Atomizer device and method for the production of a liquid-gas mixture

1. An atomizer device for the production of a liquid-gas mixture, the mixture useful for being introduced for the purpose of compression into a nozzle arrangement in which the kinetic energy of the mixture is in large part converted into compression energy of the gaseous component, the atomizer device comprising:

a nozzle member having an at least substantially central pipe for the gaseous medium, a rotationally symmetrical nozzle chamber surrounding the pipe for the liquid medium, and a nozzle aperture;

a liquid feed having means for producing a swirled liquid flow in the nozzle chamber;

wherein the nozzle aperture coaxially encloses the pipe; and

wherein the liquid feed opens tangentially into the nozzle chamber.

2. An atomizer device according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle aperture is annular, and the nozzle chamber tapers to the annular nozzle aperture.

3. A method for the production of a liquid-gas mixture by an atomizer device, the mixture produced useful for being introduced into a nozzle arrangement in which the kinetic energy of the mixture is in large part converted into compression energy of the gaseous component, the method comprising:

causing a swirled liquid flow to emerge from a nozzle aperture of the atomizer device to produce a swirling hollow conical spray expanding in a flow direction, and to produce a reduced pressure zone within the spray; and

causing the gaseous medium to enter the reduced pressure zone via a central feed; and

introducing the swirled liquid flow in the nozzle chamber through at least one liquid feed opening tangentially into the nozzle chamber.

4. A method according to claim 3 , comprising:

producing the swirled liquid flow in a nozzle chamber surrounding the central feed.