The present invention relates to a method for flocculating and dewatering oil sands fine tailings. Said method comprises mixing the aqueous mineral suspension with a poly(ethylene oxide) (co)polymer to form a dough-like material. The material is then dynamically mixed in an in-line reactor to break down the dough-like material to form microflocs having an average size of 1 to 500 microns, and to release water. The internal diameter of the in-line reactor is at most five times the internal diameter of the inlet pipe of the reactor. The suspension of microflocs has a viscosity of at most 1000 cP and a yield stress of at most 300 Pa.

There is provided apparatus (301) for mixing contents of a receptacle, the apparatus comprising a rotary shaft (302) equipped at a proximal end with a connection for removable attachment to a means of providing rotation. The rotary shaft has a mixing element (303) fixedly connected at a distal end of the shaft opposite to said proximal end. The mixing element comprises at least two arms (304) at the distal most end of the shaft, a corkscrew neck (306) on the shaft and a collar (305) on the shaft positioned in between the at least two arms and the corkscrew neck. The at least two arms are configured in a first partially-open resting position and are moveable to a second fully-open operative position. The mixing element further comprises a blade (307) positioned across the shaft more proximally than the corkscrew neck.

An aeration nozzle is provided, having on one end an air supply port (16a) connected to an aeration pump (13) and a waste water suction port (17) for suctioning waste water in a processing tank (3, 4), and having a micro-bubble generation unit (18), provided facing the air supply port, for mixing air supplied by the air supply port and waste water suctioned from the waste water suction port and generating micro-bubbles (9), wherein a plurality of blades of cylindrical micro-bubble generators (19) included in the micro-bubble generation unit (18) is configured such that tip ends of the blades are formed so as to face one another around the center of the cylindrical micro-bubble generators (19a, 19b); and by being formed from an elastic member (such as rubber), the tip ends of the blades are configured so as to bend with the base ends as starting points.

The present invention relates to an in-line mixing apparatus and use therein for adding a polymer solution and dewatering an aqueous mineral suspension. Said method comprises statically mixing the aqueous mineral suspension with a poly(ethylene oxide) (co) polymer to form a dough-like material. The viscous mixture material is then dynamically mixed in an in-line reactor 40 to reduce the mixture viscosity and to form microflocs and release water. Said method is particularly useful for the treatment of suspensions of particulate material, especially waste mineral slurries, especially for the treatment of tailings and other waste material resulting from mineral processing, in particular, the processing of oil sands tailings.

A stirrer (1; 100) for stabilizing liquid binding unfinished products intended to form ceramic items comprising a support shaft (2) individuating a longitudinal rotation axis (Y) and contained into a mixing tank (V) of the liquid binding unfinished product, motorization means (3) operatively connected with the support shaft (2) in order to rotate it around the longitudinal axis (Y), and a main operating blade (4), coupled with the support shaft (2) through interconnection means (5) in such a way as to be contained into the mixing tank (V) in order to interfere with the liquid binding unfinished product and cause its continuous mechanical mixing action inside the mixing tank (V) itself when the support shaft (2) rotates around the longitudinal axis (Y). In this case, the stirrer (1) includes a thermoregulation circuit (6), which extends within the support shaft (2) and within the main operating blade (4) and is connected with an external source for supplying a heat transfer fluid crossing the thermoregulation circuit (6) in such a way as to exchange heat with the liquid binding unfinished product within the mixing tank (V), in order to bring the it to a predefined temperature, while the support shaft (2) and the main operating blade (4) integral with it rotate around the longitudinal axis (Y).

A stirrer assembly for, in use, stirring liquid in a receptacle with the receptacle lid in place, which includes a receptacle receiving portion which is locatable inside the receptacle, a first guide member which is mountable onto a floor of the receptacle for rotatably guiding the receptacle receiving portion, a second guide member which is defined centrally a receptacle lid and extending downward therefrom, for in use, rotatably guiding an upper region of receptacle receiving portion, a sealing member for releasably sealing the second guide member, and a drive member which is connectable to the upper region of the receptacle receiving portion, for in use, transmitting torque to the shaft upon rotation of the said drive member.

A stirring system for a bucket having a sidewall configured to form an inner cavity for containing liquid therein. The system a lid having a center hole extending through the thickness of the lid; a shaft extending from a first end to a second end, the shaft is configured to extend through the center hold of the lid and into the inner cavity; a quick-release device secured to the first end of the shaft; an upper perforated stirring paddle rigidly attached to and extending from the shaft; a middle perforated stirring paddle rigidly attached to and extending form the shaft, the middle perforated stirring paddle is configured to extend in a first plane parallel to the upper perforated stirring paddle; and a lower perforated stirring paddle secured to the second end of the shaft and extending along a second plane, the lower perforated stirring paddle having a first length equal to a second length of the upper perforated stirring paddle plus a third length of the middle perforated stirring paddle.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

Chemical reactor with high speed rotary mixing, system thereof, and method thereof, for catalytic thermal conversion of organic (hydrocarbon-containing) materials (coal, plastics, rubber, plant matter, wood shavings, biomass, organic wastes) into diesel and other liquid fuels (automobile or/and jet engine fuels). Relevant to non-conventional commercial scale production of liquid fuels, and to commercial scale processing and disposing of organic waste materials. Chemical reactor includes: integrated combination of a reactor stationary assembly (RSA), having only stationary components remaining stationary during chemical reactor operation, and a reactor rotary mixing assembly (RRMA), having only rotatable components rotating during chemical reactor operation. May include anti-abrasion shield for shielding inner surface of reactor central housing from abrasion during chemical reactor operation. Rotor may include a reinforcement disc. Rotor blades or/and reinforcement disc may include rotor-based performance and process control structural features (openings, or/and protrusions, or/and depressions), for additionally controlling performance of the rotor.