An apparatus and associated method for mixing at least a first fluid phase having a first density and a second fluid phase having a second density, the apparatus comprising; at least one container (1), the container comprising at least one inlet (2) for a multiphase flow and at least one outlet (3) at a lower axial end of the container (1), a hollow flow regulating device (4) axially arranged within the container (1), wherein a first end of the flow regulating device (4) is arranged in a distance from the outlet (3) providing a drainage gap (5) between the flow regulating device (4) and the outlet (3), which drainage gap (5) has a drainage area, the flow regulating device (4) comprising a number of perforations (6) along the axial length thereof and a discharge means (7) in a first end, which discharge means (7) opens towards the outlet (3), the flow regulating device (4) being connected to a position adjustment device (8), the position adjustment device (8) being arranged to move the flow regulating device (4) in the axial direction, thereby adjusting the drainage area of the drainage gap (5).

Membrane Emulsification Apparatus with Refiner There is described a membrane emulsification apparatus for dispersing a first phase in a second phase, comprising: •a membrane defining a plurality of apertures connecting a first volume on a first side of the membrane to a second volume on a second, different, side of the membrane, the apparatus being arranged to receive a first phase containing a liquid in the first volume and to receive a second phase in the second volume the apparatus being adapted to generate an emulsion through egression of the first phase into the second phase via the plurality of apertures; •the apparatus also comprising a refiner (1) arranged to receive the emulsion from the membrane; and wherein said refiner comprises an inlet (4/5) and an outlet (5/4) wherein an opening (8) adapted to converge flow of the emulsion and to break up droplets of the emulsion into a refined emulsion is located between the inlet and the outlet.

A system includes a plurality of static mixers. Each static mixer has an internal cylinder defining a central orifice for passage of the multi-phase fluid. The internal cylinder has an inlet side and an outlet side. The inlet side of the internal cylinder has a plurality of inlet channels, and the outlet side of the internal cylinder has a plurality of outlet channels. The multi-phase fluid enters the inlet side to be mixed in the central orifice and is expelled through the outlet side. The plurality of static mixers are fixedly disposed along the pipeline at a predetermined number of locations, spaced a predetermined distance apart, to mix the multi-phase fluid and prevent formation of the adverse flow regimes.

A homogenizer for liquid food includes a homogenization device having a gap formed between a seat and a forcer. A pump is configured to provide a pressure for forcing the liquid food through the gap and thereby homogenize the liquid food. The homogenizer includes an accumulator, wherein the pump is connected to the accumulator to accumulate a pressure in the accumulator. A cylinder arrangement is connected to the accumulator and to the homogenization device. The cylinder arrangement includes a piston that is configured to push a volume of the liquid food through the gap. A valve is arranged to release pressure accumulated in the accumulator, such that the released pressure actuates the piston to push the volume of the liquid food through the gap.

The invention relates to a process for the production of an elastomer agglomerate composition, comprising: forcing a slurry through an aperture in a valve assembly (1) to obtain the elastomer agglomerate composition; wherein the valve assembly (1) comprises the valve (2) and a seat (3) that are arranged opposite each other to provide a flow channel for the slurry to be homogenized with an emulsifying channel section (5) that is provided with the aperture; wherein the emulsifying flow channel section is arranged at an angle (a) with respect to an axial center line of the valve in a cross sectional view of the valve assembly; and wherein the slurry comprises elastomeric particles in water.

The invention relates to a process for the production of an elastomer agglomerate composition, comprising: forcing a slurry through an aperture in a valve assembly (1) to obtain the elastomer agglomerate composition; wherein the valve assembly (1) comprises the valve (2) and a seat (3) that are arranged opposite each other to provide a flow channel for the slurry to be homogenized with an emulsifying channel section (5) that is provided with the aperture; wherein the emulsifying flow channel section is arranged at an angle (a) with respect to an axial center line of the valve in a cross sectional view of the valve assembly; and wherein the slurry comprises elastomeric particles in water.

A method for manufacturing beverage or other liquid containing bubbles uses a system for manufacturing bubble-containing liquid that includes: a bubble generating unit that generates fine bubbles in a liquid; a bubble collapsing unit that is connected to the bubble generating unit to collapse the fine bubbles contained in the bubble-containing liquid supplied from the bubble generating unit by making the bubble-containing liquid pass through the bubble collapsing unit and irradiating the bubble-containing liquid with ultrasonic wave; and a storage unit that is connected to the bubble collapsing unit to store the bubble-containing liquid supplied from the bubble collapsing unit. The method includes: a bubble generating step of generating the fine bubbles in the liquid by the bubble generating unit; a bubble collapsing step of generating superfine bubbles by forming an ultrasonic field by the bubble collapsing unit to collapse the fine bubbles contained in the liquid; and a storage step of storing the bubble-containing liquid containing the superfine bubbles by the storage unit. Consequently, beverage or other liquid containing the superfine bubbles can be manufactured.

A dispensing appliance prepares and dispenses a malt based fermented beverage (MBFB) by mixing an MBFB concentrate with a carbonated diluent. The dispensing appliance has a mixing chamber for mixing the MBFB concentrate and the carbonated diluent. The mixing chamber is defined by walls and is divided by a mid-plane normal to a longitudinal axis, X, into an upper portion and a lower portion. The mixing chamber has (a) a concentrate opening located in the upper portion and is provided with a fixing device for fixing a container containing an MBFB concentrate, (b) a diluent opening located in the upper portion and provided with a diluent connection to a source of carbonated diluent, (c) an outlet oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis and located in the lower portion, for discharging an MBFB composed of a mixture of MBFB concentrate and carbonated diluent, (d) a core defined by a core surface and mounted in the chamber such the core surface defines with the walls of the chamber a flow passage of width, w, measured normal to the core surface. The core is movingly mounted in the chamber, such that it can be translated along the longitudinal axis in order to control the width of portions of the flow passage.

A homogenizing apparatus (1) comprising: an inlet (2) for receiving a pressurized fluid, possibly also containing solid particles; a zone wherein homogenization of the fluid takes place; an outlet (10) for the fluid at a lower pressure with respect to the inlet pressure, wherein, in the homogenization zone, the fluid passes from a zone having a larger diameter (or volume) to a zone having a smaller diameter (or volume), the homogenization zone comprising an interacting element (9) shared by a first stage (equipped with a first deflector plug (6)) and a second stage suitable for creating back pressure (equipped with a second deflector plug (12)), where the deflector plugs (6 and 12) operate with the interacting element (9) they share, generating an increase in the shear rate within the first stage. The invention also concerns a homogenization process.

A homogenizer for liquid food includes a homogenization device having a gap formed between a seat and a forcer. A pump is configured to provide a pressure for forcing the liquid food through the gap and thereby homogenize the liquid food. The homogenizer includes an accumulator, wherein the pump is connected to the accumulator to accumulate a pressure in the accumulator. A cylinder arrangement is connected to the accumulator and to the homogenization device. The cylinder arrangement includes a piston that is configured to push a volume of the liquid food through the gap. A valve is arranged to release pressure accumulated in the accumulator, such that the released pressure actuates the piston to push the volume of the liquid food through the gap.