Method and apparatus for spraying

Abstract

Abstract A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING AND SPRAYING LIQUIDS SUCH AS FUEL, PAINT OR WATER IN THE FORM OF MINUTE DROPLETS UTILIZING A SMALL AMOUNT OF AIR TO PROVIDE THE ATOMIZING FORCE. THE LIQUID UNDER A PRESSURE OF FROM 30-100 PSI IS CAUSED TO FLOW IN A THIN FILM. STREAMS OF GAS AT A SLIGHTLY HIGHER PRESSURE ARE INPINGED AGAINST THE LIQUID FILM SO THAT THE GAS IS SHEARED INTO MICROBUBBLES WHICH ARE ENTRAINED IN THE LIQUID TO FORM A FROTH IN WHICH THE LIQUID IS THE CONTINUOUS PHASE, AND IN WHICH THE AIR TO LIQUID MASS RATIO IS FROM 0.1 TO 1.6. THE FROTH FLOWS THROUGH A SPACE IN WHICH THE PRESSURE DECREASES AS THE FROTH MOVES TOWARD A NOZZLE. DURING THIS FLOW THE FROTH BECOMES HOMOGENEOUS. THE FROTH IS DISCHARGED THROUGH A NOZZLE WHEREUPON THE AIR BUBBLES EXPLODE RUPTURING THE LIQUID FILM AND CAUSING THE LIQUID TO DISINTEGRATE INTO FINELY ATOMIZED DROPS. THE APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT THIS METHOD COMPRISES A LIQUID FILM-FORMING CHANNEL CONNECTED TO A LIQUID INLET LINE SUPPLIED WITH LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE, AN AIR INJECTION CHANNEL TERMINATING ADJACENT TO THE LIQUID FLOW CHANNEL, A FLOW SPACE INTERCONNECTING THE LUQID FILM CHANNEL AND A NOZZLE ORIFICE. IN THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT THE FILM-FORMING CHANNEL IS ANNULAR WITH AIR BEING INJECTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CHANNEL. IN A MODIFICATION THE LIQUID FILM-FORMING CHANNEL IS PLANAR WITH AIR BEING INJECTED INTO THE FILM FROM ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE CHANNEL.

Inventors

• 👤 P Runstadler
• 👤 E Nord
• 👤 F Wilhelm
• 👤 D Hastings
• 👤 D Scarbrough

Bibliographic Details