Atomization technique for producing fine particles
First Claim
1. An atomizer system comprising:
- a melt material to be atomized;
a containment portion for securing the melt material;
a unit which accelerates the melt material such that the melt material experiences an acceleration force higher than Earth'"'"'s standard gravitational force; and
atomizing fluid that flows across an exposed surface of the melt material, the exposed surface of the melt material being located within the containment portion;
wherein the containment portion and the unit which accelerates the melt material are operative to prevent the melt material from being ejected from the containment portion due to the acceleration force; and
wherein, while the melt material is experiencing the acceleration force, liquid droplets of the melt material become entrained in the atomizing fluid flowing across the exposed surface of the material such that at least some of the liquid droplets aerosolize and are ejected from the containment portion.
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Abstract
This disclosure relates to a novel process for atomizing a liquid material or a mixture of liquid materials. More specifically, this disclosure advances the art by utilizing the inertial forces created in an elevated acceleration environment to further miniaturize and enhance the characteristics of particles resulting from atomization. The key to this disclosure is to subject a melt material to an elevated acceleration and pass a fluid over the surface of the melt. The purpose of the elevated acceleration is to elevate the relative importance of gravitational forces in the melt thus miniaturizing any gravity influenced disturbance. This elevated acceleration environment leads to miniaturization of gravitationally dependent phenomena thus leading to smaller particle creation. The purpose of the atomizing fluid is to impart kinetic energy onto the melt thereby causing disturbances and to act as a heat transfer media to cool the particles. In other words, this disclosure teaches not only utilizing bursting bubbles, surface waves, and splashes to create fine particles by purposely introducing gas flow on the liquid material(s) to be atomized but further enhancing the process by facilitating that these material(s) are simultaneously at elevated acceleration. The novel aspects of this disclosure significantly enhance the physical characteristics of the resulting particles, by allowing smaller particles to be produced, by cooling the particles more rapidly and by reducing contamination threats by avoiding physical contact between the material(s) being atomized and any refractive materials.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An atomizer system comprising:
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a melt material to be atomized; a containment portion for securing the melt material; a unit which accelerates the melt material such that the melt material experiences an acceleration force higher than Earth'"'"'s standard gravitational force; and atomizing fluid that flows across an exposed surface of the melt material, the exposed surface of the melt material being located within the containment portion; wherein the containment portion and the unit which accelerates the melt material are operative to prevent the melt material from being ejected from the containment portion due to the acceleration force; and wherein, while the melt material is experiencing the acceleration force, liquid droplets of the melt material become entrained in the atomizing fluid flowing across the exposed surface of the material such that at least some of the liquid droplets aerosolize and are ejected from the containment portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of atomizing a melt material comprising the steps of:
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accelerating the melt material to be atomized; flowing an atomizing fluid across an exposed surface of the melt material while the exposed surface of the melt material is experiencing an acceleration force higher than Earth'"'"'s standard gravitational force; and while the exposed surface of the melt material is experiencing the acceleration force, entraining liquid droplets of the melt material in the atomizing fluid flowing across the exposed surface of the melt material such that the liquid droplets aerosolize and create fine particulates; wherein the atomizing fluid contains particulates therein.
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33. A method of atomizing a melt material comprising the steps of:
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accelerating the melt material to be atomized; flowing an atomizing fluid across an exposed surface of the melt material while the exposed surface of the melt material is experiencing an acceleration force higher than Earth'"'"'s standard gravitational force; while the exposed surface of the melt material is experiencing the acceleration force, entraining liquid droplets of the melt material in the atomizing fluid flowing across the exposed surface of the melt material such that the liquid droplets aerosolize and create fine particulates; and entrapping portions of the atomizing fluid within the melt material such that, while the melt material is experiencing the acceleration forces, the portions of the atomizing fluid within the melt material buoyantly travel to the exposed surface of the melt material and form at least some of the liquid droplets.
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Specification