Mobile fluid expulsion device
An apparatus and method are provided for expelling a fluid, including vapor and liquid sprays. A spray is expelled at high velocities from a heated chamber via an exit valve. The chamber includes a flow member or structure that directs and controls the flow of the fluid from an inlet orifice to an outlet orifice along a non-linear path. This prevents the liquid from moving in a wave motion within the chamber if the apparatus is moved.
1 . A pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus for expelling a fluid comprising:
a reservoir for storing the fluid;
a pressure vessel extending from an inlet end to an outlet end;
an inlet orifice at the inlet end;
an inlet valve at the inlet end;
an outlet orifice at the outlet end;
an outlet valve at the outlet end;
at least one controller connected to the inlet valve and the outlet valve;
at least one heater to heat the fluid within the pressure vessel, such that a temperature and a pressure of the fluid are raised when the inlet valve and the outlet valve are closed, causing at least a portion of the fluid within the pressure vessel to change states into a foam;
a foam protection member positioned within the pressure vessel to direct and control a flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along a non-linear path, wherein the foam protection member comprises one or more protrusions that force the fluid towards an outer periphery of the pressure vessel, and wherein the fluid travels inwards towards a center of the pressure vessel in gaps adjacent the one or more protrusions;
where the foam protection member is a helical element, a spiral element, or a series of baffles, and
whereby in use, fluid is expelled from the outlet orifice by a vapor explosion process.
2 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the inlet valve and the outlet valve each comprise a valve actuator and a valve seat.
3 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the at least one heater is arranged to raise the temperature of the fluid to a value equal to or greater than a saturation temperature of the fluid at ambient pressure.
4 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one heater comprises a heating element arranged in or near the pressure vessel to heat the fluid in the pressure vessel.
5 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path causes a minimum of 90° of change to a direction in which the fluid was travelling.
6 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path causes a minimum of 270° of change to a direction in which the fluid was travelling.
7 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path comprises at least one non-linear channel.
8 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path comprises a plurality of non-linear channels.
9 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path comprises at least one channel having a series of bends which cause the fluid to change direction several times.
10 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path comprises at least one baffle arranged to cause the fluid to change direction.
11 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path comprises a series of baffles arranged to cause the fluid to change direction several times.
12 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice comprises at least one helical or spiral channel.
13 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the at least one heater is external to the pressure vessel.
14 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the at least one heater is internal to the pressure vessel, and the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path is positioned proximal to the at least one heater.
15 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the at least one heater is internal to the pressure vessel, and the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path is external to the at least one heater.
16 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the at least one heater is internal to the pressure vessel and the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path is positioned within the at least one heater, where the flow of fluid is in fluid isolation from the at least one heater.
17 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , where the at least one heater includes the foam protection member that directs and controls the flow of fluid from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice along the non-linear path.
18 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more protrusions form a plurality of channels.
19 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , including an outer housing that surrounds the pressure vessel.
20 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the outer housing surrounds the inlet valve and the outlet valve.
21 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the outer housing surrounds the at least one heater.
22 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet valve includes an inlet valve seat that closes the inlet orifice and wherein the outlet valve includes an outlet valve seat that closes the outlet orifice, and wherein the one or more protrusions comprises a liquid blocking barrier that increases foam concentration in a vicinity of the outlet orifice.
23 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet end and the outlet end are at opposite ends of the pressure vessel.
24 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice are coaxial.
25 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more protrusions comprises a plurality of discrete protrusions that are spaced apart and separate from each other.
26 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet valve comprises an inlet valve actuator and an inlet valve seat, and wherein the inlet valve actuator is spaced from the inlet orifice by a pintle or rod connecting the inlet valve actuator to the inlet valve seat.
27 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the outlet valve comprises an outlet valve actuator and an outlet valve seat, and wherein the outlet valve actuator is spaced from the outlet orifice by a pintle or rod connecting the outlet valve actuator to the outlet valve seat.
28 . The pressurized mobile fluid expulsion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more protrusions comprise liquid blocking barriers that reduce liquid flow around the liquid blocking barriers and increases foam flow around the liquid blocking barriers to increase foam concentration in a vicinity of the outlet orifice.