Nebulizer Mixing Space for Multi-Liquid Aerosolization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nebulizer systems face challenges in efficiently mixing multiple liquids with different properties, leading to inadequate mixing and reduced nebulizing efficiency, which affects the accuracy of internal standard correction, standard addition, and hydride generation methods in analytical processes.
Innovation Solution
A nebulizer design featuring a membranous member with a gap between the sample outlets and capillary tubes, creating a mixing space where the nebulizing gas converts liquid samples into droplets and mixes them, with multiple holes allowing turbulent flow to enhance mixing efficiency, while maintaining optimal gas flow rates for aerosolization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple liquids are mixed in a merged tube with inner diameter 1 mm or less, then the tube structure is simple, but the Reynolds number falls below 2000 causing laminar flow and insufficient mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single merged tube into multiple separate capillaries (first capillary and second capillary) that remain independent throughout their length. Each capillary maintains its own liquid flow path, preventing laminar flow mixing issues while allowing turbulent flow in the expansion space. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural simplicity through separate parallel tubes rather than a complex merged tube design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from one-dimensional mixing (along the tube length) to three-dimensional mixing (in the expansion space). By expanding the liquid flows from narrow capillaries into a larger three-dimensional space where they interact with nebulizing gas, the system achieves thorough mixing without requiring complex tube geometries. This dimensional transition enables turbulent flow conditions and effective mixing while maintaining simple capillary structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gas flow rate per nebulizer is reduced to accommodate multiple nebulizers, then multiple liquids can be nebulized simultaneously, but the nebulizing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of multiple nebulizers into a single nebulization system. The first and second capillaries, which would otherwise require separate nebulizers, are combined into one nebulizer body with a shared expansion space and single nebulizing outlet. This allows multiple liquids to be nebulized simultaneously while maintaining optimal gas flow rate for efficient aerosol generation, resolving the contradiction between multi-liquid capability and nebulizing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The single nebulizer is designed to perform multiple functions: it nebulizes both the first liquid sample from the first capillary and the second liquid sample from the second capillary simultaneously. The expansion space serves as a universal mixing and aerosolization chamber that handles multiple liquid streams with a single gas supply, maintaining high nebulizing efficiency while providing versatile multi-liquid processing capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If liquids with different properties are mixed in laminar flow, then the flow is stable, but the substances are diffused only around the interface and cannot be mixed quantitatively
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the flow regime parameter from laminar to turbulent by expanding the liquid flows from narrow capillaries into a larger expansion space where they interact with nebulizing gas. This parameter change enables thorough mixing of liquids with different properties (viscosities, organic/aqueous) by creating turbulent flow conditions that promote quantitative mixing throughout the entire volume rather than limited interface diffusion, while the stable capillary feeds maintain consistent flow rates.
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
This design effectively mixes multiple liquids, maintains nebulizing efficiency, and ensures stable aerosolization of smaller droplets, improving the sensitivity and accuracy of analytical processes.
Implementation Method 1
a gas passing through the gas passage converts the first and second liquid samples flowing out of the sample outlets into droplets
Implementation Method 2
the gap forms mixing space in which a gas passing through the gas passage converts the first and second liquid samples flowing out of the sample outlets into droplets and mixes the droplets
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to mix multiple liquids sufficiently and then nebulize the mixed liquids while maintaining the nebulizing efficiency. A nebulizer includes a first inner tube disposed inside an outer tube and having therein a first sample passage through which a first liquid sample flows, a second inner tube disposed inside the outer tube in parallel with the first inner tube and having therein a second sample passage through which a second liquid sample flows, a membranous member disposed with a gap between the membranous member and sample outlets formed at respective ends of the inner tubes. The gap forms mixing space in which a gas passing through a gas passage converts the first and second liquid samples flowing out of the sample outlets into droplets and mixes the droplets and the membranous member has multiple holes through which the mixed liquid samples pass along with the gas.