Fluted Flat Jet Nozzles for Small Droplets and Long Snow Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid nozzles, particularly those used in snowmaking, face challenges in converting large volumes of water into small droplets suitable for freezing in the atmosphere, and they lack adjustable droplet size and spray angle control, leading to inefficiencies in fluid flow and projection.
Innovation Solution
The development of flat jet fluid nozzles with adjustable droplet size and fixed or variable spray angles, featuring a lower and upper nozzle plate configuration with impingement surfaces and a droplet size adjustment mechanism, allowing for control over fluid flow rate, droplet size, and spray pattern without the need for compressed air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional small, fixed orifice jet nozzles are used in snowmaking, then droplet size is reduced for freezing, but projection distance is limited due to short fluid trajectories and internal friction losses
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into multiple sections including a body portion with an elongated fluid passage and a separate cap portion. This segmentation allows the fluid passage to be extended without proportionally increasing the overall nozzle diameter, enabling longer fluid trajectories and reduced internal friction losses while maintaining small droplet sizes for effective snowmaking
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional short, wide nozzles to an elongated, narrow fluid passage configuration. This dimensional change extends the fluid trajectory length while maintaining compact overall dimensions, allowing droplets to form properly before ejection and significantly increasing projection distance
2Quantity of substance
If conventional nozzles are used, then fluid flow rate can be increased, but droplet size becomes too large for efficient freezing in snowmaking applications
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into multiple sections including a body portion with an elongated fluid passage and a separate cap portion. This segmentation allows the fluid passage to be extended without proportionally increasing the overall nozzle diameter, enabling longer fluid trajectories and reduced internal friction losses while maintaining small droplet sizes for effective snowmaking
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the fluid passage, specifically extending its length and reducing its diameter. This parameter change allows high fluid flow rates to be maintained while ensuring the fluid breaks up into small droplets suitable for snowmaking, resolving the contradiction between flow rate and droplet size
3Ease of operation
If multiple fixed nozzles are arranged in banks to vary output, then fluid flow rate control is achieved, but device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates an adjustable orifice mechanism that allows a single nozzle to dynamically change its output characteristics. Instead of using multiple fixed nozzles arranged in banks, one nozzle can be adjusted to provide varying fluid flow rates and spray patterns, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining operational flexibility
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 nozzles achieve efficient atomization of fluids, enabling the formation of small droplets for faster freezing and providing greater control over spray variables, with the ability to project droplets up to 20 meters, enhancing performance in applications like snowmaking and fire-fighting.
Implementation Method 1
opposed impingement surfaces having first and second regions for accelerating fluid flow along the opposed impingement surfaces and causing opposed streams of fluid to exit opposed orifice edges and impinge upon one another
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is flat jet fluid nozzles having at least one fluid channel useful for making snow. The fluid channel is defined in part by opposed upper and lower fluted impingement surfaces leading to a slotted orifice. When tiny droplets of water are ejected from the slotted orifice into sufficiently cold atmosphere, they can rapidly freeze into snow.