The present invention provides processes, inter alia, for the treatment of a starch-based feedstock. The processes include mixing together a starch-based feedstock and a working fluid to form a slurry, hydrating the starch-based feedstock with the working fluid, adding an enzyme to the slurry, pumping the slurry into a substantially constant diameter passage of a fluid mover, and injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the slurry through one or more nozzles communicating with the passage, thereby further hydrating and heating the starch-based feedstock and dispersing the starch content of the slurry. Apparatuses for carrying out such processes are also provided. Processes for converting starch in feedstocks into oligosaccharides and systems for producing sugars and ethanol using the processes and apparatuses of the invention are also provided. Processes for calculating ethanol yield using the apparatuses are also provided.
A spray gun (3) is provided, which comprises an twin fluid atomising nozzle (50) which atomises a process fluid by interaction with a driving fluid. The nozzle (50) including a driving fluid passage having a driving fluid inlet, a driving fluid outlet, and a throat portion intermediate the driving fluid inlet and driving fluid outlet. The throat portion has a cross sectional area which is less than that of both the driving fluid inlet and the driving fluid outlet. The nozzle (50) also includes a process fluid outlet located at, or downstream of, the driving fluid throat. The spray gun (3) further comprises a flow adjustment device (70) connectable to supplies of the driving and process fluids. The flow adjustment device (70) is adapted to selectively vary the ratio of process fluid to driving fluid supplied to the nozzle (50). A mist-generating apparatus incorporating this spray gun (3) is also provided.
B05B 1/16 - Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with multiple outlet openingsNozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with strainers in or outside the outlet opening having selectively-effective outlets
B05B 7/00 - Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
B05B 7/04 - Spray pistolsApparatus for discharge with arrangements for mixing liquids or other fluent materials before discharge
B05B 7/12 - Spray pistolsApparatus for discharge designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
B05B 7/24 - Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device
B05B 12/00 - Arrangements for controlling deliveryArrangements for controlling the spray area
A method of entraining a second fluid in a first fluid is provided. The method comprises supplying a first fluid to a processing passage (4) having an inlet (6) and an outlet (8), and supplying an entrainmeπt fluid to a nozzle (10) which opens into the processing passage (4) intermediate the passage inlet (6) and the passage outlet (8). A second fluid which will undergo a change of phase and/or state when added to the first fluid is also provided, and supplied to a first port (22) opening into the processing passage (4) adjacent the nozzle (10). The eπtrainment fluid is injected from the nozzle (10) into the processing passage (4) so as to form a dispersed phase of the first and second fluids in a continuous vapour phase, and the vapour phase is condensed downstream of the nozzle (10). A device suitable for carrying out such a method is also provided.
A process of producing a highly hydrated hyper-swollen gelatinised starch is described and comprises: combining a starch-containing product with a working fluid (e.g. water) to form a mixture; inducing the mixture to flow through an inlet into a passage; and injecting a high velocity (e.g. supersonic) transport fluid into the mixture through a nozzle communicating with the passage; wherein the injection of the high velocity transport fluid: applies a shear force to the mixture such that the mixture is atomised and forms a vapour and droplet flow regime; forms an at least partial vacuum within the passage downstream of the nozzle; and generates a condensation shock wave within the passage downstream of the nozzle and vacuum by condensation of the transport fluid to produce a hyper-swollen hydrated gelatinised starch. Hyper-swollen hydrated gelatinised starches, polysaccharides and polyolefins made by the process of the present invention are also provided and have broad utility, for example in food, medical, paper, cosmetic, textile and construction industries.
The present invention provides processes and systems for treating biomass and, e.g., making biofuels, such as bioethanol, from the biomass. More particularly, one process according to the present invention includes (a) inducing at least a first portion of a composition containing biomass and a working fluid to flow into a passage of a fluid processing apparatus, (b) injecting a high velocity transport fluid into the composition through a nozzle communicating with the passage of the fluid processing apparatus, whereby the transport fluid applies a shear force to the composition such that the working fluid is atomised and a vapour and droplet flow regime is formed downstream of the nozzle, (c) condensing the vapour and droplet flow regime, (d) transferring the composition to a first holding vessel, and (e) holding the composition in the first holding vessel at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined period of time, wherein a liquefaction enzyme is added to the composition prior to or during the process. Thereafter, the composition may be further processed to form a biofuel, such as, e.g., bioethanol.
C12M 1/40 - Apparatus specially designed for the use of free, immobilised, or carrier-bound enzymes, e.g. apparatus containing a fluidised bed of immobilised enzymes
C13K 1/06 - GlucoseGlucose-containing syrups obtained by saccharification of starch or raw materials containing starch
6.
AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BREAKING AN EMULSION
A method of demulsifying an emulsion is provided, the method comprising an initial step of supplying the emulsion to a fluid processor passage (14) having an inlet (16) and an outlet (18), wherein the cross sectional area of the passage (14) between the inlet (16) and outlet (18) does not reduce below the cross sectional area at the inlet (16).A transport fluid is supplied from a transport fluid source (60) to a transport fluid nozzle (34) which circumscribes the passage (14) and opens into the passage (14) intermediate the inlet (16) and the outlet (18). The transport fluid is accelerated through a throat (38) of the transport fluid nozzle (34), the throat (34) having a cross sectional area which is less than that of either the nozzle inlet (36) or nozzle outlet (40). The transport fluid is injected from the nozzle outlet (40) into the emulsion in the passage (14) such that the emulsion is atomised and a vapour-droplet regime is formed comprising a dispersed phase of emulsion droplets within a continuous vapour phase. At least some of the emulsion droplets are vaporised within the vapour-droplet regime and finally the vapour is condensed back to the liquid phase. An apparatus suitable for carrying out this method is also provided.
An improved apparatus for generating a mist is provided. The apparatus has at least one working fluid supply conduit (66) having an inlet in fluid communication with a supply of working fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with a first mixing chamber. The apparatus also includes a plurality of transport fluid passages (60a,60b), each of which has an inlet adapted to receive a supply of transport fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber. Downstream of the mixing chamber is a nozzle (72) having an inlet (74) in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, an outlet (78), and a throat portion (76) intermediate the nozzle inlet (74) and outlet (78). The throat portion (76) of the nozzle (72) has a cross sectional area which is less than that of either the nozzle inlet (74) or the nozzle outlet (78). The provision of a plurality of transport fluid passages flowing into the mixing chamber, and the nozzle downstream of the mixing chamber, enhance the atomisation of the working fluid to generate the mist.
Fire protection apparatus, systems, and methods for addressing a fire with a mist are provided. More particularly, the invention provides systems and their method of design which provide a water mist to address and preferably suppress a fire. The invention further provides systems and methods for total flooding volume protection of a space to address a fire, preferably control, suppress, and more preferably extinguish a fire. The invention further provides atomizing devices for use in such systems and methods.
A mist generating apparatus (100) is provided. The apparatus (100) has a longitudinal axis (L) and comprises first and second opposing surfaces (140,142) which define a transport fluid nozzle (150) between them. The apparatus (100) also has a working fluid passage (132) having an inlet (130) connectable to a supply of working fluid, and an outlet (160) on one of the first and second surfaces (140,142). The working fluid outlet (160) communicates with the transport fluid nozzle (150). The transport fluid nozzle (150) has a nozzle inlet (151) connectable to a supply of transport fluid, a nozzle outlet (155), and a throat portion (153) intermediate the nozzle inlet (151) and nozzle outlet (155). The nozzle throat (153) has a cross sectional area which is less than that of either the nozzle inlet (151) or the nozzle outlet (155). The transport fluid nozzle (150) projects radially from the longitudinal axis (L) such that the nozzle (150) defines a rotational angle of at least 5 degrees about the longitudinal axis (L). A method of generating a mist using the apparatus is also provided.
A decontaminating system (100) comprising a decontaminant reservoir (152), a transport fluid source (160) and a mist generating apparatus (10). The mist generating apparatus (10) has a longitudinal axis and comprises a first fluid passage (38) having a first fluid inlet (18) in fluid communication with the decontaminant reservoir (152) and a first fluid outlet (84), and a second fluid passage (90) having a second fluid inlet (20) in fluid communication with the transport fluid source (160) and a second fluid outlet (94). The first passage (38) surrounds the second fluid passage (90) and the first and second outlets (84, 94) are oriented relative to one another such that they have an angle of incidence between (5) and (30) degrees. The second fluid passage (90) includesa throat portion (92) located between the second fluid inlet (20) and the second fluid outlet (94), the throat portion (92) having a smaller cross sectional area than that of either the second fluid inlet (20) or second fluid outlet (94).
A61L 2/22 - Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols
B05B 7/06 - Spray pistolsApparatus for discharge with one outlet orifice surrounding another approximately in the same plane
B05B 1/06 - Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to produce a jet, spray, or other discharge of particular shape or nature, e.g. in single drops in annular, tubular or hollow conical form
An apparatus (10) for generating a mist having a first transport fluid passage (12) having a first transport fluid inlet (12a), a first transport fluid outlet (12b), a throat portion (22) intermediate the first transport fluid inlet (12a) and the first transport fluid outlet (12b), the throat portion (22) having a cross sectional area which is less than that of either the first transport fluid inlet (12a) or the first transport fluid outlet (12b), at least one working fluid passage (14) located radially outwardly of the first transport fluid passage (12) and having a working fluid inlet (14a) and a working fluid outlet (14b), at least one second transport fluid passage (24) having a second transport fluid inlet (24a) and a second transport fluid outlet (24b) in fluid communication with the working fluid passage (14) and an outlet nozzle (16) in fluid communication with the first transport fluid and working fluid outlets (12b,14b). Wherein, the second transport fluid passage (24) has an outlet (24b) located in the working fluid chamber (14) upstream of the working fluid outlet (14b).
A process for the treatment of a starch-based feedstock is provided. The process comprises mixing together the starch-based feedstock and a working fluid to form a slurry, and hydrating the starch-based feedstock with the working fluid. A liquefaction enzyme is added to the slurry, and the slurry is then pumped into a passage (22) of a starch activation device (100). In the starch activation device (100) a high velocity transport fluid is injected into the slurry through a nozzle (38) communicating with the passage (22), thereby further hydrating the starch-based feedstock and activating the starch content of the slurry. An apparatus (1 ) is also provided for applying the process to the starch-based feedstock. The process and apparatus presented significantly reduce liquefaction time and the amount of liquefaction enzyme needed, as well as reducing the time of subsequent fermentation processes. Liquefaction yield from the process and apparatus is improved.
A process for the treatment of biomass is provided. The process comprises forming a biomass slurry by mixing biomass with a working fluid, and inducing the biomass slurry to flow through an inlet into a passage. A high velocity transport fluidis injected into the slurry through a nozzle communicating with the passage. The injection of the high velocity transport fluid applies a shear force to the slurry such that the working fluid is atomised and forms a vapour and droplet flow regime, an at least partial vacuum is formed within the passage downstream of the nozzle, and a condensation shock wave is generated within the passage downstream of the nozzle and vacuum by condensation of the transport fluid. An apparatus for treating biomass using the aforementioned process is also provided.
An airborne fluid distribution device particularly suited to the distribution of decontaminant fluids is provided. The device comprises a body (12) and a wing member (14) extending outwardly from the body (12). The device contains a fluid storage chamber (16) adapted to store a fluid therein and further comprises at least one nozzle (18, 20) in fluid communication with the storage chamber (16) and adapted to spray the fluid out of the device. With the wing member (14) extending from the body (12), the device will spin and slowly fall through the air, spraying fluid as it does so.
An apparatus for the removal of volatile elements from a process fluid is provided. The apparatus comprises at least one steam injector (30) adapted to inject steam into the process fluid and a stripping container (48) adapted to receive process fluid from the steam injector (30). A check valve (50) is located downstream of the stripping container (48) to maintain a predetermined pressure in the stripping container (48). A storage vessel (10) is provided downstream of the stripping container (48) and check valve (50) where the volatile elements separated from the fluid are drawn off. A method of removing the volatile elements from the process fluid is also provided. The apparatus and method of the present invention atomise the process fluid before drawing off the volatile elements, thereby improving the efficiency of the volatile removal process in a number of areas.
An apparatus for generating a mist is disclosed, the apparatus having an elongate hollow body (12) and an elongate member (14) located within the body (12). A transport fluid passage (16) and a nozzle (32) are defined between the body (12) and the elongate member (14). The transport fluid passage (16) has a throat portion of reduced cross-sectional area and is in fluid communication with the nozzle (32). The elongate member 14) includes a working fluid passage (26) and one or more communicating bores (30) extending radially outward from the working fluid passage (26). The bores (30) permit a working fluid (e.g. water) to be passed into the transport fluid passage (16), whereupon the working fluid is subjected to shear forces by a high velocity transport fluid (e.g. steam). The shearing of the working fluid results in the generation of a mist formed from droplets of substantially uniform size. A method of generating a mist in this manner is also disclosed.
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