abstract: A gel mixing system that employs a dynamic diffuser for quickly removing the air from the fluid as the fluid exits a traditional gel mixer and employs progressive dilution of the gel in a series of hydration tanks to maximize hydration time without allowing the gel to become so viscous that it is not easily diluted or pumped. High shear agitation of the fluid between the hydration tanks helps to increase the hydration rate. Progressive dilution of the gel increases residence time of the gel in the tanks and results in longer hydration time in the limited tank space available, resulting in continuous production of gel that is almost fully hydrated when it is pumped to the fracturing blender and subsequently to the well bore without the need for an increase in the volume of the hydration tanks.

Abstract: The disclosed device disperses a substance in a liquid. The device has at least one dispersing chamber, which has at least one liquid inlet, at least one substance inlet, and at least one outlet. At least one driving means is placed inside the dispersing chamber while serving to set the liquid inside the dispersing chamber in motion so that at least one cavity with varying volume forms in the liquid for drawing in the substance through the substance inlet and forcing the substance made wet with liquid through the outlet.

Abstract: An impeller vane assembly for blending liquids with solid particulate matter in which a center drive shaft extends through a housing having a solid particle inlet and a liquid inlet together with an outlet, and upper and lower impeller vanes are aligned respectively with the particle inlet and liquid inlet to cause intermixing of the solids and liquids by counterflow of the liquid into the upper impeller region, the upper and lower vanes being separated by a common divider plate, and the vanes are characterized by being curved in the direction of rotation of the impeller and having outer radially extending tips which terminate at the outer peripheral edge of the common divider plate, the vanes being operative to balance the point at which the solids and liquid are intermixed between the solid particle inlet and annular space surrounding the impeller.

Abstract: A device (10) for mixing a pulverulent or granular solid (13) with a liquid (32) comprises at least one solid supply device and at least one liquid supply device (37, 38, 40). In an acceleration chamber (42), a rotary movement is imparted to the supplied liquid (32) and the liquid (32) is accelerated to a pre-determined speed, while a rotary movement is imparted to the supplied solid particles (13) in a solid supply chamber (16). The device (10) further comprises a mixing chamber (76) for mixing the solid particles (13) with the liquid (32) to form a suspension, while maintaining the rotary movement generated previously. In a compressor chamber (78), the rotating suspension is accelerated so that a suction effect is generated in an entry region (82) of the compressor chamber (78), which suction effect at least substantially de-aerates the supplied loose solid (13).

Abstract: An impact-type rotary fining, homogenizing and emulsifying device is constituted by a casing body disposed on a base, a feed port and a discharge port disposed in the casing body, and a power shaft disposed inside of the casing body. The power shaft is equipped with rotary impellers in such a manner that the rotary impellers are disposed on the power shaft and include a first rotary impeller rotated in a positive direction and a second rotary impeller rotated in negative direction. A power shaft portion is located in the feed port and is equipped with a feed impeller. A valuable advantage is obtained in that its new and distinct structure and innovative design enable the device to heighten the impact velocity applied to treated materials many fold, without raising the rotating speed of the impellers. Functions of fining, homogenizing and emulsifying are improved, while effectively enhancing the overall performance of the apparatus, within the motor's allowable rotational speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for blending liquids with solid particulate matter in which a center drive shaft extends through a housing having a solid particle inlet and a liquid inlet together with an outlet, and upper and lower impeller vanes are aligned respectively with the particle inlet and liquid inlet to cause intermixing of the solids and liquids by counterflow of the liquid into the upper impeller region. In one embodiment, expeller blades are employed in inner concentric relation to the upper impeller vanes to accelerate the flow of solid particles into the upper impeller region, and baffle plates or deflector members are employed above and below the upper and lower impellers to prevent any leakage of liquid into the center of the impeller. In preferred and alternate forms, the impeller vanes are sized to balance the point at which the solids and liquid are intermixed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor/stator type homogenizer which allows the gap between the rotor and the stator to be set to a very small dimension and which does not involve generation of abrasion particles or the like even if the rotor is rotated at high speed, making it possible to efficiently homogenize a plurality of liquids having no mutual compatibility. The inner peripheral surface of the stator and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor are opposed to each other through a predetermined gap and a portion of the solutions is introduced into the gap to form a hydrodynamic bearing, thereby supporting rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for blending liquids with solid particulate matter in which a center drive shaft extends through a housing having a solid particle inlet and a liquid inlet together with an outlet, and upper and lower impeller vanes are aligned respectively with the particle inlet and liquid inlet to cause intermixing of the solids and liquids by counterflow of the liquid into the upper impeller region. In one embodiment, expeller blades are employed in inner concentric relation to the upper impeller vanes to accelerate the flow of solid particles into the upper impeller region, and baffle plates or deflector members are employed above and below the upper and lower impellers to prevent any leakage of liquid into the center of the impeller. In preferred and alternate forms, the impeller vanes are sized to balance the point at which the solids and liquid are intermixed.

Abstract: An impeller vane assembly for blending liquids with solid particulate matter in which a center drive shaft extends through a housing having a solid particle inlet and a liquid inlet together with an outlet, and upper and lower impeller vanes are aligned respectively with the particle inlet and liquid inlet to cause intermixing of the solids and liquids by counterflow of the liquid into the upper impeller region, the upper and lower vanes being separated by a common divider plate, and the vanes are characterized by being curved in the direction of rotation of the impeller and having outer radially extending tips which terminate at the outer peripheral edge of the common divider plate, the vanes being operative to balance the point at which the solids and liquid are intermixed between the solid particle inlet and annular space surrounding the impeller.

Abstract: A gel mixing system that employs a dynamic diffuser for quickly removing the air from the fluid as the fluid exits a traditional gel mixer and employs progressive dilution of the gel in a series of hydration tanks to maximize hydration time without allowing the gel to become so viscous that it is not easily diluted or pumped. High shear agitation of the fluid between the hydration tanks helps to increase the hydration rate. Progressive dilution of the gel increases residence time of the gel in the tanks and results in longer hydration time in the limited tank space available, resulting in continuous production of gel that is almost fully hydrated when it is pumped to the fracturing blender and subsequently to the well bore without the need for an increase in the volume of the hydration tanks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mixing device particularly adapted for mixing and delivering a mixture of food product containing large particulates from dehydrated material and a diluent. This device includes a mixing chamber including a propeller, at least one inlet for the dehydrated and diluent to enter the mixing chamber, and an outlet for the mixture to exit the mixing chamber. The propeller is arranged about a rotation axis to provide centrifugal forces upon rotating to create a pumping action in the mixing chamber. Also, the propeller describes a limit plane of rotation demarcating a centrifugal part and a suction part. The outlet has a cross section with an axial dimension of at least 12.5 mm and is positioned in the mixing chamber relative to the propeller so that at least 50% of the outlet surface area is located in the centrifugal part of the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispersing solids into a liquid. The solids may be any particulate material, ranging from cohesive to free flowing. The apparatus and method use an auger to deliver the solids from a hopper to a mixer, where the solids are dispersed into one or more liquids. Typically a vacuum is created in the mixer, or other differential pressures may occur between the hopper and mixer. The apparatus and method provide a delivery rate of the solids which is substantially controlled by the auger rotational speed and substantially independent of the vacuum or other differential pressure at certain auger rotational speeds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor/stator type homogenizer which allows the gap between the rotor and the stator to be set to a very small dimension and which does not involve generation of abrasion particles or the like even if the rotor is rotated at high speed, making it possible to efficiently homogenize a plurality of liquids having no mutual compatibility. The inner peripheral surface of the stator and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor are opposed to each other through a predetermined gap and a portion of the solutions is introduced into the gap to form a hydrodynamic bearing, thereby supporting rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator.