An electric field stirring apparatus, in which a droplet as a liquid disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode disposed to face each other is vibrated and stirred by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second electrode having a groove formed along a first direction on an electrode surface facing the first electrode, includes a movement mechanism that reciprocally moves the first electrode relative to the second electrode in a second direction intersecting the first direction in a state in which the first electrode and the second electrode face each other during a period in which the electric field is generated.

Process for treatment of wastewater is provided. The wastewater includes suspended or dissolved wastewater components and an aqueous component. During the treatment process, at least a portion of a solids bed through which the wastewater is passed is dissolved using an electric current. Dissolution of the solids bed produces constituents which react with the wastewater and enable separation of the suspended or dissolved wastewater components from the aqueous component. Also provided is a system for carrying out the process.

A stirring device and method for stirring a material using an applicator with an electrically controllable element placed on an outside surface of the applicator so that a controllable power source coupled to the electrically controllable element provides a controlled electrostatic charge to the element. The controlled electrostatic charge provided by the power source creates a variable electric field exterior to the outside surface of the applicator. The variable electric field induces a stirring movement to the material.

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for treating wastewater, the method comprising the steps of: providing a vessel for receiving wastewater and a gas, wherein the gas comprises one or more constituent gas components; directing the wastewater and a first gas component of the gas to the vessel; reducing the temperature of the contents of the vessel from a first temperature to a second temperature to facilitate the formation of clathrate hydrates comprising the wastewater and the first gas component; increasing the temperature of the contents of the vessel with respect to the second temperature to facilitate melting of the clathrate hydrates; and removing clean water and/or the first gas component from the vessel.

A water treatment system includes a venturi injector including a venturi inlet that intakes water to be treated, a venturi throat including an orifice in fluid communication with a gas source, a discharge electrode integrated into a gas inlet in fluid communication with the orifice for generating a plasma discharge, thereby producing treated water, and a venturi outlet that discharges the treated water.

The present disclosure relates to a system, generator and method for generating nanobubbles or nanodroplets and treating a multi-component mixture, and in particular for treating biogas and wastewater. The method comprises using nanobubbles of a gas component, and wastewater, to form hydrates in a treatment vessel; removing residual dirt from the treatment vessel and melting the hydrates to facilitate release of clean water.

Apparatus and methods for mixing and dispersing a dispersed phase in a medium comprise a rotating surface for receiving the medium and an atomizing apparatus positioned at the rotating surface for depositing aerosolized constituents of the dispersed phase into the medium. The medium is made receptive and the dispersed phase is aerosolized. Constituents of the aerosolized dispersed phase are deposited into the receptive medium to form a compound or composite. The medium may be deposited onto a rotating disk, and the dispersed phase may be sprayed onto the disk. A thin film can be generated on the disk to transfer, distribute, and disperse the dispersed phase. Liquid ligaments formed at the edge of the rotating disk further transfer, distribute, and disperse the dispersed phase into the medium. Ligaments may be broken into aerosols or deformed by attenuation/drawing to further promote transfer, distribution, and dispersion. A bulk composite/compound may be collected.

Embodiments of the subject invention are directed to methods and apparatus for inducing mixing in a fluid using one or more plasma actuators. In an embodiment, a pair of electrodes is positioned near a fluid and a voltage potential is applied across the pair of electrodes such that a plasma discharge is produced in the fluid. In an embodiment, the plasma discharge creates turbulence in the fluid thereby mixing the fluid. In an embodiment, flow structures, such as vortices are generated in the fluid. In an embodiment, the fluid is mixed in three dimensions. In an embodiment, a plurality of fluids are mixed. In an embodiment, solids are dispersed in at least one fluid. In an embodiment, heat or other properties are dispersed within at least one fluid. In an embodiment, at least one of the pair of electrodes has a serpentine shape.

A device for biofluid processing and analysis includes a microfluidic module including multiple stacked layers, each layer of the stacked layers defines a respective conduit, and conduits of the stacked layers are interconnected to provide a flow path for a biofluid.

A method and apparatus are provided for mixing highly viscous fluids to form a mixture. The mixture is created rapidly and has a high level of uniformity. The mixture is created by utilizing induced viscous fluid folding under the influence of an electric field. The electric field is introduced by connecting a nozzle dispensing the fluids in parallel to a voltage supply and grounding a collection plate located below the nozzle. When a certain voltage is applied the co-flow viscous fluids start to fold because the electric field exerts stress on the surface of the fluids, which results in changes of the geometry and dynamics of the viscous fluids. Control of the electric field provides great control over the mixture.