A sample introduction system provides mixing of a sample and a diluent within the container via gas injection. In one or more implementations, the sample introduction system causes a probe of an autosampler to be inserted into a container containing a sample and a diluent so that an end of the probe is submerged beneath a surface of the diluent and the sample. Gas is then injected through the probe to mix the sample and the diluent within the container. An aliquot of the mixed sample and diluent is then withdrawn through the probe.

A system for mixing a fine bulk material including means defining a looped passageway including a vertically disposed, laterally enlarged section having a frusto-conically configured, lower outlet portion; means for injecting a fluid under pressure into an upper segment of such frusto-conically configured lower outlet portion to fluidize material therein; means for injecting a fluid under pressure into a lower segment of such frusto-conically configured lower portion to fluidize material therein; and means for injecting a fluid under pressure in said passageway downstream of said lower outlet portion sufficient to induce the flow of fluidized material through said passageway to an upper end of such enlarged section.

A method and a device for air injection into a vinification tank (1) use air injection nozzles (2) installed therein. A rule is applied for automatic variation of injections with time, by a coordinated and combined action of the nozzles, so that for each of the installed nozzles the delivered air jets may be modulated in duration and frequency and combined with the jets delivered by the other nozzles according to a programmable sequence.

An analysis unit formed by an analysis body housing an analysis chamber and having a sample inlet and a supply channel configured to fluidically connect the sample inlet to the analysis chamber. Dried assay reagents are arranged in the analysis chamber and are contained in an alveolar mass. For instance, the alveolar mass is a lyophilized mass formed by excipients and by assay-specific reagents.

A shotcrete nozzle assembly comprising: a tubular body operatively connectable to a concrete source, the tubular body including a stream controlling section for controlling a stream of fresh concrete projected from an outlet body end, the stream controlling section including at least one helicoidal conduit defined within the body sidewall, each helicoidal conduit extending helicoidally around a central conduit between an air inlet end operatively connectable to a pressurized air source and an air outlet end located towards the outlet body end, each helicoidal conduit being twisted around the central passageway to guide pressurized air exiting through the air outlet end along an helicoidal path extending away from the outlet body end and around the stream of fresh concrete exiting the outlet body end.

A system for performing a gas-liquid mass transfer includes a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween. A tube has a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the tube being disposed within the compartment of the container. A nozzle is disposed within the compartment of the container and has at least one outlet, the nozzle being coupled with the tube so that a gas can be passed through the tube and out the at least one outlet of the nozzle. The nozzle is sufficiently buoyant so that when a fluid is disposed within the compartment of the container, the nozzle floats on the fluid.

A flexible tank (10, 110) for transporting fluids in a transportation container (12) is described, the flexible tank (10, 110) defining a tank (10) volume for containing a fluid. The flexible tank (10, 110) comprises at least one mixing member (146, 46) enclosing a fluid pathway (160, 60) extending across an interior surface (144, 44) of the flexible tank (10, 110), the flexible tank (10, 110) further comprising at least one inlet valve (140, 40) configured to allow the passage of fluid from outside said flexible tank (10, 110) into said fluid pathway (160, 60). The mixing member (146, 46) further comprises at least one aperture (154) such that the inlet valve (140, 40) is in fluid communication with the tank (10) volume via the fluid pathway (160, 60). An intermodal container (12) comprising the flexible tank (10, 110) and a method of mixing a fluid with the tank (10) are also disclosed.

A shotcrete nozzle assembly comprising: a tubular body including a body sidewall defining a central passageway extending along a central longitudinal passageway axis, and water dispensing bores extending through the body sidewall and including: first and second sets of water dispensing bores positioned such that outlet openings thereof defined in an inner face of the body sidewall are disposed in a respective one of longitudinally spaced-apart first and second transversal planes extending perpendicularly to the passageway axis, at least some of the water dispensing bores being oriented such that the central bore axes thereof extend in a non-radial direction relative to the passageway axis, and such that an orthogonal projection of the central bore axes of the first and second sets of water dispensing bores onto one of the transversal planes forms first and second projected central bore axes which intersect each other at a first non-zero angle.

The present invention provides method for separating contaminants from a liquid mixture comprising the steps of a) providing a feed of said liquid mixture to be purified, b) adding a separation aid to the liquid mixture to be purified, wherein said separation aid is capable of binding said contaminants and c) supplying a flow of compressed air into said feed after step b) has been performed to provide a feed comprising air. The method further comprises steps d) removing air from said feed comprising air to provide a deaerated feed; and e) supplying said deaerated feed to a separator, and f) separating a phase comprising contaminants and said separation aid from said liquid mixture in said separator, wherein the separation aid added in step b) is insoluble in said liquid mixture at the separation conditions in step f). The present invention further provides a system for separating contaminants from a liquid mixture.

A mixing apparatus for mixing fluids, in particular inks of different colours for fountain pens, the mixing apparatus comprising containers (12a-12d), each adapted for storing a fluid, a tube element (13a-13e), for each container (12a-12d), connected to the container (12a-12d) and having a dispensing end portion at its end being opposite the container (12a-12d), a fluid feed device adapted for dispensing fluid from the containers (12a-12d) via the dispensing end portions, and a mixing space part encasing element (45) having a mixing space part in its inner space, the dispensing end portions of the tube elements (13a-13e) are arranged to extend into the mixing space part, and a filling unit (10) having a base portion (44) and a neck portion (40) adapted for holding the mixing space part encasing element (45), and the base portion (44) and the neck portion (40) are configured to be movable relative to each other, and are adapted for encompassing a container (25) being connectible to the fluid discharge portion. The invention is furthermore a mixing system for mixing fluids comprising a data entry unit (200), a control unit, and the mixing apparatus. The invention is furthermore a fountain pen (100) comprising a container (25) adapted for storing ink which is filled up applying the mixing apparatus.