Diffuser/emulsifier

A method of diffusing a first material within a second material inside a channel formed between a rotor and a stator, the rotor being disposed inside the stator, the channel being defined by an outside surface of a rotor and an inside surface of a stator, the channel having a length defined between a first end of the channel and a second end of the channel, an inlet being coupled to the first end and configured to introduce the first material into the channel through the first end, and an outlet being coupled to the second end and configured to allow the first material with the second material diffused therein to exit the channel through the second end, the method comprising:

• introducing the first material into the first end of the channel through the inlet;
• causing the first material to flow through the entire length of the channel from the first end to the second end of the channel;
• while the first material is flowing through the channel, generating a plurality of vortexes in the first material caused by the flow of the first material over surface disturbances comprising at least one of depressions or protrusions and a plurality of second inlets formed therein in the outside surface of the rotor, the plurality of second inlets being arranged in a pattern including at least two rows of spaced second inlets distributed circumferentially about the outside surface of the rotor along the length of the channel;
• and
• introducing the second material proximate to the plurality of vortexes in the first material through the plurality of second inlets formed in the rotor,
• using the plurality of vortexes to diffuse the second material into the first material;
• causing the first material with the second material diffused therein to exit the second end of the channel through the outlet.

A method of diffusing a first material within a second material, the method comprising:

• causing the first material to flow from a first inlet and substantially without interruption through a channel formed between respective first sides of first and second members;
• generating a plurality of vortexes in the first material caused by the flow of the first material over surface disturbances formed in at least the one of the respective first sides of the first and second member;
• introducing the second material proximate to the plurality of vortexes in the first material through a plurality of second inlets in at least one of the first and second members, the plurality of vortexes causing the second material to be diffused within the first material;
• distributing the surface disturbances formed in at least the one of the respective first side of the first sides of the first and second members according to a predetermined pattern;
• locating a first portion of the surface disturbances in a first array to compress and decompress the first material at least a first frequency;
• and
• locating a second portion of the plurality of arrays in a second array different from the first array to compress and decompress the first material at least a second frequency different from the first frequency.

A method of diffusing a first material within a second material, the method comprising:

• causing the first material to flow from a first inlet and substantially without interruption through a channel formed between respective first sides of first and second members, wherein the second member is rotatable with respect to the first member;
• introducing the second material proximate to vortexes created in the first material through a plurality of spaced apart second inlets formed in a second side of the first and second members, the second side of the first and second members opposite the respective first side of the first and second members, each of the plurality of second inlets formed in the second side of the second member having an opening in the first side of the second member, the openings of the plurality of second inlets being arranged in a pattern including at least two rows of spaced second inlets distributed on the first side of the second member and configured to produce vortexes in the first material when the second member is rotated with respect to the first member;
• and
• causing the second material to be diffused within the first material responsive to the vortexes produced by the flow of the first material over surface disturbances comprising at least one of depressions or protrusions and a plurality of second inlets formed therein in each of the first sides of the first member and the second member and the alignment of the surface disturbances on the first side of the first member and the first side of the second member as the second member rotates, the surface disturbances comprising the openings of the plurality of second inlets distributed on the first side of the second member.