A carbonated beverage maker includes a water reservoir, a carbon dioxide creation chamber, and a carbonation chamber. The water reservoir holds ice water and has a first impeller and a shroud surrounding the first impeller. The carbon dioxide creation chamber contains chemical elements and receives warm water. The chemical elements react with each other to create carbon dioxide when the warm water is introduced to the carbon dioxide creation chamber. The carbonation chamber is connected to the water reservoir and the carbon dioxide creation chamber. The carbonation chamber has a second impeller that includes a stem portion and blades. The stem portion and the blades define conduits therein. The blades create a low pressure region in a lower portion of the carbonation chamber such that carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide creation chamber flows through the conduits to the low pressure region.

A carbonation system for a beverage appliance or machine that can include a liquid chamber and a carbonation chamber separated from the liquid chamber by a wall of the carbonation chamber is disclosed herein. In some implementations, the liquid chamber is defined by a liquid tank (e.g., a water tank), and the carbonation chamber is defined by a carbonation tank. The carbonation system can move liquid (e.g., water) from the liquid chamber to the carbonation chamber and introduce carbonating gas (e.g., carbon dioxide) into the carbonation chamber to create a carbonated liquid (e.g., a carbon dioxide water dissolution, such as carbonated water, sparkling water, or seltzer).

An example device with a microfluidic channel for use in a chamber is provided, the example device comprising: a chamber to contain a fluid; a microfluidic channel located internal to the chamber, the microfluidic channel having an entrance within the chamber and an exit within the chamber, the microfluidic channel defined by a housing located within the chamber; a unidirectional displacement mechanism inside the microfluidic channel, the unidirectional displacement mechanism located between the entrance and the exit; and a controller to activate the unidirectional displacement mechanism to cause the fluid from the chamber to enter the microfluidic channel via the entrance and leave the microfluidic channel via the exit thereby agitating the fluid within the chamber, the fluid otherwise being non-moving.

A thermokinetic mixer for melt mixing plastics waste includes a housing enclosing a mixing chamber, and a shaft protruding through the mixing chamber and connectable to a drive unit. In the mixing chamber, Y-shaped mixing blades protrude radially from the shaft, wherein the free end of the mixing blades protruding into the mixing chamber is cuboid, and the end opposite the free end of the mixing blades has two legs in each case having at least one through bore. The shaft has polygonal recesses, in which recesses the legs can be fastened by a fastener protruding through the through bores.

A thermokinetic mixer for melt mixing plastics waste includes a housing enclosing a mixing chamber, and a shaft protruding through the mixing chamber and connectable to a drive unit. In the mixing chamber, Y-shaped mixing blades protrude radially from the shaft, wherein the free end of the mixing blades protruding into the mixing chamber is cuboid, and the end opposite the free end of the mixing blades has two legs in each case having at least one through bore. The shaft has polygonal recesses, in which recesses the legs can be fastened by a fastener protruding through the through bores.

An ultra-fine bubble-containing liquid generating apparatus (UFB-containing liquid generating apparatus) includes a dissolving unit that generates a gas dissolving liquid and an ultra-fine bubble generating unit that generates ultra-fine bubbles in the gas dissolving liquid. Additionally, the UFB-containing liquid generating apparatus includes a temperature controlling unit that controls at least one of temperatures of the dissolving unit and the ultra-fine bubble generating unit such that the temperature of the ultra-fine bubble generating unit is equal to or lower than the temperature of the dissolving unit.

An ultra-fine bubble-containing liquid generating apparatus (UFB-containing liquid generating apparatus) includes a dissolving unit that generates a gas dissolving liquid and an ultra-fine bubble generating unit that generates ultra-fine bubbles in the gas dissolving liquid. Additionally, the UFB-containing liquid generating apparatus includes a temperature controlling unit that controls at least one of temperatures of the dissolving unit and the ultra-fine bubble generating unit such that the temperature of the ultra-fine bubble generating unit is equal to or lower than the temperature of the dissolving unit.

A manufacturing apparatus for a solidified matter of an ultra-fine bubble (UFB)-containing liquid includes: a UFB generating unit that generates the UFB-containing liquid; and a cooling unit that generates the solidified matter of the UFB-containing liquid by cooling the UFB-containing liquid. The cooling unit cools the ultra-fine bubble-containing liquid such that a first solidified portion and a second solidified portion at a lower ultra-fine bubble concentration than that of the first solidified portion are formed in the solidified matter.

Metastable state spore incubation mixing systems are described. An example system includes a spores container to store spores, a nutrient container to store nutrients, a water supply line, a syringe tank, a syringe pump, an adjustable valve, a heater, and a controller. In a drawing phase of the system, a controller can cause the syringe pump and the adjustable valve to draw into the syringe tank a volume of spores, nutrients, and water to form a mixture. The controller causes the heater to heat the mixture for a period of time. In a dispensing phase of the system, the controller can cause the syringe pump to expel the mixture through the adjustable valve and into a water distribution system. The controller can direct the system through a number of other phases of operation.

Metastable state spore incubation mixing systems are described. An example system includes a spores container to store spores, a nutrient container to store nutrients, a water supply line, a syringe tank, a syringe pump, an adjustable valve, a heater, and a controller. In a drawing phase of the system, a controller can cause the syringe pump and the adjustable valve to draw into the syringe tank a volume of spores, nutrients, and water to form a mixture. The controller causes the heater to heat the mixture for a period of time. In a dispensing phase of the system, the controller can cause the syringe pump to expel the mixture through the adjustable valve and into a water distribution system. The controller can direct the system through a number of other phases of operation.