The invention provides a method of operating a batch mixer for producing first and second numbers of mixtures from first and second numbers of batches of materials to be mixed in the batch mixer, the batch mixer comprising a mixing chamber, a mixing element disposed within the mixing chamber, the mixing element and the mixing chamber being configured for providing an identical flow of the materials to be mixed within the mixing chamber and around the mixing element regardless of in which of the first and second opposite directions the mixing element is rotated, and a motor assembly coupled to the mixing element for rotating the mixing element for mixing the first and second numbers of batches of materials to be mixed for producing the first and second numbers of mixtures. The method comprises the steps of energizing said motor assembly for rotating said mixing element in said first direction, for each one of the first number of batches of the materials to be mixed: loading the one of the first number of batches of materials to be mixed into the mixing chamber, mixing the one of the first number of batches of materials for producing one of the first number of mixtures, and removing the one of the first number of mixtures from the mixing chamber, energizing the motor assembly for rotating the mixing element in the second direction, and for each one of the second number of batches of the materials to be mixed loading the one of the second number of batches of materials to be mixed into the mixing chamber, mixing the one of the second number of batches of materials for producing one of the second number of mixtures, and removing the one of the second number of mixtures from the mixing chamber.

A paper stock modification device is provided wherein accretions do not build up on the blades even when modifying paper feedstock comprising large amounts of hot melt, adhesive material, etc. and there is no risk of damage to the cylinder. Since a circular member is provided in a space at the other end, the paper feedstock accumulates in front of the end face of the circular member and is in a softened state with moisture removal being incomplete. Metal scraper parts protrude therein and the metal scraper parts are in close proximity to blades. Thus, even if paper feedstock comprising large amounts of hot melt, adhesive material, etc. adheres to the blades, the same is completely scraped off as a result of a scraping action of the plate surfaces of the metal scraper parts that is caused by the rotation of the blades.

A paper stock modification device is provided wherein accretions do not build up on the blades even when modifying paper feedstock comprising large amounts of hot melt, adhesive material, etc. and there is no risk of damage to the cylinder. Since a circular member is provided in a space at the other end, the paper feedstock accumulates in front of the end face of the circular member and is in a softened state with moisture removal being incomplete. Metal scraper parts protrude therein and the metal scraper parts are in close proximity to blades. Thus, even if paper feedstock comprising large amounts of hot melt, adhesive material, etc. adheres to the blades, the same is completely scraped off as a result of a scraping action of the plate surfaces of the metal scraper parts that is caused by the rotation of the blades.

A paddle (30), a paddle rail (20), a mixer shaft (10) for a mixer (1), a mixer (1) and a method for mixing a product to be conditioned in a mixer (1). As the mixer (1) starts up, a product to be mixed is retained in a starting region of the mixer shaft (10), for instance, until the desired mixing or conditioning is achieved, so that loss-free start-up is made possible. That is to say disposal or recycling of the product when the mixer starts up becomes unnecessary.

A method of producing a saccharified solution, in which saccharified slurry is obtained by hydrothermally treating cellulosic biomass slurry in a supercritical state or a subcritical state by a continuous reactor. The method reduces the risk of a pressure reducing valve becoming clogged when the high-temperature and high-pressure slurry is flash-evaporated after being hydrothermally treated. Also provides an apparatus for producing a saccharified solution and a continuous reactor. At the time of hydrothermally treating the cellulosic biomass slurry by the continuous reactor continuously, the slurry is intensely stirred in a front part of the continuous reactor, and stirred in a rear part of the continuous reactor by a stirring device with low propelling force, such that the plug flow in the axial direction is kept while the slurry is being uniformly mixed with respect to the cross section perpendicular to the mixing axis.

A reactor is provided for the preparation of modified bitumen, which reactor comprises a horizontal housing comprising a cylindrical wall and two side walls, wherein a bitumen inlet has been provided at or near one of the side walls of the housing and a bitumen product outlet has been provided at or near the opposite side wall of the housing, wherein a plurality of inlets for the provision of oxygen-containing gas has been provided in the cylindrical wall of the housing between the bitumen inlet and the bitumen product outlet, which multi-purpose reactor is further provided with a mixer arranged inside the housing comprising at least one rotor rotating within at least one stator having a plurality of openings. The reactor is used to prepare modified bitumen by contacting bitumen in the reactor with a modified elevated temperature and pressure.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a food product comprising hydrolysed starch, as well as to products obtainable by the method. The method has the advantage of increasing the amount of sugar (i.e. maltose) produced by hydrolysis as compared to conventional methods of starch hydrolysis and present the additional advantage of providing good processability for the food product.

An apparatus (1) for mixing a paste material with gas includes: a mixing part (2) that mixes the paste material with the gas using a piston pump (10); and a static mixer (3) that is connected to the mixing part to stir a mixture obtained by mixing the paste material with the gas in the mixing part. The static mixer includes one or a plurality of stirring sections through which the mixture passes, the stirring section has a shape that allows a flow of the mixture passing through the stirring section to be stirred. A ratio of a volume of the piston pump to a volume of at least one of the stirring sections of the static mixer is within a range from 1:0.2 to 1:5.

A kneader internal inspection device according to the present invention suspends and supports a photographing unit, which is arranged in an interior of a kneader and which photographs the interior, so as to be vertically movable in the interior of the kneader. Therefore, such a kneader internal inspection device is capable of easily inspecting the interior of the kneader.

A tank on a firefighting aircraft initially is loaded with water. A polymer gel emulsion vessel is provided on the aircraft, but is not activated and mixed with tank water until such polymer gel preparation is initiated by an operator. When initiated, a pump pulls water from the tank and doses it with gel emulsion. Double elbows and/or the pump impeller fully activates the polymer gel. The activated polymer gel is mixed within the tank by one of a variety of systems including mixing paddles or sparging with gas. In one embodiment, a hollow tower of telescoping form has a float to keep an upper end near a surface in the tank and a sparging gas entry is a controlled distance below the surface, such that gas of limited pressure, such as from a ram air inlet can sparge and mix the water and activated polymer gel emulsion effectively.