This invention relates to bubble generation, in particular to microbubble generation in a microfluidic device, which bubbles may be useful as contrasting agents or drug delivery vehicles. The invention further relates to apparatuses, systems and methods for manufacturing said microbubbles, microbubbles produced by such methods and to their uses, e.g. in medical, diagnostic and other such applications. The microbubbles are preferentially formed using a microspray regime.

A system and method of injecting a gas enriched and/or emulsified first liquid into a second liquid is disclosed. The injection can cause generation of a high density of bubbles having a mean diameter of a selected size. The mean diameter of the bubbles can be selected and varied based on the characteristics of the injection system.

Embodiments of a process for treating a fluid are provided. The process for treating a fluid includes supplying a first fluid to a circulating chamber and introducing a first gas to the first fluid. A portion of the first gas is dissolved in the first fluid and a portion of the first gas is held in a head space portion of the circulating chamber. The process further includes mixing a portion of the first fluid drawn out from the circulating chamber and a portion of the first gas drawn out from the head space portion to form a mixture. The process further includes spraying the mixture back into the circulating chamber by a two-fluid nozzle. In addition, the first gas is further dissolved into the first fluid to form a high conductivity fluid. The process further includes draining the high conductivity fluid from the circulating chamber.

An apparatus for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles contains a microfluidic flow focusing device. The microfluidic flow focusing device includes a dispersed phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into a flow focusing junction, a continuous phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into the flow focusing junction, and a bubble formation channel having an inlet disposed at the flow focusing junction. The configuration of the flow focusing junction is such that, in operation, a flow of dispersed phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the dispersed phase fluid supply channel is engageable in co-flow by a focusing flow of continuous phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the at least one continuous phase fluid supply channel under formation of a gradually thinning jet of dispersed phase fluid that extends into the inlet of the bubble formation channel.

A system for providing an acidic ionized ozonated liquid. The system includes a liquid inlet arranged to accept a liquid into the system; an acid-based cation-exchange resin in fluid communication with the liquid inlet, the resin adapted to exchange cations in the accepted liquid with H+ ions on the resin; an ozone dissolving apparatus in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and the acid-based cation-exchange resin; and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the liquid inlet, the acid-based cation-exchange resin and the ozone dissolving apparatus. The ozone dissolving apparatus and the acid-based cation-exchange resin cooperating to produce the acidic ionized ozonated liquid for dispensation out of the system via the liquid outlet.

The invention provides an injector device for a water treatment apparatus, and a method of use. The injector device comprises a first coupling for fluid connection to a source of liquid to be treated; and a second coupling for fluid connection to at least one liquid treatment vessel arranged to expose liquid in the vessel to ultraviolet radiation in an advanced oxidation process reaction. The device comprises at least one injection port for injecting at least one gas into a liquid flowing through the injector device. The injector device is at least partially formed from a material that is transmissive to ultraviolet radiation. In another aspect, a water treatment apparatus defines a plurality of parallel flow streams between the inlet of the apparatus and the at least one liquid treatment vessel. The injector device comprises an injection port for each of the plurality of parallel flow streams.

A substrate processing apparatus includes: at least one processing part for etching a polysilicon film or an amorphous silicon film formed on a substrate using an alkaline chemical liquid; a reservoir configured to recover and store the chemical liquid used in the at least one processing part; processing lines configured to supply the chemical liquid stored in the reservoir to the at least one processing part; a circulation line configured to take out the chemical liquid from the reservoir and to return the same to the reservoir; and a first gas supply line connected to the circulation line and configured to supply an inert gas to the circulation line. The circulation line includes an ejection port configured to eject a mixed fluid of the inert gas supplied by the first gas supply line and the chemical liquid taken out from the reservoir into the chemical liquid stored in the reservoir.

There is provided a mixing device (2) for a beverage and CO2 gas for producing carbonated beverage. The mixing device (2) having a mixing channel (4) extending in a main direction (10). The mixing channel (4) includes: wide channel sections (16) and narrow channel sections (18) along the main direction (10). The mixing channel (4) has an elongated cross section seen in a direction perpendicular to the main direction (10). At least a first delimiting surface (22) of the mixing channel (4) is provided with protrusions (20) extending at least partially along the first delimiting surface (22) in a direction across the mixing channel (4) and protruding towards a second delimiting surface (24) of the mixing channel (4) to form the narrow channel sections (18). A turbulent flow of beverage is created by the narrow and wide channel sections. Further a carbonator for producing carbonated beverage, an appliance having a carbonator, and a method of producing a carbonated beverage are provided.

Initial liquid containing fine bubbles is produced by mixing water and air (step S11). Fine bubbles have diameters of less than 1 μm. The density of bubbles in the initial liquid is measured (step S13), and when the measured density is less than a target density (step S14), the initial liquid is heated and reduced in pressure so that the liquid is vaporized (step S15). As a volume of the liquid decreases, the density of fine bubbles increases, and high-density fine bubble-containing liquid is easily obtained. Alternatively, by increasing the density of fine bubbles in the initial liquid with using a filter that does not pass all fine bubbles, high-density fine bubble-containing liquid is easily acquired (step S15). When the density of bubbles in the initial liquid is greater than the target density, the initial liquid is diluted (step S16).

Systems, devices, and methods are presented for optimizing the formation of gas nanobubbles in a disinfecting solution. In an example system for treating contaminated water, a centrifugal pump draws the water from a reservoir and circulates the water in and through a circuit of elements including a mixing chamber in the pump, a pressure vessel, a backflow valve, a Venturi injector, and a pair of nozzles immersed in the reservoir. The system injects ozone-rich gas into the fluid to produce an aqueous solution containing a volume of gas nanobubbles. The nozzles release the gas nanobubbles into the reservoir, creating highly reactive compounds that destroy organic compounds and other contaminants in the water.