Mist generating apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9931648-B2
Application number	US-201414274311-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2014
Priority date	Sep 15, 2006
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

Apparati for generating a mist are disclosed. One apparatus is disclosed, which has an elongate hollow body ( 12 ) and an elongate member ( 14 ) located within the body ( 12 ). A transport fluid passage ( 16 ) and a nozzle ( 32 ) are defined between the body ( 12 ) and the elongate member ( 14 ). The transport fluid passage ( 16 ) has a throat portion of reduced cross-sectional area and is in fluid communication with the nozzle ( 32 ). The elongate member ( 14 ) includes a working fluid passage ( 26 ) and one or more communicating openings, such as for example, bores, annuli, and combinations thereof, ( 30 ) extending radially outward from the working fluid passage ( 26 ). The openings ( 30 ) permit a working fluid (e.g. water) to be passed into the transport fluid passage ( 16 ), whereupon the working fluid is subjected to shear forces by a high velocity transport fluid (e.g. steam). The shearing of the working fluid results in the generation of a mist formed from droplets of substantially uniform size. Methods of generating a mist using such apparati are also disclosed. Also provided are mists for fire suppression produced using an apparatus disclosed herein, as well as fire suppression systems that include any of the apparati disclosed herein. Further provided are devices, methods, and mists for various other applications including turbine cooling and decontamination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for generating a mist, comprising:
a) an elongate hollow body; and
b) an elongate member located within the body such that a first transport fluid passage and a nozzle are defined between the body and the elongate member, the first transport fluid passage having a convergent-divergent internal geometry and being in fluid communication with the nozzle, wherein the elongate member includes a working fluid passage and one or more communicating openings extending radially outwardly from the working fluid passage, the openings allowing fluid communication between the working fluid passage and the first transport fluid passage;
wherein the nozzle is annular;
wherein a first end of the elongate member has a cone-shaped projection that tapers in a direction of flow of transport fluid flow through the first transport fluid passage and is downstream of the one or more communicating openings;
wherein the working fluid passage comprises a passage along a longitudinal axis of the elongate member; wherein the passage comprises a blind cavity in the elongate member; and
wherein the one or more communication openings being in the divergent internal geometry of the first transport fluid passage to allow fluid communication between the working fluid passage and the first transport fluid passage within the divergent internal geometry of the first transport fluid passage; and
wherein the body has an internal wall having an upstream convergent portion and a downstream divergent portion, the convergent and divergent portions at least in part forming the convergent-divergent internal geometry of the first transport fluid passage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more communicating openings are independently selected from the group consisting of communicating bores, communicating annuli, and combinations thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more communicating openings have an inlet connected to the working fluid passage and an outlet connected to the first transport fluid passage, the outlet having a greater cross-sectional area than the inlet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is defined between the divergent portion of the internal wall and the cone-shaped projection.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the cone-shaped projection has a portion having an inclined surface rising from the surface of the cone.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the elongate member further includes a second transport fluid passage having an outlet adjacent the tip of the cone-shaped projection.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second transport fluid passage includes an expansion chamber.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the communicating openings allowing communication between the working fluid passage and the first transport fluid passage are first openings, and the body includes a second working fluid passage and one or more second communicating openings allowing fluid communication between the second working fluid passage and the first transport fluid passage, wherein the second working fluid passage is located radially outward of the first working fluid passage and the first transport fluid passage.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate member further includes:
a) a second transport fluid passage located radially outward of the working fluid passage;
b) one or more first communicating openings extending radially outward from the working fluid passage, the first communicating openings allowing fluid communication between the working fluid passage and the second transport fluid passage; and
c) one or more second communicating openings extending radially outward from the second transport fluid passage, the second communicating openings allowing fluid communication between the second transport fluid passage and the first transport fluid passage,
wherein the first and second communicating openings are substantially perpendicular to the second and first transport fluid passages, respectively.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first transport fluid passage communicates with the nozzle via an outlet and a second transport fluid passage in fluid communication with the outlet, wherein the second transport fluid passage has a convergent-divergent internal geometry.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a mixing chamber located between the first transport fluid passage and the nozzle, and a second transport fluid passage in communication with the mixing chamber and the first transport fluid passage, wherein the second transport fluid passage is adapted to supply transport fluid to the mixing chamber in a direction of flow substantially opposed to a direction of flow of transport fluid from the first transport fluid passage.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more communicating openings are one or more communicating bores.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more communicating openings are substantially perpendicular to the first transport fluid passage.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second communicating openings are substantially perpendicular to the first transport fluid passage.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first and second communicating openings are co-axial.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first transport fluid passage communicates with the nozzle via an outlet and a second transport fluid passage in fluid communication with the outlet, wherein the second transport fluid passage has a convergent-divergent internal geometry and is substantially perpendicular to the first transport fluid passage.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a mixing chamber located between the first transport fluid passage and the nozzle, and a second transport fluid passage in communication with the mixing chamber and the first transport fluid passage, wherein the second transport fluid passage is adapted to supply transport fluid to the mixing chamber in a direction of flow substantially opposed to a direction of flow of transport fluid from the first transport fluid passage.

18. A method of generating a mist with an apparatus for generating mist, the apparatus having:
(a) an elongate hollow body; and
(b) an elongate member located within the body such that a first transport fluid passage and a nozzle are defined between the body and the elongate member, the first transport fluid passage having a convergent-divergent internal geometry and being in fluid communication with the nozzle,
wherein the elongate member includes a working fluid passage and one or more communicating openings extending radially outwardly from the working fluid passage, the openings being in the divergent internal geometry of the first transport fluid passage and allowing fluid communication between the working fluid passage and the first transport fluid passage, and
wherein the body has an internal wall having an upstream convergent portion and a downstream divergent portion, the convergent and divergent portions at least in part forming the convergent-divergent internal geometry of the first transport fluid passage,
the method comprising the steps of:
a) supplying a working fluid through a working fluid passage;
b) supplying a first transport fluid through a first transport fluid passage;
c) forcing the working fluid from a blind cavity of the working fluid passage into the divergent internal geometry of the first transport fluid passage via one or more communicating openings extending radially outward from the working fluid passa

Assignees

• Tyco Fire & Security Gmbh

Inventors

• Fenton Marcus Brian Mayhall
• Wallis Alexander Guy

Classifications

• B05B7/0458

  the gas and liquid flows being perpendicular just upstream the mixing chamber · CPC title

• B05B7/0466

  with means for deflecting the central liquid flow towards the peripheral gas flow · CPC title

• B05B7/0433

  with one inner conduit of gas surrounded by an external conduit of liquid upstream the mixing chamber · CPC title

• B05B1/02 Primary

  designed to produce a jet, spray, or other discharge of particular shape or nature, e.g. in single drops, {or having an outlet of particular shape}(B05B1/26, B05B1/28, B05B1/34 take precedence) · CPC title

• A62C99/0072

  using sprayed or atomised water · CPC title