Adjustable Nozzle with Single Valve for Jet Geometry Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nozzle technologies are inflexible and require additional control lines or complex valve systems to change between full jet and spray modes, making them inefficient for processes with varying conditions, especially in rotating systems where manual intervention is difficult or impractical.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle design featuring a first fluid line and a second fluid line that enter a swirl chamber, where the first fluid line controls the jet shape with a single valve, allowing for adjustable jet geometries between full jet and conical spray without needing additional influencing of the second fluid flow, using a 2/2-way valve for compactness and simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional control lines and valve systems are used to change between full jet and spray modes, then the nozzle can switch between different jet geometries, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single valve is designed to control both the axial flow and the tangential flow through the swirl chamber, making one valve perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate control mechanisms. This multi-functionality reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to switch between full jet and spray modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the control of axial and tangential flows into a single valve system. By merging the control functions, the design eliminates the need for multiple separate control lines and valves, thereby reducing device complexity and space requirements while still achieving versatile jet geometry switching.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional control lines are added to enable switching between spray and solid stream, then the nozzle becomes more versatile, but the space requirements increase particularly for rotating systems
Solution Approach 1:
The single valve is designed to control both the axial flow and the tangential flow through the swirl chamber, making one valve perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate control mechanisms. This multi-functionality reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to switch between full jet and spray modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the control of axial and tangential flows into a single valve system. By merging the control functions, the design eliminates the need for multiple separate control lines and valves, thereby reducing device complexity and space requirements while still achieving versatile jet geometry switching.
3Device complexity
If a single valve is used to control both axial and tangential flows, then the device complexity is reduced, but the valve must handle more complex flow control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed to automatically balance the axial and tangential flows based on the position of a single control element. The system self-regulates the flow distribution between axial and tangential directions without requiring complex external control mechanisms, making the single valve easier to operate despite handling multiple flow control requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically adjust the flow distribution based on the control element position. This feedback system ensures proper flow balancing between axial and tangential directions, simplifying operation while maintaining precise control over the jet geometry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient switching between full jet and spray modes using a single valve, reducing complexity and space requirements, and maintaining effective atomization characteristics without additional control lines, suitable for variable industrial processes.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one second fluid line enters in a cylinder wall of the swirl chamber on a tangential plane at an entry angle deviating from an axial direction in order to generate a swirling flow oriented towards the nozzle outlet
Implementation Method 2
Atomization caused by swirl results in more uniform sprays with smaller droplets than atomization caused by turbulence
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a device and a method for the adjustable control of a fluid as it exits a nozzle outlet (4), into which a first fluid line (8) enters in an axial direction (9) and a second fluid line (10) enters in a cylindrical wall of the swirl chamber (6). A first fluid flow (12) flows axially towards the nozzle outlet (4), and a second fluid flow (14) enters the swirl chamber (6). The combination of both fluid flows (12, 14) in the swirl chamber (6) produces different jet geometries, ranging from a linear solid jet (32) to a conical spray (30). According to the invention, the first fluid line (8) has a valve (20, 22, 24) for adjusting the volume flow. The cross-sectional areas of the first fluid line (8) and the swirl chamber (6) are identical and constant along the axial direction (9).Alternatively, the cross-sections of the first fluid line (8) and the swirl chamber (6) have a diameter ratio between 1.5 and 0.5. According to a further alternative, the cross-sections of the first fluid line (8) and the swirl chamber (6) are connected via a flow-continuous inlet region (7) with an inclination angle β, β' at which the fluid flow (12) does not detach from the wall. The invention also relates to a nozzle arrangement with at least two nozzles.