An extruder (100) for comestible material comprises a tubular barrel (104) and one or more elongated, axially rotatable, helically flighted screws (120, 122) within the barrel (104), where the barrel (104) has a delivery opening (114a). The extruder barrel (104) is equipped with an assembly (22) for delivery of fluid to the interior thereof, including a static mixing section (54) operable to blend the steam and water to create a blended mixture; the blended mixture is delivered to the barrel opening (114a) by means of a conveying assembly (84, 86) having a pipe assembly (86) with an outlet in communication with the barrel opening (114a); the pipe assembly (86) and opening (114a) have diameters less than maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing (72).

A method for extruding a comestible material comprises the steps of passing comestible material into an extruder (100) with rotation of the extruder screw(s) (120, 122) and delivery of fluid comprising steam and water into an opening (114a) of the extruder barrel (104). The fluid delivery step comprises separately directing individual quantities of steam and water into the casing (72) of a static mixing section (54), and blending the steam and water to create a blended mixture, and then delivering the blended mixture into the barrel (114a). The blended mixture is delivered to the barrel opening (114a) by means of a conveying assembly (84, 86) having a pipe assembly (86) with an outlet in communication with the barrel opening (114a); the pipe assembly (86) and opening (114a) have diameters less than maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing (72).

Apparatus (20) for injection of fluid into extrusion system components such as a preconditioner (24) or extruder (100) is provided, preferably as a composite assembly including a fluid injection valve (52) and an interconnected static mixer section (54). Alternately, use may be made of the fluid injection valve (52) or static mixer section (54) alone. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used in extrusion systems, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extrusion systems.

A method for extruding a comestible material comprises the steps of passing comestible material into an extruder (100) with rotation of the extruder screw(s) (120, 122) and delivery of fluid comprising steam and water into an opening (114a) of the extruder barrel (104). The fluid delivery step comprises separately directing individual quantities of steam and water into the casing (72) of a static mixing section (54), and blending the steam and water to create a blended mixture, and then delivering the blended mixture into the barrel (114a). The blended mixture is delivered to the barrel opening (114a) by a conveying assembly (84, 86) having a pipe assembly (86) with an outlet in communication with the barrel opening (114a); the pipe assembly (86) and opening (114a) have diameters less than maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing (72).

An extruder (100) for comestible material comprises a tubular barrel (104) and one or more elongated, axially rotatable, helically flighted screws (120, 122) within the barrel (104), where the barrel (104) has a delivery opening (114a). The extruder barrel (104) is equipped with an assembly (22) for delivery of fluid to the interior thereof, including a static mixing section (54) operable to blend steam and water to create a blended mixture; the blended mixture is delivered to the barrel opening (114a) by of a conveying assembly (84, 86) having a pipe assembly (86) with an outlet in communication with the barrel opening (114a); the pipe assembly (86) and opening (114a) have diameters less than maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing (72).

Methods of preconditioning comestible materials such as foods or feeds include the step of separately injecting steam and water into a static mixer in order to create a blend, which is then injected into the materials within a preconditioner barrel. The methods yield increased cook values in the preconditioned materials, with a reduction in evolved steam from the preconditioner.

An improved method for the manufacture of an oil-in-water emulsion comprises using a microfluidisation device whose interaction chamber comprises a plurality of Z-type channels upstream of a back pressure chamber.

Dehydrator systems having a core dehydrator and a mixing unit are described herein and methods of using the same. The core dehydrator comprises a turbulent flow mixing compartment the turbulent flow mixing compartment with plate openings having a turbulent flow transition zone where linear speed of fluid flow is reduced, a clarifying sediment chamber, where fluid flow is substantially laminar) comprising a plurality of small deflector plaques and a plurality of large deflector plaques and a flocculation pipe. In the turbulent flow transition zone, fluid flow transitions from turbulent flow to laminar flow. The mixing unit comprises a plurality of vertical flocculators. The mixing unit further comprises a rapid mixing manifold. The rapid mixing manifold contains drilling fluids and flocculant polymers.

A slurry treatment material containing solid particles mixed in liquid is finely pulverized, without using dispersion media, by flowing the treatment material into a vessel and through an annular fine gap formed between an inner wall of the vessel and an outer periphery face of a rotatable body mounted within the vessel. Rotation of the rotatable body subjects the treatment material to compression, expansion and shearing treatments. After passing through the annular fine gap, the treatment material flows into an ultrasonic chamber where it is irradiated with ultrasonic waves that break up and disintegrate agglomerated clumps of solid particles that may be present in the treatment material.

A dynamic mixer for a plurality of fluid components contains a housing and a rotor element which is rotatably arranged in the housing, with the housing having an inlet opening for at least one respective component and having at least one outlet opening. A ring-shaped intermediate space is provided between the rotor element and the housing in which a mixing element connected to the rotor element is arranged. The mixing element has a vane element which is formed as a directing element for conveying the components from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. The vane element is a directing element and has a directing surface which has a concave curvature with respect to the outlet opening and is further remote from the outlet opening at the onflow side than at the outflow side.