Method and apparatus for generating a mist
First Claim
1. Apparatus for generating a mist comprising:
- a conduit having a mixing chamber and an exit;
a first annular transport fluid nozzle in fluid communication with the conduit, the first transport fluid nozzle being adapted to introduce a transport fluid into the mixing chamber;
a second annular transport fluid nozzle in fluid communication with the conduit, the second transport fluid nozzle being adapted to introduce further transport fluid or a second transport fluid into the mixing chamber; and
an annular working fluid nozzle positioned adjacent the first transport fluid nozzle intermediate the first transport fluid nozzle and the exit, the working fluid nozzle being adapted to introduce a working fluid into the mixing chamber;
wherein the first transport fluid nozzle and the working fluid nozzle have an angular orientation and internal geometry such that in use interaction of the transport fluid and working fluid in the mixing chamber causes the working fluid to atomise and form a dispersed vapour/droplet flow regime, which is discharged as a mist from the exit, the mist comprising working fluid droplets;
wherein each of the working fluid nozzle, the first transport fluid nozzle, and the second transport fluid nozzle comprise an annular nozzle that circumscribes the conduit and provides fluid into the mixing chamber,wherein each of the first transport fluid nozzle, the working fluid nozzle, and the second transport fluid nozzle include a corresponding convergent-divergent portion, a first portion of the first transport fluid nozzle downstream of the corresponding convergent-divergent portion defining a first axis, a second portion of the working fluid nozzle downstream of the corresponding convergent-divergent portion defining a second axis, an angle between the first axis and the second axis being acute such that the first transport fluid nozzle is angled towards a stream of working fluid from the working fluid nozzle; and
wherein the second annular transport fluid nozzle is positioned nearer to the exit of the conduit than the working fluid nozzle, such that the working fluid nozzle is intermediate both the first transport fluid nozzle and the second annular transport fluid nozzle.
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Abstract
Apparatus for generating a mist comprising a conduit having a mixing chamber and an exit; a transport nozzle in fluid communication with the said conduit, the transport nozzle being adapted to introduce a transport fluid into the mixing chamber; a working nozzle positioned adjacent the transport nozzle intermediate the transport nozzle and the exit, the working nozzle being adapted to introduce a working fluid into the mixing chamber; the transport and working nozzles having an angular orientation and internal geometry such that in use interaction of the transport fluid and working fluid in the mixing chamber causes the working fluid to atomize and form a dispersed vapor/droplet flow regime, which is discharged as a mist from the exit, the mist comprising working fluid droplets having a substantially uniform size.
136 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for generating a mist comprising:
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a conduit having a mixing chamber and an exit; a first annular transport fluid nozzle in fluid communication with the conduit, the first transport fluid nozzle being adapted to introduce a transport fluid into the mixing chamber; a second annular transport fluid nozzle in fluid communication with the conduit, the second transport fluid nozzle being adapted to introduce further transport fluid or a second transport fluid into the mixing chamber; and an annular working fluid nozzle positioned adjacent the first transport fluid nozzle intermediate the first transport fluid nozzle and the exit, the working fluid nozzle being adapted to introduce a working fluid into the mixing chamber; wherein the first transport fluid nozzle and the working fluid nozzle have an angular orientation and internal geometry such that in use interaction of the transport fluid and working fluid in the mixing chamber causes the working fluid to atomise and form a dispersed vapour/droplet flow regime, which is discharged as a mist from the exit, the mist comprising working fluid droplets; wherein each of the working fluid nozzle, the first transport fluid nozzle, and the second transport fluid nozzle comprise an annular nozzle that circumscribes the conduit and provides fluid into the mixing chamber, wherein each of the first transport fluid nozzle, the working fluid nozzle, and the second transport fluid nozzle include a corresponding convergent-divergent portion, a first portion of the first transport fluid nozzle downstream of the corresponding convergent-divergent portion defining a first axis, a second portion of the working fluid nozzle downstream of the corresponding convergent-divergent portion defining a second axis, an angle between the first axis and the second axis being acute such that the first transport fluid nozzle is angled towards a stream of working fluid from the working fluid nozzle; and wherein the second annular transport fluid nozzle is positioned nearer to the exit of the conduit than the working fluid nozzle, such that the working fluid nozzle is intermediate both the first transport fluid nozzle and the second annular transport fluid nozzle.
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2. Apparatus for generating a mist comprising:
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a conduit having a mixing chamber and an exit; a first transport nozzle in fluid communication with the conduit, the first transport nozzle being adapted to introduce a transport fluid into the mixing chamber; a second transport nozzle in fluid communication with the said conduit, the second transport nozzle being adapted to introduce further transport fluid or a second transport fluid into the mixing chamber; a working nozzle positioned adjacent the first transport nozzle intermediate the first transport nozzle and the exit, the working nozzle being adapted to introduce a working fluid into the mixing chamber; wherein the second transport nozzle is positioned nearer the exit than the working nozzle, such that the working nozzle is intermediate both transport nozzles, and wherein the transport and working nozzles have an angular orientation and internal geometry such that in use interaction of the transport fluid and working fluid in the mixing chamber causes the working to atomise and form a dispersed vapour/droplet flow regime, which is discharged as a mist from the exit, the mist comprising working fluid droplets; wherein each of the first transport nozzle, the working nozzle, and the second transport nozzle include a convergent-divergent portion, and the working fluid nozzle is annular, a first portion of the first transport nozzle downstream of the corresponding convergent-divergent portion defining a first axis, a second portion of the working nozzle downstream of the corresponding convergent-divergent portion defining a second axis, an angle between the first axis and the second axis being acute such that the first transport nozzle is angled towards a stream of working fluid from the working nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification