Nozzle for Spraying Liquid Polymer Preparations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for spraying water-soluble or water-swellable polymers, such as polyacrylamides, face challenges including high water consumption, jet coalescence, and difficulty in mixing with incompatible substances, leading to inefficient application and clogging issues with existing nozzles.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle design featuring two chambers with secant or concentric through-holes and a deflector that allows for the mixing of two liquids after they come into contact, reducing the need for extensive dilution and minimizing energy consumption, while enabling the simultaneous spraying of polymers with other substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If concentrated polymer solutions are sprayed using standard agricultural nozzles, then water consumption is reduced, but jet coalescence occurs and spraying efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into multiple independent spray outlets (e.g., 3-5 nozzles) arranged in a specific pattern. Each nozzle sprays a separate jet that remains independent until reaching the target surface, preventing coalescence while maintaining concentrated solution delivery. This segmentation allows the system to spray concentrated polymer solutions without the jets merging mid-flight.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray outlets are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration rather than a simple linear array. The outlets are positioned at different heights and angles, creating jets that travel along different spatial paths. This dimensional arrangement prevents jet interference and coalescence while delivering concentrated solution to the target area.
2Reliability
If spray pressure is increased to prevent jet coalescence, then spraying reliability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the spray into multiple independent jets, each jet can be delivered at lower pressure without coalescing. The segmentation reduces the required pressure compared to a single high-pressure jet, as the distributed outlets naturally space the jets apart and prevent interference at lower energy inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-dimensional arrangement of outlets creates spatial separation between jets, allowing them to reach the target at lower pressures. The dimensional configuration ensures jets follow divergent paths that reduce interference, enabling reliable spraying without the high energy consumption associated with pressurized single-jet systems.
3Productivity
If nozzle outlets are positioned closer together to increase coverage width, then productivity improves, but jet coalescence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlets are arranged in a three-dimensional pattern with varying heights and angles rather than a simple close-spaced linear arrangement. This dimensional configuration allows outlets to be positioned closer in terms of horizontal coverage while maintaining vertical and angular separation that prevents jet coalescence, thus achieving both wide coverage and jet stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle outlets are positioned asymmetrically with different orientations and angles relative to the spray direction. This asymmetric arrangement creates divergent jet paths that spread coverage width while preventing parallel jet interference. The asymmetric configuration allows closer outlet spacing without proportionally increasing coalescence risk.
4Device complexity
If standard nozzles are used for spraying concentrated solutions, then device complexity is minimized, but clogging of narrow orifices occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle uses multiple outlets with relatively large individual cross-sections compared to a single narrow orifice. By distributing the flow through multiple segments, each outlet can have sufficient diameter to resist clogging from concentrated polymer solutions, while the overall device remains simple in structure.
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
Enables efficient spraying of concentrated polymer solutions over wider areas with reduced water usage and prevents clogging, allowing for effective application of polymers and cross-linking agents in agricultural and industrial settings.
Implementation Method 1
a deflector secured to the body arranged downstream from at least one of the through-holes, in the direction of flow of the first and second liquids, said deflector being capable of modifying the direction of flow of the first and second liquids
Implementation Method 2
The holes are in practice positioned in relation to one another so as to allow the mixture of the first and second liquids at the latest after they have come into contact with the deflector
Data Source
AI summary
A method for spraying a mixture comprising at least a first liquid in the form of a liquid preparation of water-soluble or water-swellable polymers and at least a second liquid, characterized in that it implements a nozzle for simultaneously spraying at least two liquids, comprising: •a body provided with a first chamber within which a first liquid flows and a second chamber within which a second liquid flows, each of the two chambers having a through-hole on the outside of the body, •a deflector secured to the body arranged downstream from at least one of the through-holes, in the direction of flow of the first and second liquids, said deflector being capable of modifying the direction of flow of the first and second liquids. The invention also relates to a nozzle for implementing the method.