A method and system for preparing and providing a carbonized liquid. A liquid to be carbonized is provided in a tank. A gas is introduced into the tank to form the carbonized liquid. The gas may be introduced to the tank by way on an injecting nozzle located at an outlet end of a gas inlet duct inside the tank and/or located spaced apart from the liquid stored in the tank. The carbonized liquid is discharged from the tank via an outlet duct using a pressure difference between the pressure prevailing in the tank and a pressure prevailing in the outlet duct and/or at an outlet end of the outlet duct. When in normal operation mode, the gas having entered the tank is leaving the tank substantially only via the outlet duct.

Some variations provide a system for producing a functionalized powder, comprising: an agitated pressure vessel; first particles and second particles contained within the agitated pressure vessel; a fluid contained within the agitated pressure vessel; an exhaust line for releasing the fluid from the agitated pressure vessel; and a means for recovering a functionalized powder containing the second particles disposed onto surfaces of the first particles. A preferred fluid is carbon dioxide in liquefied or supercritical form. The carbon dioxide may be initially loaded into the pressure vessel as solid carbon dioxide. The pressure vessel may be batch or continuous and is operated under reaction conditions to functionalize the first particles with the second particles, thereby producing a functionalized powder, such as nanofunctionalized metal particles in which nanoparticles act as grain refiners for a component ultimately produced from the nanofunctionalized metal particles. Methods for making the functionalized powder are also disclosed.

An apparatus for preparing a reagent solution includes an enclosure and a container disposed within the enclosure. The container defines an internal cavity having a compressible volume and defines a passage providing fluidic communication between the internal cavity and the exterior of the container. Optionally, a compressible member is disposed within the internal cavity. A reagent is disposed within the internal cavity.

A mixing apparatus including a mixing region can have an inlet and an outlet. The mixing region can be operable to couple with a solution housing, thereby defining a mixing chamber. A stem can extend from a surface of the mixing region and the inlet can be disposed at a distal end of the stem. A wing can disposed at a proximal end of the stem and adjacently engaged with the surface of the mixing region and have a leading edge and a trailing edge.

An apparatus for preparing a reagent solution includes an enclosure and a container disposed within the enclosure. The container defines an internal cavity having a compressible volume and defines a passage providing fluidic communication between the internal cavity and the exterior of the container. Optionally, a compressible member is disposed within the internal cavity. A reagent is disposed within the internal cavity.

The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product mechanical conveying system which transfers particulate material from one or more source containers to application equipment on demand, and meters the material at the application equipment. The conveying system includes a pneumatic agitation system operably connected to the tanks of the applicator to agitate the particulate material disposed within the tanks in order to reduce the formation of agglomerations and/or bridges of particles within the tanks. The pneumatic agitation system includes a number of nozzle connected to each tank that are in turn connected to a pressurized air source and a controller. The controller is operable to selectively cause pressurized air to flow into the tanks through the nozzles to agitate the particulate material positioned therein, thereby breaking up and agglomerations of material within the tanks.

The present invention relates to a mixing device (1), especially for mixing solids in a mixing vessel (2), comprising a stirring element (4) having at least two helical stirrer blades (7, 8) connected to a motor-driven shaft (5), wherein the stirrer blades (7, 8) have a first portion (10), a second portion (11) and a third portion (12), every one of these portions (10, 11, 12) has a constant gradient (m1, m2, m3) of one steepness or a gradient (m1, m2, m3) which is different from the constant gradient and has a curvature, and at least one of the constant gradients (m1, m2, m3) has a steepness different from the at least one other constant gradient (m1, m2, m3), or one of the different gradients (m1, m2, m3) has a curvature that is different from the at least one other different gradient (m1, m2, m3).

A blender has a mixing chamber for reception of materials to be blended. A mixing screw is mounted at a bottom of the mixing chamber for mixing materials within the mixing chamber and delivering mixed materials to an outlet feeding a processing line. The blender has a plurality of material handling compartments. One or more cleaning air jets are provided in each material handling compartment. The cleaning air jets are operable to direct material towards an outlet of the compartment. Each cleaning air jet is connected to a pressurised air supply through a valve which controls delivery of pressurised air to the cleaning air jet.

A production apparatus includes a receiving device designed to receive a first and a second capsule containing a first and a second formulation, respectively, the receiving device being designed to be in an open position in which the first and the second capsule can be introduced into the receiving device and a closed position in which the receiving device holds the first and second capsules in position, the receiving device further being designed in such a way that when the receiving device holding the first and second capsules is moved from the open position to the closed position, the first and second capsules are connected; the apparatus further includes a mixing machine designed to receive the receiving device holding the first and second capsules, and to mix the first and second formulations contained in the first and second capsules such as to obtain the composition.

Various illustrative systems, devices, and methods of beverage carbonation system flow control are provided. A carbonation system is one example of a treatment system to which the systems, devices, and methods described herein apply. In general, a carbonation system is configured to form a carbonated fluid and dispense the carbonated fluid in a controlled manner. In an illustrative embodiment, the carbonation system is configured to begin dispensing the carbonated fluid with a pressure in a chamber of the carbonation system, in which the carbonated fluid is formed, being above atmospheric pressure. A gas is introduced into the chamber after dispensing has already started via the pressure in the chamber to drive the flow of the carbonated fluid. The gas can be introduced into the chamber according to a predetermined pressure profile.