Dispensing Head Stepped Whirl Chamber Uniform Droplets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dispensing systems for viscous products produce uneven droplet sizes, resulting in a continuous jet in the central zone of the sprayed cone, which affects the quality and user experience, especially for non-Newtonian shear-thinning fluids commonly used in cosmetics.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing head with a convergent swirl chamber and a core featuring multiple steps that form obstacles in the fluidic path, combined with a conical portion around the axis, ensures uniform droplet sizes throughout the cone by eliminating the continuous jet through enhanced fluid interaction and shear rate increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional vortex chamber is used for viscous products, then the droplet size in the peripheral zone is reduced, but a continuous jet forms in the central zone
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex chamber is segmented into multiple zones using transverse partitions that divide the chamber into a central zone and peripheral zones. This segmentation allows different flow patterns to be established in different zones, preventing the formation of a continuous jet in the central zone while maintaining fine droplet generation in the peripheral zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the vortex chamber are given different structural characteristics. The central zone has a different configuration compared to the peripheral zones, with each zone having optimized parameters for its specific function. This local differentiation allows the central zone to avoid jet formation while peripheral zones generate fine droplets.
2Manufacturing precision
If steps are added to the vortex chamber to improve droplet impaction, then peripheral droplet quality improves, but central zone jet formation persists
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex chamber is divided into multiple zones using transverse partitions, creating distinct central and peripheral regions. Each zone can be independently optimized for its specific function, allowing the peripheral zones to generate fine droplets while the central zone is configured to prevent jet formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The problem is solved by adding a spatial dimension to the flow control - creating multiple zones at different radial positions and potentially different axial positions. This multi-dimensional zoning allows independent control of flow patterns in different regions, eliminating the central jet while maintaining peripheral droplet quality.
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 solution achieves uniform droplet dimensions across the cone, improving the quality of the sprayed product and user experience by eliminating the central continuous jet, particularly beneficial for non-Newtonian shear-thinning fluids.
Implementation Method 1
The vortex chamber is intended to cause the liquid to rotate very quickly and therefore to give it speed and the effects of centrifugal force
Implementation Method 2
Moved by this speed, and subjected to centrifugal forces, the liquid breaks up into droplets and forms an aerosol
Data Source
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AI summary
dispensing head (1), in particular for a product dispensing system characterized in that the head (1) comprises: - a spray nozzle (14) including a dispensing orifice (19) and a vortex chamber (20) opening into the dispensing orifice (19), the vortex chamber (20) including a converging portion (37), said vortex chamber extending along an axis (X) between an upstream end (21) and a downstream end (22) in the direction of product movement, and - an anvil (8) including a core (9) provided with a peripheral wall (36), the core (9) being housed inside the vortex chamber (20), the peripheral wall (36) and the converging portion (37) forming at least one fluidic path in which the product flows, the converging portion (37) including an inner wall (35) of the nozzle (14), said inner wall (35) and/or the peripheral wall (36) of the core being provided with a plurality of steps (30),Each step (30) is defined by a transverse wall (31) extending in a plane intersecting the axis (X) and a longitudinal wall (32) substantially parallel to the axis, the steps (30) forming obstacles in the fluidic path.