Liquid Spray Device Droplet Segmentation for Coverage and Force
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid spray devices, such as those described in JP-A-61-103443, struggle to effectively clean sebum and dirt from skin due to insufficient pressing force and atomization, and are not suitable for treating objects like fibers or metals.
Innovation Solution
A liquid spray device with a spray nozzle and pressurized liquid supply unit, controlled by a controller to split liquid into droplets from a continuous flow, with nozzle hole diameters ranging from 0.015 mm to 0.12 mm and viscosity of 0.6 mPa·s to 4.0 mPa·s, achieving velocities of 10 m/s to 70 m/s and droplet frequencies of 0.3×105 to 9.0×105 droplets per second.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If liquid is sprayed in atomized form, then liquid coverage is improved, but pressing force becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid stream is segmented into discrete droplets through controlled flow splitting, where the continuous liquid flow breaks into individual droplets at specific intervals. This segmentation allows the liquid to maintain cohesive structure while covering a broader area, resolving the contradiction between coverage and pressing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid supply is controlled to create periodic droplet ejection rather than continuous or random atomization. This periodic action ensures that droplets are delivered in a rhythmic sequence, maintaining impact force while achieving adequate coverage through the patterned distribution of droplets over time.
2Productivity
If nozzle hole diameter is reduced to increase droplet number, then droplet frequency increases, but liquid flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the nozzle hole diameter within a specific range (0.015 mm to 0.12 mm) to achieve the desired droplet frequency while maintaining adequate liquid flow rate. By precisely controlling this parameter along with supply pressure, the system balances droplet generation rate with sufficient liquid delivery for effective cleaning.
3Productivity
If liquid supply pressure is increased to increase droplet velocity, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the natural conversion of pressure energy to kinetic energy as droplets exit the nozzle, where the pressurized liquid supply automatically converts pressure into droplet velocity without additional energy input mechanisms. This self-service approach achieves high droplet velocities for effective cleaning while minimizing external energy consumption.
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 device effectively cleans skin by applying droplets with physical stimulation comparable to ultrasonic waves, improving skin conditions, and can clean objects like fibers and metals without damaging them.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurized liquid supply unit configured to pressurize a liquid and feed the pressurized liquid to the spray nozzle
Implementation Method 2
a spray nozzle having at least one nozzle hole configured to spray a liquid
Implementation Method 3
the liquid to be sprayed from the nozzle hole flies in a state of splitting into droplets from a continuous flow
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid spray device includes a spray nozzle having at least one nozzle hole configured to spray a liquid, a pressurized liquid supply unit configured to pressurize a liquid and feed the pressurized liquid to the spray nozzle, and a controller configured to control an operation of the pressurized liquid supply unit such that the liquid to be sprayed from the nozzle hole flies in a state of splitting into droplets from a continuous flow. The nozzle hole has a hole diameter of 0.015 mm to 0.030 mm. The liquid has a viscosity of 0.6 mPa·s to 4.0 mPa·s. The controller controls a supply pressure of the pressurized liquid supply unit such that a velocity of the liquid to be sprayed from the nozzle hole is 10 m/s to 80 m/s, and that the number of droplets (droplets/s), which is the number of the droplets generated by the continuous flow splitting into the droplets per second, is in a range of 0.8×105 to 9.0×105.