Systems and method for producing a small-scale mixer are provided. In some implementations, a method for includes obtaining dimensions of an at-scale mixer. The method also includes determining first dimensions of the small-scale mixer based on respective dimensions of the at-scale mixer. The method further includes determining second dimensions of the small-scale mixer independent of the dimensions of the at-scale mixer. Additionally, the method includes generating the small-scale mixer using the first dimensions and the second dimensions using a three-dimensional printer.

A paint container lid assembly for a standard paint container includes an opening with a threaded adapter ring and a removable threaded cap. A pour spout/funnel includes a tubular lower portion having an internally threaded end to removably engage the adapter ring. The upper portion of the spout/funnel comprises a coffer-like body having an elongated opening. A spout/funnel cap is slidably secured to the spout/funnel to close the entire spout/funnel upper opening or partially unblock the opening to meter and control the rate of outflow of paint.

Apparatus for processing kitchen waste is disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises an inlet for receiving the kitchen waste, a comminuter to comminute the received waste, a dewatering device to dewater the comminuted waste, a compressor to compress the dewatered comminuted waste, and an outlet to provide processed waste ready for collection, wherein the inlet has a lid moveable between a closed position and an open position and the inlet communicates with a hopper having an outlet, the hopper outlet communicating with the comminuter by a door mechanism, and wherein the door mechanism and the lid are interlocked such that the door mechanism opens to supply food waste to the comminuter only when the lid is in the closed position and such that the lid is openable to allow a user to add food waste into the hopper only when the door mechanism is closed.

Methods and a slaker for removal of heavy grit during batchwise slaking of burnt lime in a slaker (2) for the production of lime slurry with a high degree of fineness and prolonged sedimentation time are described, where the following processing steps are carried out during the slaking process: a)—reduction of the stirring of the slaker (2) from a normal stirring speed to a lower stirring speed, b)—opening of an upper inlet valve (60) in a collector (70) mounted in the lower part (54) of the slaker (2) to lead sinking grit in the slurry batch to the collector (70), whereupon the upper inlet valve (60) is closed after a given time period, c)—increase the stirring in the slaker (2) back to the normal stirring speed, d)—after a given time period with normal stirring speed, a regulating valve (22) in the lower part (54) of the slaker (2) is opened for emptying of a batch of slurry to an external storage tank (3), and e)—when said regulating valve (22) is opened for emptying of a batch of slurry, a lower outlet valve (62) in the collector is optionally opened for emptying of collected grit.

Techniques or processes for efficiently producing concrete using dynamic feedback are disclosed. A concrete plant can use a control system to manage concrete production based on the dynamic feedback. The dynamic feedback can control mixing of concrete ingredients so as to yield uniform particle distribution for the concrete ingredients. The dynamic feedback can also avoid overflow situations as well as yield improved loading of the resulting concrete into a concrete transport vehicle (e.g., concrete truck).

A burner system for heating the material product, i.e., asphalt, includes a burner kettle designed with a thicker bottom heat transfer plate, added heat transfer oil (HTO) circulation pumps, a spiral circulation ring and heat restriction rings. The spiral circulation ring spirals up the burner kettle to move the HTO around the entire circumference of the burner kettle to eliminate hotspots. An HTO pump moves cooler oil from the top of the kettle directly across the hottest part of the bottom of the kettle, i.e., across the heat transfer plate. Keeping this zone cool will eliminate heat stress of the material. Heat restriction rings direct the heat back and forth throughout the burner kettle for increased efficiency.

A bioreactor is provided that includes a main reactor having a configuration selected from the group consisting of stirred and unstirred tank reactor, trickle bed reactor (TBR), cocurrent contactor (CCC), moving bed bioreactor (MBBR), and a bubble column reactor. The bioreactor also includes a growth reactor continuous with the main reactor and having a configuration selected from the group consisting of stirred and unstirred tank reactor, trickle bed reactor (TBR), cocurrent contactor (CCC), moving bed bioreactor (MBBR), and a bubble column reactor. A method is also provided where acetogenic bacteria are contacted with syngas in a growth fermentor section of a reactor vessel that is continuous with a main fermentor section of a reactor vessel.

A method is provided for monitoring a flow behavior of mixed components without requiring additional instrumentation or sampling. The method is carried out by determining ratios of the power required to rotate a mixing impeller at different rotational speeds and then comparing the ratios. Characteristics about the mixed components are determined based on differences between the ratios.

A system for mixing content of a container comprises a container includes an interior mixing element, an exterior drive system and a mixing device comprising an exterior bearing for coupling the exterior drive system to the interior mixing element of the container. The exterior bearing provides a driven non-rotating, nutating motion that drives the interior mixing element of the container so that it performs a mixing motion inside the container.

A stirrer (1; 100) for stabilizing liquid binding unfinished products intended to form ceramic items comprising a support shaft (2) individuating a longitudinal rotation axis (Y) and contained into a mixing tank (V) of the liquid binding unfinished product, motorization means (3) operatively connected with the support shaft (2) in order to rotate it around the longitudinal axis (Y), and a main operating blade (4), coupled with the support shaft (2) through interconnection means (5) in such a way as to be contained into the mixing tank (V) in order to interfere with the liquid binding unfinished product and cause its continuous mechanical mixing action inside the mixing tank (V) itself when the support shaft (2) rotates around the longitudinal axis (Y). In this case, the stirrer (1) includes a thermoregulation circuit (6), which extends within the support shaft (2) and within the main operating blade (4) and is connected with an external source for supplying a heat transfer fluid crossing the thermoregulation circuit (6) in such a way as to exchange heat with the liquid binding unfinished product within the mixing tank (V), in order to bring the it to a predefined temperature, while the support shaft (2) and the main operating blade (4) integral with it rotate around the longitudinal axis (Y).