The present invention provides subsurface irrigation systems and air injection mechanism and microbubble generating mechanism. The systems of the present invention are operable to provide an evenly distributed air microbubbles in a stream of fluid (e.g., subsurface irrigation water) to evenly provide gas therein (e.g., oxygen for plants receiving the irrigation water along an entire length of an irrigation line). The microbubble generating mechanism may use pressure generated from flow of fluid to cavitate the fluid and thereby distribute gas microbubbles in the fluid. In irrigation examples, the resulting air infused water delivers an effective amount of oxygen to the roots of the irrigation crops.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for providing asymmetric oscillations to a container. The container may include a fluid, a particle, and/or a gas. A vibration driver attached to the container provides asymmetric oscillations. A controller connected to the vibration driver controls an amplitude, frequency, and shape of the asymmetric oscillations. An amplifier amplifies the asymmetric oscillations in response to the controller. A sensor disposed on the vibration driver provides feedback to the controller.

A process for extracting carbohydrates from biomass and creating bioalcohol from the extracted carbohydrates. Subjecting the biomass to acid or alkali hydrolysis in a first hydrodynamic cavitation process. Filtering the first cavitated biomass to separate a first filtrate containing extracted carbohydrates. Fermenting the first filtrate to create a bioalcohol and separating the bioalcohol by distillation or similar process. Subjecting the biomass to enzymatic hydrolysis in a second hydrodynamic cavitation process. Filtering the second cavitated biomass to separate a second filtrate containing extracted carbohydrates. Fermenting the second filtrate to create a bioalcohol and separating the bioalcohol by distillation or similar process. The first and second filtrates may be combined and fermented in a single step.

A water treating method includes a step of installing a cavitation generation ring in a part of a water communication pipe, and a step of passing water through the inside of the cylindrical portion at high pressure, thereby cavitation being generated in the cylindrical portion and clusters of molecules of water being fined. A cavitation generation ring is configured to be installed in a part of a water communication pipe. A water treating apparatus includes a cavitation generation ring, a water communication pipe and a pressurizing pump for water.

Provided is a centrifuge that preferably performs processes such as dispersion of a material to be processed while enhancing convenience for users. A centrifuge 1 of the present invention includes an ultrasonic wave generation source 10 that generates ultrasonic waves and a storage container 20 that stores a material to be processed M. The centrifuge 1 of the present invention also includes a rotation mechanism 30. The rotation mechanism 30 rotates the storage container 20 around a rotation axis L tilted relative to a virtual line V extended in a vertical direction in such a manner that the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave generation source 10 are constantly applicable to the material to be processed M.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for providing asymmetric oscillations to a container. The container may include a fluid, a particle, and/or a gas. A vibration driver attached to the container provides asymmetric oscillations. A controller connected to the vibration driver controls an amplitude, frequency, and shape of the asymmetric oscillations. An amplifier amplifies the asymmetric oscillations in response to the controller. A sensor disposed on the vibration driver provides feedback to the controller.

A method and apparatus for assisting the cooling or heating of product, such as beverages, in a container can include agitating the contents of the container to create movement and to generate eddy currents in the contents. The method and apparatus can help to reduce the temperature gradients in the contents and to increase the heat transfer rate of the contents while simultaneously cooling or heating the contents and simultaneously transporting the containers. The containers can be cooled or heated using a cooling or heating media, in a cooling or heating tunnel, or in a reservoir. Agitating the contents of the container can be accomplished with a vibration generator, which can be selected from a pulsating fluid, a shaker, a motor rotating an unbalanced mass, a tactile transducer, an acoustic device, and a subwoofer. The vibration generator can be a pulsating fluid that is also a cooling or heating media.

Devices, systems and methods including a sonicator for sample preparation are provided. A sonicator may be used to mix, resuspend, aerosolize, disperse, disintegrate, or de-gas a solution. A sonicator may be used to disrupt a cell, such as a pathogen cell in a sample. Sample preparation may include exposing pathogen-identifying material by sonication to detect, identify, or measure pathogens. A sonicator may transfer ultrasonic energy to the sample solution by contacting its tip to an exterior wall of a vessel containing the sample. Multipurpose devices including a sonicator also include further components for additional actions and assays. Devices, and systems comprising such devices, may communicate with a laboratory or other devices in a system for sample assay and analysis. Methods utilizing such devices and systems are provided. The improved sample preparation devices, systems and methods are useful for analyzing samples, e.g. for diagnosing patients suffering from infection by pathogens.

Disclosed is a method for preparing a stable fluid mixture by mixing hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances using ultrasound wherein homogeneous dispersion and mixing are possible so that dispersibility is greatly improved and separation between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances is minimized even after a long time.

The apparatus for dispersing and mixing fluids by focused ultrasound includes a fluid storage unit for storing a fluid mixture of at least two fluids comprising a hydrophilic substance and a hydrophobic substance, the fluid storage unit comprising a first connector and a second connector connected to a fluid flow path such that the fluid mixture moves through a fluid flow path providing a portion through which the fluid mixture moves, a fluid dispersion unit for focusing ultrasound to a portion of the fluid flow path to disperse fluids contained in the fluid mixture by ultrasound when the fluid mixture moves the portion, and a fluid circulation unit for circulating the fluid mixture such that a portion of the fluid mixture relatively insufficiently dispersed is moved through the first connector from the fluid storage unit to the fluid dispersion unit and the fluid mixture dispersed by the fluid dispersion unit is moved through the second connector to the fluid storage unit.

There is provided methods and systems for disaggregation and deagglomeration of small scale materials such as carbon nanotubes by cavitation of a treatment substance. The treatment substance may be a substance such as CO.sub.2 which is capable of undergoing phase changes. Systems must be capable of withstanding high pressures, and cavitation may be done by ultrasound, mechanical agitation, injection of a jet stream, or other methods. Materials treated via the methods of the invention may be removed without the use of chemical surfactants or other chemical modification means, and may be further used in a battery.