A processing vessel (1) provided with a material inlet (2, 3, 4, 5) and a processed material outlet (25) wherein the material flows continuously through the vessel which is split into a series of zones (6, 7, 8) through which the material passes wherein the zones are shielded from each other by controlling the rate at which the material flows and an increasing level of vacuum is applied inconsecutive zones and the system is provided with acoustic energy which imparts energy to the process material by virtue of the contact between the zone dividers and the process material and processing material in such a vessel.

A machine used for making liquid or semi-liquid food products, specifically ice cream, comprises a container for processing liquid or semi-liquid base products by means of a stirring device driven by a motor. The stirring device comprises an external mixing structure to which a shaft is fixed so that the motor can drive it in rotation. Keyed to the shaft are scraping elements which scrape the product off the inside walls of the processing container.

A method of preparing a concrete composition for downhole injection includes utilizing a controller to control a process including circulating process water in a process water supply loop for a predetermined period while monitoring and controlling the temperature and flow rate of the process water, circulating aqueous-based air entrainment solution in an aqueous-based air entrainment solution supply loop for the predetermined period and controlling the flow rate of the aqueous-based air entrainment solution and after the predetermined period of time in which the flow of process water and aqueous-based air entrainment solution have stabilized, simultaneously actuating valves to divert and mix the process water, the aqueous-based air entrainment solution and compressed air to produce an air-entrained foam and mixing the foam with a concrete composition to be deployed downhole.

With a method for heating in particular milk or milk foam, in which the milk or the milk/air mixture is conveyed through a passage opening and hot steam is conveyed through at least one steam line transversely into this passage opening. The passage opening and the at least one inlet opening opening transversely into the steam line, the steam pressure in this and the pressure and the pressure in the passage opening with flowing milk or milk/air mixture are so coordinated that the hot steam at the at least one transverse inlet opening condenses in the passage opening directly on contact with the milk or the milk/air mixture. Consequently the additional energy produced by the phase change from steam to condensate water is transmitted directly as heat to the heat in the milk or the milk/air mixture.

A system includes a source, a detector, and a controller. The source is configured to emit electromagnetic energy toward two plies of film. A portion of the emitted electromagnetic energy is within a range of wavelengths. The detector is arranged to detect electromagnetic energy propagating away from the two plies of film. The detector detects electromagnetic energy within the range of wavelengths and generates signals indicative of intensity of detected electromagnetic energy. The controller controls operation of the foam-in-bag system based the signals from the detector. The film is transmissive of electromagnetic energy in the range of wavelengths. When dispensed between the two plies of film, one or both of foaming chemical precursors or foam formed from a reaction thereof is opaque to electromagnetic energy in the range of wavelengths.

A mixer for ceramic feedstock pellets includes a tank, a mixing device within the tank, and a heat exchanger including a cooler for cooling of the content of this tank. A controller controls the heat exchanger which includes a heater arranged to heat the content of this tank to a temperature comprised between a lower temperature (TINF) and a higher temperature (TSUP) stored in a memory for a specific mixture. The heater exchanges energy with a heat exchanger and mixing temperature maintenance circuit, external to this tank. The thermal inertia of this circuit is higher than that of this fully loaded tank.

A heating and stirring device is described herein that comprises a base configured to removably attach to one of a beverage container and a beverage container lid, the base containing a power supply, a controller, and a motor, and an agitator having a body and a length with a first end portion configured to be supported by the base, and a second end portion, wherein the first terminal end is configured to be outside of the beverage container and the second end portion is configured to be inside of the beverage container. Corresponding systems and methods also are disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to the field of mixing and dispensing apparatuses. A mixing and dispensing apparatus of the present disclosure facilitates automatic mixing and dispensing of a semi-liquid form of a powder material when mixed with a fluid. The apparatus comprises a mechanism to hold and rotate a cartridge, an actuation device, and an injection unit. The cartridge consists of the powder material to be mixed with the fluid. The mechanism rotates the cartridge about a primary axis of rotation and a secondary axis of rotation to uniformly mix the powder material with the fluid. The actuation device performs a piercing stroke to pierce one end of cartridge, and a dispensing stroke to dispense the semi-liquid form of the powder material through other end of the cartridge. Further, the injection unit is disposed within the actuation device to inject a pre-determined quantity of fluid following piercing stroke.

The embodied invention is a low humidity generator which encapsulates essential piping, pressure regulator, flow regulator, and saturator in a sealed vacuum chamber. Additionally, a Stirling piston type cooler is used to cool the saturator. This eliminates atmospheric water vapor permeation and the need for thermal insulation surrounding the piping and control units. Also, the humidity generator has improved cool down characteristics, improved thermal control, and better maintenance access.

A method of preparing a concrete composition for downhole injection includes utilizing a controller to control a process including circulating process water in a process water supply loop for a predetermined period while monitoring and controlling the temperature and flow rate of the process water, circulating aqueous-based air entrainment solution in an aqueous-based air entrainment solution supply loop for the predetermined period and controlling the flow rate of the aqueous-based air entrainment solution and after the predetermined period of time in which the flow of process water and aqueous-based air entrainment solution have stabilized, simultaneously actuating valves to divert and mix the process water, the aqueous-based air entrainment solution and compressed air to produce an air-entrained foam and mixing the foam with a concrete composition to be deployed downhole.