A stirring device of a plug-flow fermentation device includes a shaft rotatable about an axis of rotation which defines an axial direction. The stirring device further includes a boundary stirring element that defines the axial extent of a stirring volume covered by the stirring device. A nearest neighbor of the boundary stirring element in the axial direction has an axial maximum width which is smaller than an axial maximum width of the boundary stirring element and which is larger than an axial maximum width of a next-nearest neighbor of the boundary stirring element.

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 continuous asphalt mixture production plant based on double-horizontal-shaft forced mixing includes a cold aggregate bin, a continuous aggregate conveying and metering system, a drying drum, an aggregate elevator, a double-horizontal-shaft continuous mixing host, a continuous asphalt metering and conveying system, a continuous powder conveying and metering system and a finished product bin. The double-horizontal-shaft continuous mixing host includes a first double-horizontal-shaft mixing cylinder and a second double-horizontal-shaft mixing cylinder connected in series. The first double-horizontal-shaft mixing cylinder is provided with an aggregate inlet, an asphalt inlet, a powder inlet and a first discharging port, and the second double-horizontal-shaft mixing cylinder is provided with a mixture inlet and a second discharging port. The aggregate inlet, the asphalt inlet and the powder inlet are respectively connected with an outlet of the aggregate elevator, the continuous asphalt metering and conveying system and the continuous powder conveying and metering system correspondingly.

A fluid mixing system includes a container, such as a flexible bag, bounding a compartment. A flexible drive line is disposed within the compartment, the drive line having a first end rotatably connected to a first end of the container and an opposing second end rotatably connected to a second end of the container. At least one mixing element, such as an impeller, can be coupled with the flexible drive line. Rotation of the drive line facilitates rotation of the impeller within the container.

A swizzle stick or drink stirring device includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end and at least one pair of opposed mixing blade segments extending outward from the elongated member and adjacent the second end. Plural opposed pairs of mixing blade segments may be spaced from one another near the lower end of the elongated member. Each opposed pair of mixing blade segments has a common axis that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member. The mixing blade segments have a distal end that terminates in a generally loop-like or paddle-shaped end.

The present invention is a composting bioreactor system that continually receives biodegradable solid wastes, waste waters and exhaust gases, automatically recycles the biodegradable wastes into nutrients and heat energy, and automatically supplies the nutrients and heat into an integrated hydroponic or aquaponic system. This invention together with integrated food growing system may be installed onsite such as balconies, backyards and premises of restaurants and food factories etc. therefore may lead to zero mileage targets both for recycling wastes and for supplying foods. This invention integrates composting process and aquaponic technology together and may establish a closed-loop recirculation of both water and gases therefore upgrades aquaponics into compoponics. A compoponic system has both soil and soilless growing beds and mimics nature recirculating nutrients, carbon and energy among human being, animals, microorganisms and plants by way of photosynthesis, slow burning by cellular respiration and burning by combustion.

An agitator device has at least one carrier unit, which has at least one connection element for a connection to a drive shaft and at least one beam element for the fastening of at least one agitator blade wherein the beam element and the connection element are connected to one another in a one-part implementation.

A mixer (1) comprises a drum (2) having at least one inlet (6) and one outlet (7). The mixer (1) furthermore comprises a drive (3) and a stirring shaft (4), which is arranged in the drum (2) and is coupled to the drive (3). Furthermore, the mixer (1) comprises a conveying device (5), which is arranged in the drum (2) and which is arranged on one and the same axis as the stirring shaft (4).

A mixer having i) a vessel defining a mixing chamber surrounded by boundary walls for receiving a mixture containing lumps therein, ii) a plurality of mixing blades, and iii) a driving mechanism supporting the mixing blades in the mixing chamber for mixing motion relative to the vessel so as to mix the mixture within the mixing chamber of the vessel, further includes at least one lump conditioning blade. The lump conditioning blade is supported by the driving mechanism such that the lump conditioning blade is movable in a working direction along a respective one of the boundary walls with a working edge of the blade being maintained at a prescribed space from the boundary wall which is effective to reduce a lump size of the lumps in the mixture as the mixture passes between the working edge of the lump conditioning blade and the boundary wall.

The invention relates to a stirring element of a stirrer for mixing and/or homogenizing or suspending flowable media, which is substantially spherical in shape. The invention further relates to a stirrer having at least two stirring elements according to the invention.