Mechanical system that continuously processes a combination of materials

A system for continuously processing a combination of materials, the system comprising:

• an acoustic agitator capable of being removably coupled to a continuous process vessel such that the acoustic agitator is positioned beneath the continuous process vessel;
• and
• a continuous process vessel coupled to the acoustic agitator comprising:
• a first inlet disposed towards a top portion of the continuous process vessel and configured for introducing at least one process ingredient;
• a plurality of plates stacked below the first inlet along a vertical axis, each plate coupled to and extending from at least a portion of a vessel wall at an angle of declination from horizontal, down towards the acoustic agitator, and configured for directing a flow of the at least one process ingredient across the continuous process vessel and downward from the first inlet through the continuous process vessel, wherein the plurality of plates are capable of transferring acoustic energy generated by the acoustic agitator into the at least one process ingredient;
• and
• an outlet disposed at a bottom of the continuous process vessel below the first inlet and the plurality of plates, the outlet configured for discharging a product of the at least one process ingredient subsequent to the at least one process ingredient passing through at least a portion of the continuous process vessel while being exposed to the acoustic energy transferred by at least one of the plurality of plates,
• wherein the acoustic agitator is configured to oscillate the entire continuous process vessel such that the system operates at or near a mechanical resonance at a frequency of less than about 1 kHz, while the at least one process ingredient flows downward from the first inlet across the plurality of plates through the continuous process vessel to the outlet via at least a gravitational force.