Swirl Nozzle Direct Inlet Design for High-Pressure Atomization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swirl nozzles are not ideal for delivering small amounts of liquid under high pressure, as they are not robust enough to withstand pressure and do not produce fine droplets effectively, leading to issues with bacterial growth and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A swirl nozzle design without a vortex chamber, featuring inlet channels that open directly or tangentially into the outlet channel, and a filter structure with smaller cross-sections to prevent particle blockage, allowing for compact, robust construction and fine atomization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a vortex chamber is used in the nozzle design, then the nozzle can deliver liquid, but the construction becomes complex and the nozzle is not robust enough for high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the vortex chamber from the nozzle design, extracting the problematic component that caused complexity and weak pressure resistance. The inlet channels now open directly into the outlet channel without requiring a separate vortex chamber, simplifying the construction while maintaining swirl flow functionality through the tangential opening configuration.
2Quantity of substance
If the nozzle is designed to deliver small amounts of liquid, then the droplet size can be reduced, but the nozzle becomes more susceptible to particle blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a filter structure upstream of the inlet channels that performs preliminary filtration of the liquid before it enters the narrow outlet channel. This prevents particles from reaching the critical small-diameter outlet channel where they could cause blockage, thereby maintaining operational reliability while still enabling small liquid delivery amounts and fine droplet production.
3Manufacturing precision
If the outlet channel has a small diameter for fine atomization, then droplet size is reduced, but the nozzle becomes more sensitive to particle blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The filter structure acts as an intermediary element between the liquid supply and the small-diameter outlet channel. It captures and removes particles before they can reach the precision outlet channel, protecting the finely dimensioned outlet from blockage while allowing the outlet channel to maintain its small diameter for fine atomization and precise droplet size control.
4Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle operates at high pressure for fine atomization, then droplet fineness is improved, but the risk of contamination and bacterial growth increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter structure performs preliminary purification of the liquid before it enters the high-pressure atomization zone. By removing particles and potential contaminants upstream, the system reduces the risk of bacterial growth and contamination that could be exacerbated by high-pressure operation, while still achieving fine atomization through the optimized inlet channel configuration.
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 the delivery of small amounts of liquid with high operational reliability, producing a conical aerosol with fine droplets, reducing bacterial growth and contamination risks, and withstanding high pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The inlet channels (2) are arranged to communicate with the outlet channel (3) directly or tangentially so that a vortex or turbulence is formed directly in the outlet channel (3)
Implementation Method 2
The inlet channels (2) open directly or tangentially into the outlet channel (3), allowing for compact, robust construction and fine atomization
Implementation Method 3
a filter structure with smaller cross-sections to prevent particle blockage
Implementation Method 4
allowing for compact, robust construction and fine atomization... withstanding high pressures
Implementation Method 5
a vortex or turbulence is formed directly in the outlet channel (3)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A swirl nozzle having a plurality of inlet channels (2) and an outlet channel (3) extending transversely thereto, a use of the swirl nozzle and methods of producing the swirl nozzle are proposed. A simple, compact construction and easy manufacture are made possible by the fact that the inlet channels open directly and/or tangentially into the outlet channel. Alternatively or additionally, upstream of the inlet channels is provided a filter structure having smaller flow cross-sections than the inlet channels. The swirl nozzle is used in particular for atomising a liquid medicament formulation. The swirl nozzle is produced from two plate-shaped components, the outlet channel first being etched as a blind bore in one component and then opened up by grinding the component away. Alternatively or additionally, the outlet channel is formed in a different component from the inlet channels.