Three-fluid atomizer

• US 5,484,107 A
• Filed: 05/13/1994
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McDermott Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Company (Babcock International Group PLC)
• Inventors: Holmes, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, KAREN MERRITT
• Application Number:
  US08/242,227
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 239/428-431, 239/433, 239/422, 239/419.3, 239/427.5
• US Class Current: 239/427.5
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0408 with arrangements for mixing two or more liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0475 with means for deflecting the peripheral gas flow towards the central liquid flow B05B7/0458 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/08 with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets , i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel, to form intersecting jets , i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0892 the outlet orifices for jets constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid being disposed on a circle
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 11/38 Nozzles; Cleaning devices therefor

Abstract

An atomizer for internally mixing two fluids (usually liquids) by way of momentum supplied by a compressible third fluid (usually air or steam) and for discharging a jet of a finely atomized mixture of the three fluids. The energy from these high velocity jets also causes additional mixing of the three fluids external to the nozzle head as well as intimate mixing with the surroundings. The atomizer includes: a nozzle head defining a space for receiving a mixture containing the three fluids; a nozzle hole through the nozzle head for discharging the jet; and first, second and third fluid supply conduits connected to the nozzle head for supplying the first, second and third fluids to the nozzle head. The first fluid supply conduit has an aperture through the conduit wall so that the first and second fluids combine before being further mixed and dispersed by the third fluid. The second fluid supply conduit is positioned concentrically about the first fluid supply conduit and the third fluid supply conduit is positioned concentrically about the second fluid supply conduit.

Claims

1. A method for mixing a first fluid, a second fluid and a compressible third fluid in an atomizer, comprising the steps of:

supplying a first fluid, which is a member selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a gas, a slurry, and a solid-laden gas, through a first fluid supply conduit being of a constant inside diameter extending over the entire length of said conduit and said conduit being connected to a nozzle head defining a space for receiving a mixture containing the first, second and third fluids;

supplying a second fluid, which is a member selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a gas, a slurry, and a solid-laden gas, through a second fluid supply conduit connected to the nozzle head and positioned concentrically about the first fluid supply conduit to define a first annular fluid passage;

combining the first fluid and the second fluid within the first fluid supply conduit by allowing the second fluid to flow through an aperture in the wall of the first fluid supply conduit at a position near the outlet end of the first fluid supply conduit;

supplying a compressible third fluid, which is a member selected from the group consisting of a gas and a solid-laden gas, through a third fluid supply conduit connected to the nozzle head and positioned concentrically about the second fluid supply conduit to define a second annular fluid passage;

combining, in a mixing chamber, the compressible third fluid with the first fluid and the second fluid by allowing the third fluid to flow through an opening in the wall of the mixing chamber, the opening being positioned near the inlet end of the mixing chamber and extending directly between the second annular passage and the mixing chamber so that the third fluid has a straight flow path from the second annular passage to the mixing chamber;

transporting a mixture of the first fluid, the second fluid, and the third fluid through the mixing chamber and directly thereafter through the space defined by the nozzle head; and

discharging from the space defined by the nozzle head a jet of the mixture of the first fluid, the second fluid and the compressible third fluid through at least one hole in the nozzle head.

2. A triple fluid atomizer for mixing and discharging a jet of a first fluid, a second fluid and a compressible third fluid into a boiler or a chemical reactor, comprising:

a nozzle head defining a space for receiving a mixture containing the first, second and third fluids;

at least one nozzle hole through said nozzle head for discharging the jet;

a first fluid supply conduit connected to said nozzle head for supplying a first fluid to said nozzle head, said conduit being of a constant inside diameter extending over the entire length of said conduit and having an aperture through a wall of said conduit, which aperture is positioned near the outlet end of said conduit;

a second fluid supply conduit connected to said nozzle head for supplying a second fluid to said nozzle head and positioned concentrically about said first fluid supply conduit to define a first annular fluid passage from which said second fluid flows through said aperture into said first fluid supply conduit and combines in said first fluid supply conduit with said first fluid; and

a third fluid supply conduit connected to said nozzle head for supplying a third fluid to said nozzle head and positioned concentrically about said second fluid supply conduit to define a second annular fluid passage.

3. A triple fluid atomizer for mixing and discharging a jet of a first fluid, a second fluid and a compressible third fluid into a boiler or a chemical reactor, comprising:

a nozzle head defining a space for receiving a mixture containing the first, second and third fluids;

at least one hole through said nozzle head for discharging the jet;

a first fluid supply conduit connected to said nozzle head for supplying a first fluid, which is a member selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a gas, a slurry and a solid-laden gas, to said nozzle head, said conduit being of a constant inside diameter extending over the entire length of said conduit and having an aperture through a wall of said conduit, which aperture is positioned near the outlet end of said conduit;

a second fluid supply conduit connected to said nozzle head for supplying a second fluid, which is a member selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a gas, a slurry and a solid-laden gas, to said nozzle head and positioned concentrically about said first fluid supply conduit to define a first annular fluid passage from which said second fluid flows through said aperture into said first fluid supply conduit and combines in said first fluid supply conduit with said first fluid; and

a third fluid supply conduit connected to said nozzle head for supplying a third fluid, which is a member selected from the group consisting of a gas and a solid-laden gas, to said nozzle head and positioned concentrically about said second fluid supply conduit to define a second annular fluid passage.