Mist Generator Nozzle Mixing Chamber Uniform Droplet Size
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water mist fire suppression systems require high pressure to generate water droplets, leading to short run times, limited reach, and a wide range of droplet sizes, which reduces effectiveness and increases damage.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a mixing chamber and nozzles that introduce transport and working fluids at specific angles and flow patterns to create a dispersed vapour/droplet flow regime, producing a mist with predominantly uniform droplet sizes less than 50 μm, enhancing fire suppression efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high pressure is used to force water through injection nozzles to generate water mist, then the water mist can be formed, but the run time of the system is limited and the droplet size range becomes wide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a gas-pressurised tank to provide pressurised water for mist generation. The gas pressure (typically 20 bar or greater) forces the water through the injection nozzles, creating the water mist without requiring mechanical pumps or complex high-pressure delivery systems. This pneumatic approach simplifies the system while maintaining effective mist formation.
2Quantity of substance
If high pressure and small nozzle orifices are used to generate water mist, then the mist can be formed, but the water mist does not have long reach and droplet coalescence occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical high-pressure nozzle systems with a gas-pressurised tank system. This substitution allows for more controlled water delivery, reducing the mechanical stress and turbulence that cause droplet coalescence and limiting the mist reach. The gas pressure provides a more gradual and controlled force, enabling better droplet dispersion over longer distances.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional high pressure nozzles are used to create water droplet mist, then the mist can be generated, but the droplet size range becomes wide with insufficient uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using gas pressure (20 bar or greater) instead of mechanical high pressure, and by adjusting the nozzle orifice sizes and angles. These parameter changes result in a more uniform droplet size distribution, with the gas pressure providing a more consistent and controllable force that creates narrower droplet size ranges while maintaining effective mist generation.
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 system generates a mist with a high percentage of droplets in the optimal size range, improving fire suppression by increasing the surface area and mass of droplets, allowing them to penetrate deeper into the fire and reduce damage, while being more efficient in water usage and less damaging to surroundings.
Implementation Method 1
interaction of the transport fluid and working fluid in the mixing chamber causes the working fluid to atomise and form a dispersed vapour/droplet flow regime
Implementation Method 2
interaction of the transport fluid and working fluid in the mixing chamber causes the working fluid to atomise
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for generating a mist comprising a conduit having a mixing chamber and an exit; a transport nozzle in fluid communication with the said conduit, the transport nozzle being adapted to introduce a transport fluid into the mixing chamber; a working nozzle positioned adjacent the transport nozzle intermediate the transport nozzle and the exit, the working nozzle being adapted to introduce a working fluid into the mixing chamber; the transport and working nozzles having an angular orientation and internal geometry such that in use interaction of the transport fluid and working fluid in the mixing chamber causes the working fluid to atomize and form a dispersed vapor/droplet flow regime, which is discharged as a mist from the exit, the mist comprising working fluid droplets having a substantially uniform size.