An apparatus for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles includes a microfluidic flow focusing device, which includes a dispersed phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into a flow focusing junction, a continuous phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into the flow focusing junction, and a bubble formation channel having an inlet disposed at the flow focusing junction. The configuration of the flow focusing junction is such that, in operation, a flow of dispersed phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the dispersed phase fluid supply channel is engageable in co-flow by a focusing flow of continuous phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the at least one continuous phase fluid supply channel under formation of a gradually thinning jet of dispersed phase fluid that extends into the inlet of the bubble formation channel.

A fine bubble generator which is an ultrafine bubble generator includes a side wall whose inner face is cylindrical, and closing walls closing both ends of the side wall, respectively, with a gas-liquid discharge port in one of the closing walls, wherein a fluid inlet port is provided closer to the gas-liquid discharge port than is a midpoint between both closing walls, and the fluid inlet port penetrates the side wall in a tangential direction of the inner face of the side wall, wherein a spiral groove is formed in the inner face of side wall, and wherein the spiral groove has an angle of inclination of 1° to 10°.

An apparatus for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles contains a microfluidic flow focusing device. The microfluidic flow focusing device includes a dispersed phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into a flow focusing junction, a continuous phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into the flow focusing junction, and a bubble formation channel having an inlet disposed at the flow focusing junction. The configuration of the flow focusing junction is such that, in operation, a flow of dispersed phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the dispersed phase fluid supply channel is engageable in co-flow by a focusing flow of continuous phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the at least one continuous phase fluid supply channel under formation of a gradually thinning jet of dispersed phase fluid that extends into the inlet of the bubble formation channel.

A fire-fighting system including: a pressurized gas supply; a vessel for storing a solution of water and a foaming agent, the vessel being connected to the pressurized gas supply for pressurizing the vessel in use; and a mixer for mixing gas from the pressurized gas supply with the solution to generate foam, wherein the mixer includes: a solution inlet for receiving the solution from the vessel; a foam outlet; one or more injection ports connected to the pressurized gas supply for injecting gas bubbles into the solution to form a mixture of the solution and the gas bubbles; and a foaming chamber extending between the solution inlet and the foam outlet, the mixture flowing through the foaming chamber to generate foam at the foam outlet, at least one internal surface of the foaming chamber including a shearing structure for shearing the gas bubbles as the mixture flows through the foaming chamber.

A fine bubble generator which is an ultrafine bubble generator includes a side wall whose inner face is cylindrical, and closing walls closing both ends of the side wall, respectively, with a gas-liquid discharge port in one of the closing walls, wherein a fluid inlet port is provided closer to the gas-liquid discharge port than is a midpoint between both closing walls, and the fluid inlet port penetrates the side wall in a tangential direction of the inner face of the side wall, wherein a spiral groove is formed in the inner face of side wall, and wherein the spiral groove has an angle of inclination of 1° to 10°.

Generation of bubbles is disclosed to occur within a flow of an aqueous fluid. The bubbles may be formed within a tube of a selected diameter and the bubbles are controlled to exit the tube at a selected diameter. Generally, bubbles are formed to include a diameter of less than 1 millimeter, including less than about 20 microns.

The present disclosure relates to catalytic static mixers comprising catalytic material. The static mixers can be configured for use with continuous flow chemical reactors, for example tubular continuous flow chemical reactors for heterogeneous catalysis reactions. This disclosure also relates to processes for preparing static mixers. This disclosure also relates to continuous flow chemical reactors comprising the static mixers, systems comprising the continuous flow chemical reactors, processes for synthesising products using the continuous flow reactors, and methods for screening catalytic materials using the static mixers.

Generation of bubbles is disclosed to occur within a flow of an aqueous fluid. The bubbles may be formed within a tube of a selected diameter and the bubbles are controlled to exit the tube at a selected diameter. Generally, bubbles are formed to include a diameter of less than 1 millimeter, including less than about 20 microns.

The diffusing member of the present invention is disposed in an exhaust pipe to partially block exhaust gas flowing in from upstream of the exhaust pipe, the diffusing member including a ceramic member and a metal member, wherein the ceramic member surrounds the metal member in such a manner that the metal member is partially exposed, and the volume of the ceramic member constituting the diffusing member is larger than the volume of the metal member constituting the diffusing member.

A static mixer created using an additive process is disclosed. The static mixer is enabled to homogenously blend two fluids flowing in a pipe. The static mixer exhibits zero contact angle in relation to the two fluids being mixed within the pipe. The static mixer exhibits a first contact angle with the first fluid and a second contact angle with the second fluid. The first contact angle is either between 0 and 30 or greater than 85. The second contact angle is either between 0 and 30, or greater than 85.