Atomizing nozzle device, atomized fluid and use of the same

Abstract

The invention relates to a new atomizing device with improved droplet formation. Smaller droplets are formed with increased micronized volume throughput, wherein high volumes of air are fed to a liquid sprayed from a liquid nozzle. High volume ratios result in mean free path between droplets being conveyed so as to minimize collisions and to prevent aggregation of the droplet.

1 . A process for spraying a liquid an atomizing device comprising the steps of:
 (i) introducing the liquid into the atomizing device comprising (a) an atomizer nozzle tip configured to spray atomized liquid, wherein the atomizer nozzle tip has an entrance, (b) a liquid nozzle configured to create a full or a hollow cone spray, (c) a central lance tube connected to the liquid nozzle, (d) a liquid inlet configured to feed liquid to the central lance tube, (e) an air transition cone disposed at the entrance of the atomizer nozzle tip and integral with the atomizer nozzle tip, wherein the air transition cone surrounds in a circular manner the liquid nozzle and defines a co-current ring between the air transition cone and the liquid nozzle for receiving gas, (f) a housing having (i) a converging air header, and (ii) at least one air inlet for supplying gas as a co-current ring around the liquid nozzle between the liquid nozzle and the air transition cone, and (g) a high shear zone disposed at the entrance of the atomizer nozzle tip, wherein droplets from the liquid nozzle converge with gas from the converging air header at a volume ratio of gas to liquid sprayed from the liquid nozzle of 100:1 to 8000:1, and wherein the position of the liquid nozzle is configured to be adjustable from within to out of the air transition cone toward the atomizer nozzle tip; and   (ii) spraying the liquid in a form of droplets through the atomizer nozzle tip by providing gas through the at least one air inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas provided via the at least one air inlet, is fed in volumes of from 0.0003 m 3 /min to 20 m 3 /min, at a pressure from 0.01 bar to 6 bars. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is provided via the lance tube at a flow rate of from 0.05 l/min to 5 l/min. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas provided by the at least one air inlet is air, nitrogen, a noble gas, hot vapour, steam or any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid provided via the lance tube is a liquid, a liquid mixture, a suspension, a dispersion or an emulsion. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid provided via the lance tube is a mineral matter suspension or a mineral matter dispersion. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the mineral matter is selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth carbonates, alkaline earth hydroxides, alkaline earth oxides, fly ash, natural ground calcium carbonate (GCC), precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), surface modified calcium carbonate, dolomite, a mixed carbonate based filler, talc, mica, clay, titanium dioxide, bentonite, magnesite, satin white, sepiolite, huntite, diatomite, a silicate, and any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a crop protectant, a plant protectant, a fertilizer or a fire extinguishing agent. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer nozzle tip and the air transition cone are connected with each other. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer nozzle tip connected with the air transition cone are reversibly connected to the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer device further comprises a transition element at the end of the atomizer nozzle tip. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid nozzle and the central lance tube are movable forward and backward inside the air transition cone. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises two movable overlapping parts that slide relative to each other, where one housing part comprises the atomizer nozzle tip connected to the air transition cone, and the other housing part is connected to the central lance tube and the air inlet, such that the liquid nozzle and the central lance tube are movable forward and backward inside the air transition cone. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer nozzle tip is connected to the air transition cone on a mounting device. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 14 , wherein the mounting device is a nozzle tip mounting flange. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizing device further comprises one or more spacing plates disposed between the atomizer nozzle tip and the central lance tube. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizing device further comprises a diffuser plate disposed between the air transition cone and the at least one air inlet. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the air transition cone has an opening angle from 0° to 180°. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer tip has a diameter and the housing has a diameter, and the ratio of the diameters of the atomizer nozzle tip and the housing are from 1:1 to 1:10. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer tip has a diameter and the housing has a diameter, and ratio of the diameters of the atomizer nozzle tip and the housing are from 1:1 to 1:4. 
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer nozzle tip has a length to diameter ratio of from about 50:1 to about 0.5:1. 
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer nozzle tip has a length to diameter ratio of from about 15:1 to about 5:1. 
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer nozzle tip has an angular offset of 180° to 90°. 
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the atomizing device further comprises a mixing chamber that is disposed between the central lance tube and the liquid inlet. 
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 24 , wherein the mixing chamber is a static mixing device or a high shear mixing device.