Emitter and System for Discharge of a Decontaminating Liquid-Gas Stream

A method of operating an emitter discharging a decontamination agent, said emitter comprising:

• a nozzle having an unobstructed bore positioned between an inlet connectable in fluid communication with a pressurized gas source and an outlet having a diameter;
• a duct connectable in fluid communication with a pressurized source of decontamination agent, said duct having an exit orifice positioned adjacent to said outlet;
• a deflector surface positioned facing said outlet in spaced relation thereto, said deflector surface comprising a flat surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to said nozzle, said flat surface having a wetted area defined by a minimum diameter approximately equal to said outlet diameter;
• said method comprising:
• discharging said decontamination agent from said orifice;
• discharging said gas from said outlet, said gas reaching supersonic speed;
• establishing a first shock front between said outlet and said deflector surface wherein said gas slows to subsonic speed and then impinges on said wetted area;
• establishing a second shock front proximate to said deflector surface, said gas moving across said wetted area and increasing to supersonic speed between said first shock front and said second shock front, and decreasing in speed after passing through said second shock front;
• entraining said decontamination agent in said gas at least one of said shock fronts to form a decontamination liquid-gas stream;
• projecting said decontamination liquid-gas stream from said emitter.

A biological decontamination system, said system comprising:

• a source of pressurized gas;
• a source of pressurized decontamination agent;
• at least one emitter for atomizing and discharging said decontamination agent entrained in said gas;
• a gas conduit providing fluid communication between said pressurized gas source and said emitter;
• a piping network, separate from said gas conduit, said piping network providing fluid communication between said pressurized source of decontamination agent and said emitter;
• a first valve in said gas conduit controlling pressure and flow rate of said gas to said emitter;
• a second valve in said piping network controlling pressure and flow rate of said decontamination agent to said emitter;
• a pressure transducer measuring pressure within said gas conduit;
• a control system in communication with said first and second valves and said pressure transducer, said control system receiving signals from said pressure transducer and opening and closing said valves in response to a signal indicative of said pressure within said gas conduit;
• wherein
• said emitter comprises:
• a nozzle having an inlet and an outlet and an unobstructed bore therebetween, said inlet being connected in fluid communication with said first valve, said outlet having a diameter;
• a duct, separate from said nozzle and connected in fluid communication with said second valve, said duct having an exit orifice separate from and positioned adjacent to said nozzle outlet;
• a deflector surface positioned facing said nozzle outlet, said deflector surface being positioned in spaced relation to said nozzle outlet and having a first surface portion comprising a flat surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to said nozzle and a second surface portion comprising an angled or a curved surface surrounding said flat surface, said flat surface having a wetted area defined by a minimum diameter approximately equal to said outlet diameter.

A method of operating a biological decontamination system, said system having an emitter comprising:

• a nozzle having an unobstructed bore positioned between an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle inlet being connected in fluid communication with a pressurized gas source, said outlet having a diameter;
• a duct, separate from said nozzle and connected in fluid communication with a pressurized source of decontamination agent, said duct having an exit orifice positioned adjacent to said nozzle outlet;
• a deflector surface positioned facing said nozzle outlet in spaced relation thereto, said deflector surface comprising a flat surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to said nozzle, said flat surface having a wetted area defined by a minimum diameter approximately equal to said outlet diameter;
• said method comprising:
• discharging said decontamination agent from said exit orifice;
• discharging said gas from said nozzle outlet, said gas achieving supersonic speed;
• establishing a first shock front between said outlet and said deflector surface wherein said gas slows to subsonic speed and then impinges on said wetted area;
• establishing a second shock front proximate to said deflector surface, said gas moving across said wetted area and increasing to supersonic speed between said first shock front and said second shock front, and decreasing in speed after passing through said second shock front;
• entraining said decontamination agent in said gas proximate to said second shock front to form a decontamination liquid-gas stream;
• and
• projecting said decontamination liquid-gas stream from said emitter.

A method of operating a biological decontamination system, said system having an emitter comprising:

• a nozzle having an unobstructed bore positioned between an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle inlet being connected in fluid communication with a pressurized gas source, said outlet having a diameter;
• a duct, separate from said nozzle and connected in fluid communication with a pressurized source of decontamination agent, said duct having an exit orifice positioned adjacent to said nozzle outlet;
• a deflector surface positioned facing said nozzle outlet in spaced relation thereto, said deflector surface comprising a flat surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to said nozzle, said flat surface having a wetted area defined by a minimum diameter approximately equal to said outlet diameter;
• said method comprising:
• discharging said decontamination agent from said exit orifice;
• discharging said gas from said nozzle outlet, said gas achieving supersonic speed;
• establishing a first shock front between said outlet and said deflector surface wherein said gas slows to subsonic speed and then impinges on said wetted surface;
• establishing a second shock front proximate to said deflector surface, said gas moving across said wetted area and increasing to supersonic speed between said first shock front and said second shock front, and decreasing in speed after passing through said second shock front;
• entraining said decontamination agent in said gas at at least one of said shock fronts to form a decontamination liquid-gas stream;
• and
• projecting said decontamination liquid-gas stream from said emitter.

A biological decontamination system, said system comprising:

• a gaseous decontamination agent;
• a liquid decontamination agent;
• at least one emitter for atomizing and entraining said liquid decontamination agent in said gaseous decontamination agent and discharging said gaseous and liquid decontamination agents;
• a gas conduit conducting said gaseous decontamination agent to said emitter;
• a piping network conducting said liquid decontamination agent to said emitter;
• a first valve in said gas conduit controlling pressure and flow rate of said gaseous decontamination agent to said emitter;
• a second valve in said piping network controlling pressure and flow rate of said liquid decontamination agent to said emitter;
• a pressure transducer measuring pressure within said gas conduit;
• wherein
• said emitter comprises:
• a nozzle having an inlet and an outlet and an unobstructed bore therebetween, said outlet having a diameter, said inlet connected with said gas conduit downstream of said first valve;
• a duct connected in fluid communication with said piping network downstream of said second valve, said duct having an exit orifice positioned adjacent to said nozzle outlet;
• a deflector surface positioned facing said nozzle outlet, said deflector surface being positioned in spaced relation to said nozzle outlet and having a first surface portion comprising a flat surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to a gas flow from said nozzle and a second surface portion comprising an angled or a curved surface surrounding said flat surface, said flat surface having a wetted area defined by a minimum diameter approximately equal to said outlet diameter;
• and
• a control system in communication with said first and second valves and said pressure transduce, said control system receiving signals from said pressure transducer and opening and closing said valves in response thereto.