Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
An Electrolysis Assisted Atomization Process
Categories for this Invention
Technology: Electrolysis assisted atomization process;
Industry & Application: spray combustion in furnaces, gas turbines, diesel engines, rockets & etc.
Market: The global industrial atomizer market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period (2024-31).
Image Gallery
Problem Statement
- The transformation of assisted bulk liquid into sprays & other physical dispersions in a gaseous atmosphere has penetrated almost every industry and household.
- Dissolved gas atomization involves dissolved gas coming out of the solution to form bubbles. Injecting even small quantities of gas at supercritical temperatures showed significant effect. However, several problems such as dissolution of gas in the liquid & low bubble growth rate limited the practical application of such systems including other issues.
- Hence, there is a need to address the problems in efficient manner.
Technology
- Present patent describes a process for atomization of liquid and sprays in an electrolysis assisted atomization.
- The instant invention uses the principle of electrolysis to produce gas required for effervescent atomization.
- This process involves effervescent assistance and associated electrolysis assistance for breaking the liquid surface into droplets.
- The electrolysis process produces gases in the form of tiny bubbles that participate in the atomization process as the effervescent medium.
The atomization process of a liquid comprises the steps of
(i)effervescent assistance step that comprises of using liquid to be atomized itself as an electrolysis solution contained in an atomizer chamber to form a bubbly two‐phase as a source of effervescent gas; and
(ii)associated electrolysis assistance step, for breaking the liquid surface into droplets, characterized in not using external effervescent gas source, and the electrolysis assistance step also comprises of partitioning the said atomizer chamber into a flow portion and a bubble generation portion.
Key Features / Value Proposition
- Good atomization can be achieved at lower injection pressures significantly lower than other atomizers.
- Smaller drop sizes are produced at any given pressure as compared to other methods.
- Gas flow rates required are less than those of twin fluid atomizers.
- There is an enhancement in performance of the effervescent atomizers with large size orifices which alleviate problems of clogging & maintenance.
- The electrolysis process is advantageous to produce gases in the form of tiny bubbles that participate in the atomization process as the effervescent medium.
- A spray, highly atomized would have greater droplet density resulting in lower intensity ratios.
Utility:
- Atomizers & sprays range from combustion – spray combustion in furnaces, gas turbines, diesel engines & rockets;
- Process Industries – spray drying evaporative cooling, powdered metallurgy, spray painting;
- Agriculture – crop spraying; and
- Other applications in medicine & meteorology.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact For Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. K Srinivasan;
Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula
Department of Applied Mechanics & Biomedical Engg.
National Centre for Combustion Research & Development
Intellectual Property
IITM IDF Ref. 956;
IN Patent No. 372416
Technology Readiness Level
TRL-4
Technology validated in Lab