A flow distribution system for distributing and dividing the flows of at least two separate fluids, the distribution system comprising: a three-dimensional nested structure of at least two fluid transporting fractals comprising at least a first fluid transporting fractal and a second fluid transporting fractal, each fluid transporting fractal having a respective fluid inlet which bifurcates to a plurality of fluid outlets, each fluid transporting fractal being configured to facilitate a flow therethrough independent from a flow in the other fluid transporting fractal, each fluid transporting fractal extending along and about a central axis between fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlets; wherein each fluid transporting fractals comprises of a series of recursive bifurcation units assembled in a selected number of stages, each bifurcation unit comprising a Y-shaped bifurcated element which is fluidly connected to two successive bifurcation units, each successive bifurcation unit being rotated relative to the central axis by an angle of between 60 and 120 degrees relative to the previous stage; each fluid transporting fractal is intertwined with the other fluid transporting fractal; each fluid transporting fractal is positioned offset from the other fluid transporting fractal about the central axis and are arranged such that each fluid outlet from one of the fluid transporting fractals is located adjoining a fluid outlet of the other fluid transporting fractal, and each fluid transporting fractal is centered about a flow axis which is laterally inclined from greater than 0 to 20 degrees from the central axis and longitudinally inclined from greater than 0 to 20 degrees from the central axis.

There is provided an inline saturator system and method for gas exchange with an aqueous-phase liquid. The system includes a pressure vessel, configured to receive a first liquid and a first gas from external sources and to discharge a second liquid and a second gas from the pressure vessel, and a gas infusion device situated within the pressure vessel. The gas infusion device is configured to receive the first liquid and first gas, to facilitate gas exchange therebetween, producing the second liquid and the second gas, and to discharge the second liquid and second gas into the pressure vessel. The system further includes a recirculation system configured to direct a portion of liquid within the pressure vessel back into the saturator device, where injection of the redirected liquid into the gas infusion device forces the first liquid into the gas infusion device for the gas exchange.

Provided is an ultra-fine bubble-containing liquid manufacturing apparatus that can suppress viable cell contamination inside a UFB generating unit. To this end, it is provided with an ultra-fine bubble generating unit that generates an ultra-fine bubble by making film boiling by a heating unit in a liquid in which a gas is dissolved, and a radiating unit that is capable of irradiating a wetted portion of the ultra-fine bubble generating unit with ultraviolet rays.

A system and method for providing a consumable liquid infused with gas from a liquid processor. The liquid processor may comprise a gas input port configured to receive the compressed gas. The liquid processor may further comprise a liquid input port configured to receive a consumable liquid. The liquid processor may further comprise a venturi injector configured to combine the compressed gas with the consumable liquid. The liquid processor may further comprise a static inline mixer including a plurality of mixing elements and configured to mix the combined consumable liquid with the compressed gas to form the consumable liquid infused with a compressed gas. The liquid processor may further comprise an output port configured to provide the consumable liquid infused with a compressed gas.

A dynamic mixer for mixing a multi-component material includes a mixing rotor capable of being rotated about an axis of rotation, the mixing rotor having a coupling socket configured at an end thereof. The coupling socket has a reception space configured to receive at least a part of a polygonal shaped coupling plug of a drive shaft to transfer torque from the drive shaft to the mixing rotor. The reception space has an inner length in the direction of the axis of rotation and has an inner surface extending over the inner length and surrounding the axis of rotation.

The present invention relates to a microfluidic device and method for providing emulsion droplets. The device comprising: a microfluidic section comprising one or more microfluidic units; and a well section comprising one or more groups of wells comprising one group of wells for each microfluidic unit; the well section and the microfluidic section forming a fixedly connected unit such that each group of wells forms a fixedly connected unit with a respective corresponding microfluidic unit, each microfluidic unit comprising a fluid conduit network comprising: a plurality of supply conduits comprising a secondary supply conduit and a primary supply conduit comprising a capillary structure having a volume of at least 2 μL; a transfer conduit; and a first fluid junction providing fluid communication between the primary supply conduit, the secondary supply conduit, and the transfer conduit; each group of wells comprising a plurality of wells comprising a collection well and one or more supply wells comprising a primary supply well, the collection well being in fluid communication with the transfer conduit of the corresponding microfluidic unit, the primary supply well being in fluid communication with the primary supply conduit and the secondary supply conduit of the corresponding microfluidic unit.

A microdroplet/bubble-generating device comprising a slit and a row of a plurality of microflow paths is constructed, in such a manner that either a continuous phase or dispersion phase is supplied to the slit, and so that the end of the slit, the other supply port for the continuous phase or dispersion phase and the liquid recovery port are connected. The plurality of microflow paths each have a narrow part where the cross-sectional area of the flow channel is locally narrowed adjacent to or near the connection point between the slit and the microflow path. The continuous phase and dispersion phase that have met at the connection points flow into the narrow parts, and the dispersion phase is sheared at the narrow parts with the continuous phase flow as the driving force, forming droplets or gas bubbles of the dispersion phase. The product is recovered from the liquid recovery port.

An all-ceramic diffuser supplies microbubbles of a narrow range of size to create a steady flow of bubbles of generally uniform size in an aqueous medium, such as process water in a wastewater treatment plant. The diffuser is formed of a porous body core, with pore sizes of e.g. 30 .Math.m or larger, an upper ceramic membrane that covers the upper surface of the body core, and has mean pore size of e.g., 3 to 15 .Math.m. A lower ceramic membrane covers the bottom surface of the body core, and has a finer pore size than the upper ceramic membrane, so that the capillary pore size of the smaller pores will act as a seal; consequently all of the air flow is through the upper ceramic membrane. A ceramic fitting connects the associated air supply with the porous body core which serves as plenum.

A vane for an impeller of an agitator includes a socket having a base plane configured to mount the vane to an impeller, and a blade configured to mix a process fluid, the blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a blade tip extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge at an end of the blade facing away from the socket, the blade having a pressure side and a suction side, and the pressure side having a first concave region towards the leading edge, a second concave region toward the trailing edge and a convex region between the first and second concave regions.

This application relates to a method of treating wastewater wherein an oxygen infusion system is used to supersaturate wastewater before aerobic biological processes, wherein oxygen is transferred to the wastewater free of oxygen bubbles and achieves a reduction in power demand for the aeration process of wastewater.