Atomizer Spray Plate Venturi Inlets for Oil Burner Pressure Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing atomizers in oil burner applications require substantial inlet pressure to achieve fine fluid droplet sizes, which increases costs and operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical atomizer with a spray plate featuring a swirl chamber and radially extending elongated protrusions that define venturi inlets, accelerating fluid velocity and reducing pressure requirements, allowing for efficient atomization without high inlet pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If increased liquid pressure is provided to the atomizer, then the angular velocity of the liquid increases and droplet size decreases, but the cost of atomization increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet is divided into multiple separate venturi inlets instead of a single large inlet. Each venturi inlet has its own elongated protrusion that creates a separate flow path, allowing the liquid to be accelerated through multiple smaller channels rather than requiring high pressure through a single large channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the geometric parameters of the inlet by creating elongated protrusions with specific dimensions and orientations. These protrusions form venturi passages that optimize the flow characteristics, allowing liquid to enter the swirl chamber at higher velocity with lower inlet pressure.
2Manufacturing precision
If high inlet pressure is used to achieve fine droplet sizes, then droplet size decreases, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The venturi inlets are designed to automatically accelerate the liquid flow through their geometric configuration. The elongated protrusions create pressure differentials that naturally accelerate the liquid without requiring external high-pressure input, allowing the atomizer to serve itself by using the incoming liquid's kinetic energy efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The venturi geometry changes the pressure-velocity parameters along the flow path. By carefully designing the protrusion dimensions and orientations, the liquid is accelerated through the venturi passages, converting pressure energy to kinetic energy more efficiently than conventional inlets.
3Manufacturing precision
If substantial inlet pressure is provided, then fine droplet sizes are achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single inlet is segmented into multiple venturi inlets, each with its own elongated protrusion. This segmentation creates multiple parallel flow paths that reduce the pressure requirement for each individual path while maintaining overall flow capacity and achieving fine droplet sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated protrusions act as intermediary elements between the inlet and the swirl chamber. These protrusions create the venturi passages that mediate the flow transition, accelerating the liquid and reducing the pressure requirement without directly contacting or obstructing the main flow path.
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
The atomizer achieves smaller droplet sizes, improving burnout efficiency, reducing opacity, and lowering emissions of NOx, SO3, and excess oxygen, while maintaining lower operational pressures.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elongated protrusions upon the inlet surface extending radially from the swirl chamber, wherein the plurality of elongated protrusions define a plurality of venturi inlets to the swirl chamber between adjacent protrusions
Implementation Method 2
The liquid rotates in the swirl chamber and forms a thin conical sheet
Data Source
AI summary
An atomizer spray plate including a body having an inlet surface and an exit surface, a swirl chamber within the body and adjacent to the inlet surface, an atomizer hole extending through the body from the swirl chamber to the exit surface, and a plurality of elongated protrusions upon the inlet surface extending radially from the swirl chamber, wherein the plurality of elongated protrusions define a plurality of venturi inlets to the swirl chamber between adjacent protrusions.