Expansion nozzle assembly to produce inert gas bubbles

A nozzle assembly for expanding a foam solution, comprising:

• a discharge tube having a chamber with first and second ends, the first end having a front face with a first opening configured to be joined to a gas supply line that provides a gaseous solution and a second opening configured to receive non-expanded foam solution, the chamber receiving the gaseous solution through the first opening;
• a diffuser retained within the discharge tube comprising a diffuser plate and a diffuser tube, the diffuser plate located at the second end of the chamber and having at least one orifice for conveying the gaseous solution from the chamber to the discharge tube, the diffuser tube providing a conduit between the second opening in the front face and a nozzle acceptance hole in the diffuser plate;
• and
• a foam solution spray nozzle held within the nozzle acceptance hole of the diffuser, the foam solution spray nozzle receiving the non-expanded foam solution through the conduit and discharging the non-expanded foam solution into the discharge tube through at least one nozzle orifice.

A nozzle assembly for expanding a foam solution, comprising;

• a discharge tube having upstream and downstream ends, the discharge tube having a front face at the upstream end forming a barrier between ambient air outside the discharge tube and air within the discharge tube, the downstream end of the discharge tube being open;
• a chamber formed within the discharge tube for receiving gaseous solution through a first opening proximate the upstream end, the first opening configured to be joined to a gas supply line that provides a gaseous solution, the chamber having at least one orifice for releasing the gaseous solution from the chamber into the discharge tube towards the downstream end of the discharge tube;
• a foam expansion spray nozzle held within the discharge tube for receiving non-expanded foam solution through a second opening proximate the upstream end, the foam expansion spray nozzle discharging the foam solution with a velocity into the discharge tube towards the downstream end;
• and
• a screen retained proximate the downstream end of the discharge tube for receiving the non-expanded foam solution discharged from the spray nozzle, the gaseous solution and the velocity of the foam solution pushing the non-expanded foam solution through the screen to form bubbles encapsulating the gaseous solution.