CPC B29C 48/71 (2019.02) [B29C 48/21 (2019.02); B29C 48/255 (2019.02)] | 14 Claims |
1. An apparatus for processing a first composite stream comprised of at least two flowable materials, said apparatus comprising a processing region, wherein the processing region comprises:
an inlet conduit for accepting the first composite stream;
means for dividing the first composite stream into two sub-streams;
a first sub-stream conduit in fluid communication with the inlet conduit, said first sub-stream conduit following a right-handed helical path, a second sub-stream conduit in fluid communication with the inlet conduit, said second sub-stream conduit following a left-handed helical path, both helical paths having dimensions adapted to compress their respective sub-streams in one of either the radial or axial direction of their helical paths simultaneously with expanding their respective sub-streams in the other of the radial or axial direction of their helical paths;
means for recombining the sub-streams to form a second composite stream comprising the at least two flowable materials; and
an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the first and second sub-stream conduits.
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