A cavitation device is supplied by a disc pump with fluids for mixing. A cavitation rotor, having an array of cavities on its cylindrical surface, is fixed to a shaft for rotation by a motor. The disc pump and the cavitation device are beneficially in the same housing. At least one disc is spaced from and attached to the rotor near the inlet end of the cylindrical housing, so it will rotate with the rotor. A central hole in the (at least one) disc permits fluid to enter the space between the disc and the rotor; it is flung toward the peripheral space between the rotor and the cylindrical housing, where it is subjected to cavitation, and then passed to an outlet. The shaft may pass through one or both of the end walls of the cylindrical housing. The cavitation pump is especially useful for mixing oil field fluids.

A cavitation device is supplied by a disc pump with fluids for mixing. A cavitation rotor, having an array of cavities on its cylindrical surface, is fixed to a shaft for rotation by a motor. The disc pump and the cavitation device are beneficially in the same housing. At least one disc is spaced from and attached to the rotor near the inlet end of the cylindrical housing, so it will rotate with the rotor. A central hole in the (at least one) disc permits fluid to enter the space between the disc and the rotor; it is flung toward the peripheral space between the rotor and the cylindrical housing, where it is subjected to cavitation, and then passed to an outlet. The shaft may pass through one or both of the end walls of the cylindrical housing. The cavitation pump is especially useful for mixing oil field fluids.

Polyacrylamides, guar gum (sometimes guar), xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and other water-soluble polymers are dissolved and hydrated in aqueous solutions, including especially recycled drilling, fracturing, and other oilfield fluids having significant salt contents, by passing the water-soluble polymer together with the aqueous medium to a cavitation device including an integrated disc pump. The integration of a disc pump with the cavitation device reduces the risk of gumming by applying a negative pressure at the feed point. The ability to use water-soluble polymers with the salty recycled oilfield fluids has significant environmental benefits, namely (1) fresh water is not needed, (2) disposal of the environmentally undesirable returned fluids is not needed, (3) difficultly degradable synthetic polymers may not be needed, and, in particular, (4) the enhanced ability to use guar, which, being a natural product, is biodegradable, is environmentally favored. Although the invention is most beneficial for use with salt or brackish water, its high efficiency points to beneficial use where fresh water is the only available choice for the aqueous medium. Where dry polymer is used, the invention's benefits are especially realized in terms of logistics and handling, since viscous and bulky solutions need not be prepared and stored in advance, thus also minimizing health, safety and environmental risks

A mixing unit includes a mixing body having mixing elements that are stacked in a stacking direction and that extend in an extending direction in which the extending direction is perpendicular to the stacking direction. The mixing elements have a plurality of through holes to form a flow path therein, and are arranged such that part or all of the through holes in one of the mixing elements communicate with through holes in the adjacent mixing elements to allow fluid to be passed in the extending direction in which the mixing elements extend. The mixing unit may be employed in an agitation impeller or an adhesive dispensing unit.

A convertible mixer assembly converts a hand mixer for use as a stand mixer with additional attachments. The assembly includes a motor positioned within a mixer housing. Mixer ports extend into the mixer housing. A handle coupled to the mixer housing allows handheld use. Beater attachments are removably coupable to the mixer housing and rotated by the motor. A connector extends from the mixer housing. A slot extends into an outer surface of a stand. The slot receives the connector such that the stand is configured for holding the mixer housing for use without the mixer housing is handheld.

Aeration discs used in water treatment and methods of using same are disclosed. According to one or more embodiments, an aeration disc may comprise projections and depressions located on at least one of its surfaces. The aeration discs may be incorporated into aeration devices and water treatment systems.

A mixing unit has a stacked member having mixing elements that are stacked in a stacking direction and that extend in an extending direction, a first plate, and a second plate disposed opposite the first plate. The stacked member is sandwiched between the first plate and the second plate. Each of the mixing elements has first through holes. The second plate comprises an opening portion that communicates with the first through holes in the stacked member.

The present invention relates to an apparatus, which can be part of a pre-treatment system in a plant for the production of fuels, e. g. bio-ethanol, derived from plant biomass, e. g. first generation crops, such as grain, sugarcane and corn or second generation crops such as lignocellulosic biomass. The invention relates to an apparatus for processing, such as fluffing and mixing, at least two media, such as a solid, e. g. biomass, and a fluid, e. g. steam, so as to rendering the first medium susceptible to efficient receiving of energy and/or mass which is provided by localized release of the second medium. Although the description of the present invention focuses on biomass, it is envisaged that the invention is generally applicable to control the mixing of at least two media by crossing their stream of while dispersing at least one of them.

Mixing systems that include a mixer housing and a plurality of roller assemblies for mixing and processing materials is disclosed. Each roller assembly includes a roller that extends between sidewalls in the mixer housing and rotates to mix an additive into the material and to carry agglomerated solids toward a discharge of the mixing system. Each of the rollers may have a protrusion geometry formed in the outer contact surface, where each protrusion geometry is complementary to an adjacent roller.