A machine for making and dispensing liquid and/or semi-liquid food products includes a tank for containing the product, and a dispensing tap mounted on the discharging outlet of the tank. The tap has a duct connected to the discharging outlet and a piston sliding in a sealed fashion inside the duct. The duct has a first stretch extending between a first end and a branch of the duct from which a dispensing outlet of the tap extends, and a second stretch extending between the branch of the duct and a second end of the duct. The first end is connected in a sealed fashion to the discharging outlet and the second end is closed by a plug The piston is movable between a position preventing the dispensing of the product and allowing the washing of the duct, and a position allowing dispensing of the product.

The present invention regards a manifold for use in a flow system, comprising a longitudinal main pipe section (1) with one inlet (13) connectable to a feed pipe (9) and at least two outlets (14) arranged in a row along the main pipe section (1), where a center axis (15) of the main pipe section (1) during normal use extends in a mainly horizontal direction. The outlets (14) are arranged in a lower half of the main pipe section (1) and connected to outlet pipe sections (22) arranged with a center axis (21) extending with an downward angle from the main pipe section (1). The invention also regards a method for distributing a mixed flow into several pipes and a method for cooling a multiphase fluid.

A bulk adhesive transfer system for transferring adhesive particulate to a melter includes a bulk supply and a transfer device, which may define a hopper of the melter, a mobile bin, and/or a buffer unit. The transfer device is configured to receive unmelted adhesive particulate from the bulk supply and then be selectively docked with the melter to transfer the adhesive particulate to the melter. The bulk adhesive transfer system may also include a knife gate valve device, which includes a plurality of ports that sequentially open and close to control flow of the adhesive particulate towards the melter. The bulk adhesive transfer system simplifies refilling operations for a melter while enabling continuous operation of the melter, even when the transfer device is undocked for removal from the melter.

A bulk adhesive transfer system for transferring adhesive particulate to a melter includes a bulk supply and a transfer device, which may define a hopper of the melter, a mobile bin, and/or a buffer unit. The transfer device is configured to receive unmelted adhesive particulate from the bulk supply and then be selectively docked with the melter to transfer the adhesive particulate to the melter. The bulk adhesive transfer system may also include a knife gate valve device, which includes a plurality of ports that sequentially open and close to control flow of the adhesive particulate towards the melter. The bulk adhesive transfer system simplifies refilling operations for a melter while enabling continuous operation of the melter, even when the transfer device is undocked for removal from the melter.

A flow monitoring system is described for monitoring flow of a mixed-phase sample comprising at least a first phase and a second phase having different electrical conductivities, the second phase being a liquid or a gas and substantially electrically non- conductive and the first phase being a liquid and having a conductivity higher than the second phase. The system comprises: a conduit through which the mixed-phase sample can be arranged to flow; tomography apparatus arranged to generate tomography data indicative of at least a first conductivity profile of at least a portion of a first cross section of the mixed phase sample when flowing through the conduit; a flow meter arranged to detect flow of the first phase though the conduit and provide a flow signal indicative of a flow velocity of the first phase; and processing means adapted to calculate, from said data, a fraction of said first cross section occupied by the first phase, and calculate, from said fraction and said flow signal, a volumetric flow rate of the first phase through the conduit.

The invention relates to a backfeeding installation (30) which comprises: modules (31 to 35 and 37) comprising the following functions: at least one compressor for compressing gas, an automaton for controlling the operation of at least one compressor, at least one sensor for checking the quality compliance of the gas circulating in the compressor, at least one meter for metering a flow rate of gas circulating in the compressor, and at least one filter for filtering the gas circulating in the compressor; and an interconnection module (36A, 36B) for interconnection between the other modules and with a gas network (15) at a first pressure and a gas network (10) at a second pressure higher than the first pressure. At least one of these modules is mobile and configured to be transported, in its entirety and operational by means of a removable connection to the interconnection module and to a power source, on a single vehicle.

The invention relates to a backfeeding installation (30) which comprises: modules (31 to 35 and 37) comprising the following functions: at least one compressor for compressing gas, an automaton for controlling the operation of at least one compressor, at least one sensor for checking the quality compliance of the gas circulating in the compressor, at least one meter for metering a flow rate of gas circulating in the compressor, and at least one filter for filtering the gas circulating in the compressor; and an interconnection module (36A, 36B) for interconnection between the other modules and with a gas network (15) at a first pressure and a gas network (10) at a second pressure higher than the first pressure. At least one of these modules is mobile and configured to be transported, in its entirety and operational by means of a removable connection to the interconnection module and to a power source, on a single vehicle.

Methods and systems are provided for a power-generating fluid flow arrangement. In one example, the fluid flow arrangement may include a primary conduit flowing a pressurized fluid and a bypass conduit coupled to the primary conduit. The bypass conduit may divert a portion of the pressurized fluid flow from the primary conduit to drive rotation of a turbine. A dual valve may be arranged in the bypass conduit to control both flow and pressure in the fluid flow arrangement.

A gas transfer and depressurization system that is configured to transfer gas from a first location to a second location wherein during the transfer of gas the pressure of the first location is reduced. The gas transfer and depressurization system includes a drive chamber having an interior volume with a drive assembly movably disposed therein. A first cylinder and a second cylinder are operably coupled to the drive chamber on opposing sides thereof. The drive assembly includes a drive rod having portions extending into the first cylinder and second cylinder wherein the drive rod has pistons formed on opposing ends thereof. A controller is operably coupled to a compressed air source and is configured to provide compressed air into said drive chamber so as to reciprocally move the drive assembly. Gas blocks and coupling block are additionally present and facilitate flow of gas intermediate the first and second cylinders.

An odorant masking system is provided that may be used to introduce an odorant masking agent to natural gas released via a vent stack system. When the odorant masking system senses a pressure increase due to a controlled natural gas release (e.g., during a system blowdown), some of the natural gas is diverted through the system, and odorant masking agent is released from a storage tank. The diverted natural gas and the odorant masking agent subsequently may be mixed and introduced to the natural gas being released through the vent stack system. The mixture of diverted gas and odorant masking agent preferably takes the form of a spray that, when introduced to the natural gas at the vent stack, reduces or even neutralizes the foul smell of odorant associated with the controlled release of natural gas.