Field of the disclosure

The disclosure relates to an injection nozzle for mixing and/or dissolving various ingredients such as gas, liquid, and/or powder.

Background

An injection nozzle can be used as a mixer and/or dissolver in many applications such as for example treatment of various kinds of water such as e.g. fresh water and waste water, mixing and/or dissolving ingredients, and forming a composition of air and fuel for combustion. An injection nozzle for purposes of the kind mentioned above comprises typically a nozzle head for a main flow and an outlet tube surrounding the nozzle head, wherein a wall of the outlet tube comprises at least one opening for passing a side flow subject to a suction effect caused by the main flow. The nozzle head is shaped to constitute a main channel for the main flow, and an outer surface of the nozzle head constitutes, together with an inner surface of the outlet tube, a side channel for the side flow. The main flow and the side flow get in contact with each other when the main flow exits the nozzle head.

A known injection nozzle comprises a conical nozzle head where a circular cross- sectional flow area of the main channel decreases towards an end of the nozzle head. In this exemplifying case, the main flow that exits the nozzle head is surrounded in a substantially rotationally symmetric way by the side flow and mixing between the main flow and the side flow takes place on a boundary region between the main flow and the side flow. When designing an injection nozzle for purposes of the kind mentioned above, typical design targets are to maximize the suction effect caused by the main flow, to provide an efficient conversion from inlet pressure to kinetic energy of the main flow and the side flow, and to achieve an effective mixing between the main flow and the side flow. In view of the above-mentioned design targets, there is still a need for new designs of injection nozzles that can be used, for example but not necessarily, as mixers and/or dissolvers.

Summary The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some embodiments of the invention. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention.

In this document, the word“geometric” when used as a prefix means a geometric concept that is not necessarily a part of any physical object. The geometric concept can be for example a geometric point, a straight or curved geometric line, a geometric plane, a non-planar geometric surface, a geometric space, or any other geometric entity that is zero, one, two, or three dimensional.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a new injection nozzle that can be used, for example but not necessarily, as a mixer and/or dissolver in many applications such as treatment of various kinds of water such as e.g. fresh water and waste water, mixing and/or dissolving ingredients, and forming a composition of air and fuel for combustion.

An injection nozzle according to the invention comprises:

- a nozzle head for a main flow, and

- an outlet tube surrounding the nozzle head.

A wall of the outlet tube comprises at least one opening for passing a side flow subject to a suction effect caused by the main flow. The nozzle head is shaped to constitute two or more main channels for the main flow and an outer surface of the nozzle head constitutes, together with an inner surface of the outlet tube, one or more side channels for the side flow so that a cross-sectional flow area of the nozzle head decreases towards an end of the nozzle head at which the main flow exits the nozzle head and each side channel is at least partly between adjacent ones of the main channels.

The above-mentioned multichannel arrangement where there are two or more main channels and each side channel is at least partly between adjacent ones of the main channels provides an efficient suction effect and an efficient mixing of ingredients of the main flow and the side flow. The main channels and the one or more side channels are advantageously shaped to be smooth without any cross structures and/or holes, in which case losses remain low and an effective conversion from inlet pressure to kinetic energy of the main flow and the side flow is achieved.

Exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments are described in accompanied dependent claims.

Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The verbs“to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in the accompanied dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of“a” or“an”, i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does as such not exclude a plurality.

Brief description of the figures

Exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments and their advantages are explained in greater details below in the sense of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figures 1 a and 1 b illustrate an injection nozzle according to an exemplifying and non limiting embodiment, figures 2a and 2b illustrate an injection nozzle according to another exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, and figures 3, 4, and 5 illustrate injection nozzles according to exemplifying and non limiting embodiments.

Description of exemplifying embodiments

The specific examples provided in the description below should not be construed as limiting the scope and/or the applicability of the accompanied claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Figures 1 a and 1 b illustrate an injection nozzle according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment. The injection nozzle comprises a nozzle head 101 for a main flow and an outlet tube 102 surrounding the nozzle head. In figures 1 a and 1 b, the outlet tube 102 is presented as a section view where the geometric section plane is parallel with the yz-plane of a coordinate system 199. Figure 1 a shows also a view of a section taken along a line A-A that is near to the end of the nozzle head 101 . The geometric section plane related to the section A-A is parallel with the xy-plane of the coordinate system 199. A wall of the outlet tube comprises openings 103 for passing a side flow subject to a suction effect caused by the main flow. In figures 1 a and 1 b, the main flow is depicted with arrows 121 and the side flow is depicted with arrows 122. The nozzle head 101 is shaped to constitute two main channels 104 and 105 for the main flow and an outer surface of the nozzle head 101 constitutes, together with an inner surface of the outlet tube 102, two side channels 108 and 109 for the side flow so that a cross-sectional flow area of the nozzle head decreases towards the end of the nozzle head at which the main flow exits the nozzle head 101 . As shown by the section view A-A, each of the side channels 108 and 109 is at least partly between the main channels 104 and 105. The main channels 104 and 105 accelerate the main flow and create suction in the side channels 108 and 109. Forms of the main and side channels are advantageously smooth and there are no obstacles crossing the main and side flows in which dirt might stick. The nozzle head 101 can be made of e.g. metal or plastic. The metal can be e.g. steel. Correspondingly, the outlet tube 102 can be made of e.g. metal such as steel, or plastic.

As illustrated in figure 1 a, each side channel 108 and 109 is formed by a longitudinal groove on the outer surface of the nozzle head 101 where the depth of the groove increases towards the end of the nozzle head. In this exemplifying case, the wall of the nozzle head 101 has a constant thickness and therefore each longitudinal groove on the outer surface of the nozzle head 101 corresponds to a longitudinal ridge on the inner surface of the nozzle head 101 . In the section view A-A, the longitudinal ridges are depicted with references 1 12 and 1 13. In this exemplifying case, the tops of the ridges 1 12 and 1 13 are in contact with each other so that the cross-sectional areas of the main channels 104 and 105 are separate from each other at the end of the nozzle head 101 .

In the exemplifying injection nozzle illustrated in figures 1 a and 1 b, at least the part of the outlet tube 102 that surrounds the nozzle head 101 is cylindrical and the nozzle head 101 comprises a cylindrical first part 1 14 whose outer surface is fit to the inner surface of the outlet tube 102. The first part 1 14 of the nozzle head 101 precedes, in a flow direction of the main and side flows, a second part 1 15 that is shaped to constitute the above-mentioned main channels 104 and 105. In this exemplifying case, the first part 1 14 of the nozzle head 101 and the outlet tube 102 have circular cross-sectional shapes but it is also possible to have non-circular cross-sectional shapes. The injection nozzle further comprises a thread fitting 120 for connecting the injection nozzle to a supply tube. The supply tube is not shown in figures 1 a and 1 b. Instead of the thread fitting 120, an injection nozzle according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment may comprise a cylinder fitting, a flange fitting, or some other suitable mechanism for connecting to a supply tube. The invention is not limited to any specific connection mechanisms between an injection nozzle and a supply tube.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate an injection nozzle according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment. The injection nozzle comprises a nozzle head 201 for a main flow and an outlet tube 202 surrounding the nozzle head 201 . In figure 2a, the outlet tube 202 is presented as a section view where the geometric section plane is parallel with the yz-plane of a coordinate system 299. Figure 2b shows a part of the nozzle head 201 and a view of a section taken along a line A-A that is near to the end of the nozzle head 201 . The geometric section plane related to the section A-A is parallel with the xy-plane of the coordinate system 299. A wall of the outlet tube comprises openings 203 for passing a side flow subject to a suction effect caused by the main flow. In figure 2a, the main flow is depicted with an arrow 221 and the side flow is depicted with arrows 222. The nozzle head 201 is shaped to constitute two main channels 204 and 205 for the main flow and an outer surface of the nozzle head 201 constitutes, together with an inner surface of the outlet tube 202, two side channels 208 and 209 for the side flow so that a cross-sectional flow area of the nozzle head decreases towards the end of the nozzle head 201 at which the main flow exits the nozzle head 201 . As shown by the section view A-A, each of the side channels 208 and 209 is at least partly between the main channels 204 and 205. The nozzle head 201 can be made of e.g. metal or plastic. The metal can be e.g. steel. Correspondingly, the outlet tube 202 can be made of e.g. metal such as steel, or plastic.

In the exemplifying injection nozzle illustrated in figures 2a and 2b, the nozzle head 201 comprises a conical first part 216 tapering in a flow direction of the main and side flows. The first part 216 of the nozzle head 201 precedes, in the flow direction of the main and side flows, a second part 217 that is shaped to constitute the above- mentioned main channels 204 and 205. The outlet tube 202 comprises a first conical part 218 tapering in the flow direction of the main and side flows and surrounding at least a part of the nozzle head 201 . The outlet tube 202 comprises a second conical part 219 broadening in the flow direction of the main and side flows and constituting an end of the injection nozzle at which the main and side flows exit the injection nozzle.

Figures 3, 4, and 5 show cross-sections of injection nozzles according to exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments. The geometric section planes are parallel with the xy-planes of coordinate systems 399, 499, and 599. Each cross- section is taken near to the end of the nozzle head of the injection nozzle under consideration. The exemplifying injection nozzle illustrated in figure 3 comprises two main channels 304 and 305 and one side channel 308. In the exemplifying injection nozzles illustrated in figures 4 and 5, there are as many side channels as main channels and each main channel is at least partly between adjacent ones of the side channels.

The injection nozzle illustrated in figure 4 comprises three main channels 404, 405, and 406, and three side channels 408, 409, and 410. The injection nozzle illustrated in figure 5 comprises four main channels 504, 505, 506, and 507, and four side channels 508, 509, 510, and 511. In the exemplifying injection nozzles illustrated in figures 3, 4, and 5, each side channel is formed by a longitudinal groove on the outer surface of the nozzle head so that the depth of the groove increases towards the end of the nozzle head. The wall of the nozzle head has a constant thickness and therefore each longitudinal groove on the outer surface of the nozzle head corresponds to a longitudinal ridge on the inner surface of the nozzle head. In the exemplifying injection nozzles illustrated in figures 4 and 5, the top of each ridge is free from contacts with a part of the inner surface of the nozzle head opposite to the ridge so that the cross-sectional areas of the main channels join each other as shown in figures 4 and 5.

A multi-channel injection nozzle of the kind described above divides a main flow into the main channels and accelerate the divided flows smoothly. Pressure in a supply tube is converted to kinetic energy that creates a vacuum and further, an efficient suction and cavitation in the nozzle zone. The ingredients to be mixed and/or dissolved with the fluid of the main flow are fed through the side channels by the suction. External energy can be used if needed for the ingredients feed. The fluid of the main flow can be liquid or gas. Ingredients to be mixed and dissolved in the fluid can be liquid, gas, or powder, or a mixture of these. The above-mentioned cavitation breaks molecular and ionic structures and activates chemical reactions in the mixture. The cavitation can split the liquid in to liquid drops in the nozzle zone that improves diffusion of soluble ingredients.

Exemplifying applications and advantages of multi-channel injection nozzles of the kind described above are shortly described below:

Water aeration: Aeration efficiency is high due to functions of vacuum, cavitation, and air suction powered by kinetic energy of the flow. Saturation of air gases has been achieved within treatment of few seconds in the brief tests. Energy consumption is little compared with typical prior art technologies. In flowing waters like rivers and water piping, the aeration can be executed without additional energy. Further, the air is sucked out of the water surface that ensures clear air dissolving and avoids dissolution of reaction and bio gases back into the water as many recent aerators do.

Gas dissolving: Dissolving is fast and efficiency high, and energy consumption low for soluble gases like oxygen, ozone, carbon oxide, nitrogen etc. A multi-channel injection nozzle ensures even dissolving of the treated liquid. This is a very important feature in industrial water treatment and disinfection in general. Bacteria can be killed by the treatment, and energy and ozone can be saved. Mixing air and fuel:

A multi-channel injection nozzle of the kind described above can suck and mix air evenly in fuel. Further, the multi-channel injection nozzle can create a mixture of air and fuel drops.

Disinfection of fluids: Bacteria and viruses can be killed in water by ozone feed or suction due to even mixing feature of a multi-channel injection nozzle of the kind described above

Flotation processes:

A multi-channel injection nozzle of the kind described above improves flotation processes due to its high performance and even gas suction, mixing, and dissolving. The liquid to be treated by flotation can be led through the multi-channel injection nozzle in total, pretreated with desirable chemicals and feed air in it to create bubbles for the flotation separation. The multi-channel injection nozzle ensures separation efficiency and low energy consumption by the continuous treatment and separation without stopping the flow.

Water treatment at homes:

A multi-channel injection nozzle of the kind described above can be integrated in household water supply systems like taps and showers to enrich the water with clear air.

The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting. Therefore, the invention is not limited merely to the exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments described above. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.