A jet propulsion dry powder dissolution unit that includes a hollow chamber, an upper blending reactor, an impeller, a stator, a stator compartment, a blending reactor nozzle, a submersible actuator, a lower blending reactor, and a solution outlet blending reactor.

A cold water saponification method is disclosed. The method is for preferred use in industrial applications such as mining operations wherein saponification of fatty acids is required. Broadly, the method comprises the steps of filling a tank with a solution comprising water, a base and fatty acids, installing a mixer capable of creating a vortex in order to effectively saponify fatty acid particles. The use of a high-shear mixer installed vertically has been proven successful in saponifying fatty acids in cold water.

A cold water saponification method is disclosed. The method is for preferred use in industrial applications such as mining operations wherein saponification of fatty acids is required. Broadly, the method comprises the steps of filling a tank with a solution comprising water, a base and fatty acids, installing a mixer capable of creating a vortex in order to effectively saponify fatty acid particles. The use of a high-shear mixer installed vertically has been proven successful in saponifying fatty acids in cold water.

Additive manufacturing apparatus and methods for mixing and dispensing materials, and articles with controlled particle concentrations. Additive manufacturing apparatus includes a mixer; a reservoir in fluidic communication with the mixer; and a build plate parallel to the reservoir. Additive manufacturing apparatus includes a mixer and a solid particle dispensing system and/or a slurry dispensing system. A method for handling precursors during additive manufacturing includes (a) providing first and second precursor materials and/or a slurry to a mixer; (b) mixing the materials in the mixer; (c) transporting the mixed materials directly to a reservoir disposed in parallel with a build plate; (d) curing at least a portion of the transported and mixed materials; and (e) repeating step (d) at least once. An article includes a plurality of adjacent layers, a concentration of particles in each layer defining a controlled concentration gradient and/or vary by no more than ±50%.

A cavitation device is supplied by a disc pump with fluids for mixing. A cavitation rotor, having an array of cavities on its cylindrical surface, is fixed to a shaft for rotation by a motor. The disc pump and the cavitation device are beneficially in the same housing. At least one disc is spaced from and attached to the rotor near the inlet end of the cylindrical housing, so it will rotate with the rotor. A central hole in the (at least one) disc permits fluid to enter the space between the disc and the rotor; it is flung toward the peripheral space between the rotor and the cylindrical housing, where it is subjected to cavitation, and then passed to an outlet. The shaft may pass through one or both of the end walls of the cylindrical housing. The cavitation pump is especially useful for mixing oil field fluids.

Fluid refining systems and methods are disclosed. A fluid refining apparatus may include an upper motor connected to an upper housing, and a lower motor connected to a lower housing. A central housing may be connected between the upper and lower housing. An upper shaft may be connected to the upper motor and rotatably disposed within the upper housing. A lower shaft may be connected to the lower motor and rotatably disposed within the lower housing. A group of nested upper cylinders may be connected to the upper shaft. A group of nested lower cylinders may be connected to the lower shaft. The group of nested upper cylinders may be positioned adjacent the group of nested lower cylinders in an interlacing, fingerlike relationship, and disposed for counter rotation relative to one other. Each of the cylinders may include flow apertures adapted for cooperative relationship to establish fluid flow paths.

Fluid refining systems and methods are disclosed. A fluid refining apparatus may include an upper motor connected to an upper housing, and a lower motor connected to a lower housing. A central housing may be connected between the upper and lower housing. An upper shaft may be connected to the upper motor and rotatably disposed within the upper housing. A lower shaft may be connected to the lower motor and rotatably disposed within the lower housing. A group of nested upper cylinders may be connected to the upper shaft. A group of nested lower cylinders may be connected to the lower shaft. The group of nested upper cylinders may be positioned adjacent the group of nested lower cylinders in an interlacing, fingerlike relationship, and disposed for counter rotation relative to one other. Each of the cylinders may include flow apertures adapted for cooperative relationship to establish fluid flow paths.

An apparatus and system for dispensing a food and beverage product where a flowable product is extracted from a flexible pouch and where an opening exists through which the flowable product evacuates the flexible pouch. The opening has a lock seal that locks the flowable product within the flexible pouch when a pressure is applied to the flexible pouch. There is also a zip seal located in the opening that is configured to lock the flowable product within the flexible pouch after the lock seal has been removed when pressure is applied to the flexible pouch.

Viscosity and other properties are determined at desired temperatures in drilling mud and other fluids by using a versatile cavitation device which, operating in the cavitation mode, mixes and heats the fluid to a specified temperature, and, operating in the shear mode, acts as a spindle for application of Couette principles to determine viscosity as a function of shear stress and shear rate. The invention obviates the practice of adjusting rheology of a drilling fluid by passing it through the drill bit. Drilling fluid may be managed by a “straight-through” method to the well, or by placing the cavitation device in a loop which isolates an aliquot of known volume and circulating the fluid through the loop including the cavitation device. A controller may be programmed to manage the viscosity and other properties at various temperatures by controlling the power input and angular rotation of the “spindle” (which has cavities on its cylindrical surface), and feeding viscosity-adjusting agents and other additives to the fluid. Data may be collected from the loop and used in the “straight-through” mode until it is determined that conditions require a new set of data, or the loop may be used continuously. The system may be used with a supplemental viscometer, density meter, and other instruments.

Viscosity and other properties are determined at desired temperatures in drilling mud and other fluids by using a versatile cavitation device which, operating in the cavitation mode, mixes and heats the fluid to a specified temperature, and, operating in the shear mode, acts as a spindle for application of Couette principles to determine viscosity as a function of shear stress and shear rate. The invention obviates the practice of adjusting rheology of a drilling fluid by passing it through the drill bit. Drilling fluid may be managed by a “straight-through” method to the well, or by placing the cavitation device in a loop which isolates an aliquot of known volume and circulating the fluid through the loop including the cavitation device. A controller may be programmed to manage the viscosity and other properties at various temperatures by controlling the power input and angular rotation of the “spindle” (which has cavities on its cylindrical surface), and feeding viscosity-adjusting agents and other additives to the fluid. Data may be collected from the loop and used in the “straight-through” mode until it is determined that conditions require a new set of data, or the loop may be used continuously. The system may be used with a supplemental viscometer, density meter, and other instruments.