In a rapid stirrer that stirs sludge and a flocculant in a tank with a stirring blade, the rotation speed of the stirring blade is increased at a set rate with an increase in the amount of charged sludge, the rotation speed of the stirring blade is reduced at the set rate with a decrease in the amount of charged sludge, and flocculated flocs having a fixed floc diameter are stably generated even when operating conditions change so as to fluctuate the amount of charged sludge.

A mixing method, a controller and a mixing device for mixing components in a mixing vessel are provided. The mixing method includes providing a mixing impeller in the mixing vessel; accelerating the mixing impeller from an inactive state to a rotating state in which the mixing impeller rotates at a first desired speed in a first rotation direction; rotating the mixing impeller at the first desired speed for a first time t.sub.steady,1 in the first rotation direction; changing the rotation direction of the mixing impeller, so that the mixing impeller rotates in a second rotation direction at a second desired speed; and rotating the mixing impeller at the second desired speed for a second time t.sub.steady,2.

A radial impeller includes a hub, a disk, and a plurality of blades. The disk is affixed to the hub. The disk has a disk plane defined by the disk. Each blade of the plurality of blades is affixed to the disk. Each blade includes a C shaped body portion and an upper and lower horizontal extension. The upper horizontal extension extends along an upper plane parallel to the disk plane. The lower horizontal extension extends along a lower plane parallel to the disk plane.

A combination unit for vacuuming, cleaning and conditioning fluids. The unit may comprise a vacuum pump circuit and tank, a mixing tank and a centrifuge system. The invention also includes a combination tank comprising a vacuum tank partially incorporated into a mixing tank. A mixing tank may comprise a system of mixing conduits and mixing apparatuses to shear drilling fluids and additives, the mixing tank including a rounded base and a drain to cycle the fluid back through to the mixing tank.

Hydrophobic particles such as coal and hydrophobized mineral fines can be readily separated from hydrophilic impurities by forming agglomerates in water using a hydrophobic liquids such as oil. The agglomerates of hydrophobic particles usually entrap large amounts of water, causing the moisture of the recovered hydrophobic particles to be excessively high. This problem can be overcome by dispersing the hydrophobic agglomerates in a hydrophobic liquid that can be readily recycled. The dispersion can be achieved using specially designed apparatus and methods that can create a turbulence that can help destabilize the agglomerates in a recyclable hydrophobic liquid and facilitate the dispersion.

A fluid transfer assembly for single use bioreactors includes a fluid transfer housing that can be mounted to the impeller shaft using a bearing that places the fluid transfer assembly directly below the lowest impeller but allows the impeller shaft to spin inside independently of the fluid transfer assembly. A fluid conduit connects the fluid transfer housing to a port in the single use bag wall which allows fluids to be introduced into the sparger and which also helps prevent the fluid transfer assembly from rotating with the impeller shaft.

An agitator includes: an agitation tank that accommodates a fluid to be processed containing particles; a flow blade that agitates the fluid to be processed accommodated in the agitation tank; and a shear blade disposed inside the flow blade at a bottom of the agitation tank to disperse the particles. The shear blade 16 includes a base portion rotating around a predetermined axis and a plurality of blades provided at an edge of the base portion. An angle formed on a downstream side in a rotation direction of the base portion between the blade and a tangent line to an outer periphery of the base portion and each of the blades is 15 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less.

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.

An impeller (18), for example, a Rushton impeller for a bioreactor system (10) is disclosed. The impeller (18) includes a hub (44), optionaly including a slot (168), a plurality of blades (46), and one or more turbulators (64). The plurality of blades (46) is disposed along a circumferential direction (48) of the hub (44) and spaced apart from each other. Each of the plurality of blades (46) is coupled to at least a portion of a circumference (50) and/or a top surface (1351;1451;1551) of the hub (44). Each blade of the plurality of blades (46) includes a pressure face (52) and a suction face (54). The one or more turbulators (64) is disposed on at least a portion of the suction face (54), the pressure face (52), or both, of a blade of the plurality of blades (46).