There is described a cross-flow apparatus for producing an emulsion or dispersion by dispersing a first phase in a second phase; said cross-flow apparatus comprising: an outer tubular sleeve (2) provided with a first inlet (3) at a first end (4); an emulsion outlet (5); and a second inlet (7), distal from and inclined relative to the first inlet; a tubular membrane provided with a plurality of pores and adapted to be positioned inside the tubular sleeve (2); and optionally an insert adapted to be located inside the tubular membrane, said insert comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, each of the inlet end and an outlet end being provided with chamfered region; the chamfered region is provided with a plurality of orifices and a furcation plate.

An apparatus configured to result in a penetration of one or more gasses into a dermis of biological skin, wherein the apparatus includes a fluid reservoir configured to contain an amount of a liquid in contact with a portion of a person's skin, and a nanobubble generator configured to inject nanobubbles into the liquid, wherein the nanobubbles contain the one or more gasses. The contact of the liquid containing the nanobubbles with the person's skin results in a cutaneous uptake of a gas contained in the nanobubbies into the person's skin, which may be beneficial in treating an ailment, such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

A gas injection system for injecting a gas into a liquid to form a solution includes a flow channel that conveys a liquid from an upstream inlet configured to receive the liquid and a downstream outlet configured to dispense the solution, sparger positioned in the flow channel, a solution pressure detection device configured to sense a pressure of the solution in the flow channel, and a liquid valve configured to regulate flow of the liquid in the flow channel based on the pressure sensed by the solution pressure detection device. The sparger is configured to inject the gas into the liquid through the porous surface as the liquid flows across the surface.

A method of producing a carbonated beverage comprising a blend of water and syrup having a predetermined final carbonation level. The method includes the steps of: introducing CO.sub.2 into a flowing stream of a product blend comprising water, syrup and dissolved oxygen, such that CO.sub.2 is dissolved in the product blend; deaerating the CO.sub.2-containing product blend by introducing the blend into a vented atmospheric vessel, the interior of which is at ambient pressure with a headspace maintained above the surface of the liquid within the vessel, whereby dissolved oxygen is released from the product blend and vented from the vessel; pumping the deaerated product blend from the vessel, wherein the deaerated blend includes dissolved CO.sub.2 at an intermediate carbonation level less than the final carbonation level; and carbonating the deaerated product blend to the final carbonation level downstream of the vented vessel to produce a carbonated beverage for subsequent packaging. A system for performing the method is also provided, as well as a method of producing a beverage using nitrogen deaeration.

A fine bubble generating apparatus has a storage tank, a liquid feeding unit suctioning and feeding liquid stored in the storage tank, a gas discharge unit discharging gas into the liquid which is being fed by the liquid feeding unit, and a storage tank. The gas discharge unit includes a gas discharge member with pores having pore diameters of 1.5 m or less, and a base member having a groove formed in a surface contacting the gas discharge surface of the gas discharge member. The liquid feeding unit moves the liquid along the gas discharge surface of the gas discharge member by causing the liquid to flow in a flow channel enclosed by the gas discharge surface of the gas discharge member and the groove of the base member such that a velocity relative to the gas discharge member is not less than 1 msec.

In certain examples, a beverage dispenser includes a gas system configured to collect ambient air, pressurize the ambient air, and dispense the pressurized ambient air, a valve configured to dispense a base fluid, and a concentrate system configured to dispense a concentrate. A manifold is configured to form a gas-injected mixed beverage comprising the base fluid, the concentrate, and the pressurized ambient air, and a nozzle is configured to apply a back-pressure upstream on the gas-injected mixed beverage and dispense the gas-injected mixed beverage.

An apparatus for producing a composition that includes nano-bubbles dispersed in a liquid carrier includes: (a) an elongate housing comprising a first end and a second end, the housing defining a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and an interior cavity adapted for receiving the liquid carrier from a liquid source; and (b) a gas-permeable member at least partially disposed within the interior cavity of the housing. The gas-permeable member includes an open end adapted for receiving a pressurized gas from a gas source, a closed end, and a porous sidewall extending between the open and closed ends having a mean pore size no greater than 1.0 m. The gas-permeable member defines an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lumen. The housing and gas-permeable member are configured to form a composition that includes the liquid carrier and the nano-bubbles dispersed therein.

A method of producing a carbonated beverage comprising a blend of water and syrup having a predetermined final carbonation level. The method includes the steps of: introducing CO.sub.2 into a flowing stream of a product blend comprising water, syrup and dissolved oxygen, such that CO.sub.2 is dissolved in the product blend; deaerating the CO.sub.2-containing product blend by introducing the blend into a vented atmospheric vessel, the interior of which is at ambient pressure with a headspace maintained above the surface of the liquid within the vessel, whereby dissolved oxygen is released from the product blend and vented from the vessel; pumping the deaerated product blend from the vessel, wherein the deaerated blend includes dissolved CO.sub.2 at an intermediate carbonation level less than the final carbonation level; and carbonating the deaerated product blend to the final carbonation level downstream of the vented vessel to produce a carbonated beverage for subsequent packaging. A system for performing the method is also provided, as well as a method of producing a beverage using nitrogen deaeration.

A fine bubble generating method and apparatus capable of generating fine bubbles having nano-order diameters including a storage tank for storing liquid, a liquid feeding unit for suctioning and feeding the liquid stored in storage tank, a bubble supply unit for supplying bubbles into the liquid which is being fed by liquid feeding unit, and a storage tank for storing the liquid into which bubbles have been supplied by bubble supply unit. Pure water is introduced into storage tank, a liquid feeding pump of the liquid feeding unit is actuated, and air is discharged from a gas discharge head of type A in a bubble supply portion while pure water in storage tank is fed to the bubble supply portion, whereby bubbles are supplied into the pure water passing through bubble supply portion in a turbulent state, and the pure water containing bubbles is fed into storage tank and stored.

A configuration for water purification undergoes the water supply step of taking in treatment water through a water suction port and pressure-feeding the treatment water, the air supply step of taking in air through an air suction port and supplying the air, the oxygen amount increasing step of pressurizing the air supplied at the air supply step to increase the total amount of oxygen, the ionization step of ionizing the pressurized air subjected to the oxygen amount increasing step, the mixing step of obtaining gas-liquid mixing fluid subjected to first fine air bubble formation by spraying the air into the flow of treatment water, and the accelerated spraying step of performing second fine air bubble formation by accelerating a flow velocity by a narrowed-diameter portion provided at a spray nozzle when the gas-liquid mixing fluid obtained through the mixing step is sprayed into the treatment water.