Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
A Rotating Spindle Type Fluid Atomizer for Spray Atomization
Technology Category/ Market
Category – Fluid Atomization Technology
Applications –Gas turbine combustors, Oil-fired furnaces, Spray painting processes, Agriculture (fertilizer spray), Fire protection systems, Medicinal sprays.
Industry – Aerospace (Gas turbine combustors)
Energy, Automotive and Manufacturing, Agriculture,
Fire Safety and Protection, Fire Safety and Protection, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare (Medicinal sprays
Market – The global fluid power equipment market grew from $28.29 billion in 2022 to $30.81 billion in 2023 at a (CAGR) of 8.9%.
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Problem Statement
- Existing atomizers struggle to produce fine droplets at low injection pressures, impacting combustion efficiency and emission levels in applications like gas turbines, spray painting, and agriculture.
- Current atomizers lack the ability to precisely control droplet sizes and flow, particularly crucial in applications like agriculture and spray painting. The invention addresses these issues by enabling fine droplet production at low pressures while providing control over the droplet size range
Technology
Rotating Spindle Mechanism:
- Utilizes a rotating spindle, powered by an external source, to eliminate air core formation and create a thin swirling liquid film.
Tangential Velocity Impartation:
- The rotating spindle imparts a tangential velocity to the fluid, facilitating the generation of a swirling flow for thinner liquid sheets and finer droplets.
Vane-Induced Turbulence:
- Mounted vanes induce turbulence in the flow, aiding in the early breakup of droplets and enhancing atomization.
Serrated Divergence at Exit Pipe:
- Features serrated divergence at the exit pipe, introducing controlled disturbances for early liquid sheet breakup and smaller droplet formation.
Combined Swirl and Rotary Atomization:
- Integrates elements of both swirl and rotary atomizers, offering a compact design, fine atomization at lower pressures, and improved control over droplet size and dispersion.
Key Features/ Value Proposition
User Perspective:
- Efficiency Gains: Users benefit from improved combustion efficiency and emissions reduction due to the invention’s fine droplet production at lower injection pressures.
- Versatile Use: Users value the invention’s adaptability, offering controlled atomization for diverse applications in agriculture, spray painting, and pharmaceuticals.
Technical Perspective:
- Innovative Atomization: The rotating spindle, tangential velocity, and vane-induced turbulence provide an innovative solution for efficient fluid atomization.
- Integrated Technologies: The invention combines swirl and rotary atomization in a compact design, addressing technical challenges and enhancing drop size distribution at lower pressures.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Sundararajan T
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 1665
- IN 396309 (PATENT GRANTED)
Technology Readiness Level
TRL- 4
Technology validated in lab