Low Pressure Watermist Nozzle Manifold with Segmented Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire protection nozzles using low water pressures struggle to produce a homogeneous spray of water droplets with diameters less than 0.0035 mm over large areas, requiring high water supplies and being sensitive to physical impacts, while high-pressure solutions are costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle arrangement featuring a central cavity with cylindrical cavities and strategically placed openings that distribute water into a homogeneous spray of small droplets, utilizing kinetic energy and centrifugal force for effective coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If low water pressure (1-20 bars) is used, then system complexity and cost are reduced, but the ability to produce homogeneous spray of small droplets over large areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle body is segmented into multiple cavities (central cavity and surrounding cavities) with multiple openings in each cavity. This segmentation allows the water flow to be divided into multiple streams that collide and interact, producing homogeneous fine droplet spray even at low pressures. The segmentation creates multiple collision zones within the nozzle structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-dimension linear flow path to a multi-dimensional cavity structure with openings distributed in space. Water flows through the central cavity and surrounding cavities simultaneously, creating three-dimensional flow patterns and collision zones that enhance droplet atomization without requiring high pressure.
2Quantity of substance
If deflector plates are used to split water jet, then droplet spray is produced, but the nozzle becomes sensitive to physical impacts and abuse
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector plate component is completely removed from the nozzle design. Instead of using a separate deflector element to split the water jet, the nozzle body itself is designed with integrated cavities and openings that perform the droplet generation function. This eliminates the vulnerable deflector plate while maintaining droplet spray production.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of the nozzle body and the deflector plate are merged into a single integrated structure. The cavities and openings are formed directly in the nozzle body, combining the flow guidance and droplet generation functions into one robust component that cannot be damaged by physical impacts.
3Manufacturing precision
If high water pressure (20-150 bars) is applied, then fine droplet spray is achieved, but pump power requirements and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle uses the kinetic energy of the water flow itself to atomize the water into fine droplets, without requiring external energy input from high-pressure pumps. The cavity and opening geometry is designed to convert the water's own momentum into effective spray patterns, making the system self-sufficient for droplet generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the flow path (cavity shapes, opening sizes, opening positions) to optimize droplet atomization at low pressures. By carefully designing these parameters, the nozzle achieves fine droplet sizes without requiring high pressure, thereby reducing pump power requirements.
4Quantity of substance
If small orifice diameter is used, then water supply requirement is reduced, but coverage area and water density uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The single orifice is segmented into multiple openings distributed across several cavities. This segmentation allows the total water flow to be divided into multiple smaller streams that spread over a larger area. Each opening contributes to the overall coverage, achieving both reduced water supply requirement and extended coverage area simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The water delivery system transitions from a single-point orifice to a multi-point distributed opening arrangement in three-dimensional space. This dimensional change allows water to be delivered across a larger coverage area while maintaining control over total water supply requirements through the geometry of multiple smaller openings.
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 provides a cost-effective, robust, and efficient fire fighting capability with a homogeneous spray of small droplets, improving coverage area and reducing water supply requirements without the complexity and expense of high-pressure systems.
Implementation Method 1
exit a rotating water jet from a nozzle opening. Here the centrifuge force breaks the water jet up into small droplet
Implementation Method 2
the kinetic energy in of the water jet breaks up the water in small water droplets
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is characterized by consisting of a body (1) with a central cavity (2) having an open inlet-port (3), and one or multiple cylindrical shaped cavities (4i), which are connected to the central cavity via one or 5 more openings (5i) with cross section areas less that the cylindrical cavity (4i), and where there is one centrally located opening (6i) in the cylindrical cavity end surfaces opposite the openings (5i) into the central cavity (2).