FR2793169A1 - Spraying system for medium or high pressure liquid application, comprises central unit connected by low-pressure piping to pumps associated with higher pressure outlet nozzles - Google Patents

Abstract

The central module (2) contains all necessary controls and instrumentation for the distribution and pumping equipment, e.g. programming, valve operation, metering. The module also accommodates filtration and treatment units(1) and one or more low-pressure pumps (6) providing measured liquid flows, either plain water or particular solutions. The control panel itself is located at a separate point. Low-pressure pipework (3) runs with associated power and control cables from the module to compact local pump modules (4), each delivering liquid at pressures of 20-25 bars to a group of spray nozzles (5). The emergent spray or mist comprises droplets with dimensions ranging from 5-10 to 100-150 microns.

Description

 The present invention relates to a medium / high pressure device for water where any mixture of product and water depending on the applications in order to produce a mist, nebulize, spray, spray fine droplets of the order of 5 to 10 microns and up to 100-150 microns for professional, agricultural, industrial and commercial purposes.

 The current devices used to produce a mist or spray are essentially centered around 2 principles which consist of creating high or medium pressure in large quantities to allow the supply of the greatest number of nozzles / nozzles, or of mixing compressed air with water in suitable spray nozzles. Other methods also exist which are difficult to implement. To be efficient, they require a constraining technology, in particular high pressure, which imposes high performance and resistance accessories (valves, fittings, regulation, conduits, etc.) as well as special adapted and therefore expensive tools.

 The device according to the invention consists in creating a mist or any other spray at medium / high pressure in an extremely simpler and more economical manner than the previous methods by eliminating the circuits for conveying water at high / medium pressure in their all and by creating the high / medium pressure only near the points of dispersion of the mist by the different misting, spraying systems etc. All the other functions of the device, the controls, mixtures, circuits, piping to bring water to the dispersing points will be done at low pressure, allowing a simplification of techniques, equipment, accessories and consequently direct will considerably reduce manufacturing and installation costs.

The device according to the invention is characterized by a set of associated technologies which will allow the implementation in an industrial and professional manner as illustrated by the attached drawings which are not restrictive:
Figure 1/2-device with operating and control elements assembled in the same box with single or multiple outlets from the same place.

Figure 2/2-Device with operating and control elements arranged in different places to adapt to the specific needs of an installation with a general distribution of misting / spraying points near the sites to be treated.

With reference to these drawings, the device comprises: -A filtration and a water treatment (1) which will make it possible to condition the water so as not to foul or block the fog production or nebulization outputs in the first case use of water exclusively, and in a second case when water is mixed with products for various uses. This treatment will make it possible to obtain a water favorable to the contact of the active components of the products with water, to the transformation of the mixture into a mist or to nebulization and then to distribute these same active components in a homogeneous manner over the surfaces to be treated, or mix them with air or gases, whether stale or not, to neutralize odors or for any other reason. For this we will use a process which will act on the calcium and magnesium carbonates contained in the water, producing subnanic calcium forms by supersaturation of calcium ions. These forms will produce a substrate of very numerous and very light flake-type expanded crystals of octagonal shapes serving as a base for conveying the products to be used, increasing the contact surfaces at the level of the groups of molecules, decreasing the density of the bodies and thus delaying the speed of propagation, greatly improving their efficiency. The water thus treated will also consequently have an anti-scale, anti-corrosion and anti-algae effect protecting and cleaning the circuits continuously reducing considerably the maintenance interventions.

- A control and command device (2) which will allow combinations, adjustments, motor / pump operating timers, network selections, operation of solenoid valves and metering pumps when used and of all other functions and regulations.

-A network of pipes and conduits (3) bringing the water or the mixture at low pressure to the fog or nebulization points supplying the motors / pump, to which the electrical supplies are coupled.

 -A box / module (4) containing a very light and compact motor / pump operating at 220 or 24 volts capable of supplying up to 3 nozzles (5) at medium / high pressure, most commonly at 20- 25 bars, located as close as possible to the misting or nebulization points in order to avoid the drawbacks and difficulties of central creation of high pressure liquids far from the points of use.

These boxes / modules (4) are characterized by their small size, their lightness allowing them to be placed and supported at all places where the misting and nebulization points are themselves fixed. Their number will be determined by the needs of the facility. Their location near the points of application will also eliminate pressure head losses. In the case where certain applications require a concentration of more than 3 nozzles at the same point, or the application requires large
flow rates, 2 motors / pump (4) can be associated in the same box / module (4), their light weight and size allowing it without modification of the device. This allows all possible combinations without limit of power, size or distance.

The box / module (4) includes 1 motor which puts the water or the mixture at high / medium pressure which will supply up to 3 nozzles (5), an electrical supply and the medium / high pressure feeds at the misting points / nebulization which will be made in copper, stainless steel or medium / high pressure hoses at the end of which will be fixed the special nozzles.

- The nozzles (5) are models specially designed and manufactured to produce a very fine mist characterized by droplets of 5 to 15 microns under a pressure of 20 to 25 bars. These droplets are of identical quality to those produced by high pressures by other diffusers. These are, for example, necessary criteria for maximum profitability in very specific operating environments in order to humidify without wetting (dusting, humidification in greenhouses, neutralization of odors in ducts). In other applications, other definitions of droplets may be used of larger size, the choice of nozzles and of the operating pressure being made according to the quality of mist or nebulization required.

For certain other applications, standard nozzles can be used. This contributes to the great flexibility of adaptation of the device to all types of uses.

One or more metering pumps (6) are added to the device in the case of dispersion by means of the mist created from the most diverse liquid products for many applications. They are managed by the central control device (2) which will allow, through the use of solenoid valves and numerous timers
combinations of dilution percentage and operating hours.

The device according to the invention is characterized by the numerous possibilities of adaptation which it entails due to the creation of high / medium pressure near the points of dispersal without any particular constraint and allowing the creation of mist or nebulization identical to the systems so far used. It therefore has many general and particular applications:
In agriculture and horticulture, humidification and control of the environment in the greenhouse, dispersion of phytosanitary products, pesticides etc., protection against frost, cooling, conservation of fruits and vegetables, humidity and temperature control in livestock farming, outdoor air conditioning by humidification, mosquito protection, atmospheric and environmental control in an industrial environment, static electricity, dust, dispersion of products, humidification, cleaning and dispersion of products in ventilation ducts, odor treatment by mixing neutralizing products, diffusion perfumes, special effects, etc.

Claims (9)

 1) Device for producing fine water droplets in the form of a mist,  nebulization, spraying, or spraying, the dimensions of which may vary from 5  -15 microns up to 100-150 microns depending on the applications requested, characterized  by the use of small motor / pump assemblies (4) which can supply on average /  high pressure up to 3 nozzles / nozzles (5) which are light and compact  minimum and which will therefore be placed near the distribution points on the  same supports as the nozzles, requiring no installation or investment  additional.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that all the transport  of drinking water, that the settings and operating modes will be carried out  on low pressure networks, the high / medium pressure parts being reduced to  minimum, the pressure build-up being as close as possible to the points of application  of water dispersion or mixture in the form of a mist or spray.  3) Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that with water  used it can be mixed products selected for various applications which range  be proportioned by the use of one or more metering pumps (6) depending on the case,  can be controlled by the main process control both at the level of the  percentage of dilution only from time delay operation. Products that can  vary according to the use of the process in agriculture, industry, human comfort,  odor neutralization.  4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in  that the incoming water is treated according to a process (1) acting on the carbonates contained  in water, transforming them into constantly developing subnanic calcium forms  while lightening them thus multiplying the contact surface of the products used, favoring  their association and greatly increasing their effectiveness. The water thus treated  mixed with products or not, will have an anti-scale, anti-corrosion and anti-algae effect,  protecting and cleaning circuits, considerably reducing intervention  maintenance.  5) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its operation is fully automatic regulated by a programmable control unit (2) having several circuits, time clocks, solenoid valves and electrical operating controls motors / pumps and metering pumps.  6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized by the use of specially manufactured nozzles to create an extremely fine mist from 5 to 15 microns at a water pressure of 20-25 bars which are for example the necessary criteria d '' maximum efficiency in specific operating environments in order to humidify without wetting (dusting, humidification in greenhouses, neutralization of odors in ducts). In other applications, other definitions of droplets may be used of larger size, the choice of nozzles and of the pressure of  operation is carried out according to the quality of mist or nebulization requested. For certain other applications, standard nozzles can be used. This contributes to the great flexibility of adaptation of the device to all types of uses.  7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that if certain applications require a concentration of more than 3 nozzles at the same point, or if the application requires high flow, 2 motors / pumps can be associated in the same module / box, their low weight and size allowing it without modification of the device. 8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising several motor / pump assemblies (4) according to the needs of the installation. 9) Use of the device according to any one of the preceding claims in the agricultural field, industry, human comfort, humidification, hygrometry, air conditioning in greenhouses, conservation of fruits and vegetables or other fresh product, antifreeze protection, cooling, dispersion of all kinds of products mixed with water, dusting, air conditioning, static electricity, odor neutralization, outdoor air conditioning, creation of scented atmospheres, special effects, cleaning and distribution of products in ventilation ducts, air conditioning, control of '' hygrometry in breeding, anti mosquito protection.