Image of clogi-resistant atomizer

Induced-Cooling Pneumatic Atomizer

In existing commercially available atomizing nozzles, the atomizing gas dries up the liquid inside the nozzle and contributes to nozzle clogging. This problem is exacerbated in the case of the aerosol sealant injector because the atomizing gas is heated in order to dry the spray most efficiently. The key innovation of this atomizing nozzle is to use the high velocity of the heated gas efflux to induce a layer of ambient-temperature air around the tube containing the liquid to be atomized, thus minimizing heat transfer from the heated gas to the sealant. The following is a list of other features of the atomizer.

Tip View
Center orifice: liquid
Middle orifice: induced air
Outer orifice: heated gas
  • Gas cap and liquid cap are installed on a low thermal conductivity base that withstands high temperature of the heated atomizing air.
  • The liquid tube is straight, and with a constant cross section, throughout the region where any significant heat transfer is taking place. (Tests showed that changes in cross section and liquid flow direction in heated zone induces clogging.)
  • The large diameter of liquid tube reduces clogging.
  • The prototype is made of standard tube fittings.
  • Hand-tightened installation and the straight liquid tube make it easy to be serviced and replaced.
  • Alternatively, maybe it is enough to use low thermal conductivity material to replace the induced air path.
The atomizer is patented and available for licensing from LBNL Technology Transfer Department.
The Induced-Cooling Pneumatic Atomizer is used to generate aerosol sealant particles in the Mobile Aerosol-Sealant Injection System, the latest development of the aerosol duct sealing technology for large commercial buildings.

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Last Modified: February, 2003