Method for forming consistently-sized and controllably-timed droplets
A method for forming substantially consistently-sized and substantially controllably-timed droplets is disclosed. An opening is provided through which a protrusion passes. The protrusion ends at a tip below the opening. A process liquid is provided to the opening at a controlled flow rate. The process liquid passes through the opening and flows along the protrusion, forming a droplet of the process liquid on the tip that reaches a substantially consistent droplet size and falls. The process liquid continues to pass through the opening at an even time interval based on the flow rate. In this manner, substantially consistently-sized and substantially controllably-timed droplets are formed.
1. A method for forming substantially consistently-sized and substantially controllably-timed droplets comprising:
providing an opening with a conical protrusion passing through the opening, the conical protrusion ending at a tip below the opening, wherein:
a process liquid is provided to the opening at a controlled flow rate;
the process liquid, passing through the opening and flowing along the conical protrusion, forms droplets of the process liquid on the tip that reaches a substantially consistent droplet size and fall; and,
the process liquid continues to pass through the opening at an even time interval based on the flow rate;
whereby the droplets are substantially consistently-sized and substantially controllably-timed.
2. The method of claim 1 , providing a plate above the opening, wherein the conical protrusion is attached to the plate.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching the conical protrusion to an interior side of the opening.
4. The method of claim 1 , forming the droplets in a system comprising spray towers, absorption towers, combustors, prilling towers, or combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 4 , providing the process liquid to the combustor, the process liquid comprising a fuel.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing a contact gas or a contact vapor to the system and causing the droplets to interact with the contact gas or the contact vapor by mass exchange, heat exchange, or a combination thereof.
7. The method of claim 6 , providing the contact gas or the contact vapor comprising combustion flue gas, syngas, producer gas, natural gas, steam reforming gas, any hydrocarbon that has a lower freezing point than the temperature of the droplets, light gases, refinery off-gases, or combinations thereof.
8. The method of claim 7 , providing the contact gas or the contact vapor further comprising carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, water, hydrocarbons with a higher freezing point than the temperature of the droplets, or combinations thereof.
9. The method of claim 8 , providing the process liquid comprising any compound or mixture of compounds with a freezing point above a temperature at which a component of the contact gas or a component of the contact vapor solidifies.
10. The method of claim 1 , providing the conical protrusion with a surface material inhibiting an adsorption of gases, preventing a deposition of solids, or combinations thereof.
11. The method of claim 1 , providing the tip of the conical protrusion with a diameter smaller than the substantially consistent droplet size.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a tube, wherein the opening is axially oriented inside the tube, the tube extending below a bottom portion of the opening and above the tip of the conical protrusion, the tube providing a gas flowing axially downward past the droplets to draw the droplets off the conical protrusion.
13. The method of claim 12 , forming the droplets in a system comprising spray towers, absorption towers, combustors, prilling towers, or combinations thereof.
14. The method of claim 13 , providing the process liquid to the combustor, the process liquid comprising a fuel.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing a contact gas or a contact vapor to the system and causing the droplets to interact with the contact gas or the contact vapor by mass exchange, heat exchange, or a combination thereof.
16. The method of claim 15 , providing the contact gas or the contact vapor comprising combustion flue gas, syngas, producer gas, natural gas, steam reforming gas, any hydrocarbon that has a lower freezing point than the temperature of the droplets, light gases, refinery off-gases, or combinations thereof.
17. The method of claim 16 , providing the contact gas or the contact vapor further comprising carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, water, hydrocarbons with a higher freezing point than the temperature of the droplets, or combinations thereof.
18. The method of claim 17 , providing the process liquid comprising any compound or mixture of compounds with a freezing point above a temperature at which a component of the contact gas or a component of the contact vapor solidifies.
19. The method of claim 12 , providing the conical protrusion with a surface material inhibiting an adsorption of gases, preventing a deposition of solids, or combinations thereof.
20. The method of claim 12 , providing the tip of the conical protrusion with a diameter smaller than the substantially consistent droplet size.