Atomizing nozzle

An atomizing nozzle for creating fine droplets of liquid, said nozzle, comprising:

• an outer frame;
• a pintle comprising an inlet splash plate, a tapered shaft coupled to said inlet splash plate, and an outlet deflector plate coupled to said tapered shaft;
• a liquid feed inlet positioned so that a stream of liquid exiting said liquid feed inlet strikes said splash plate;
• a gas inlet disposed upstream of said splash plate;
• and
• at least one support spoke, having an inlet surface and an outlet surface, coupled to said outer frame and said inlet splash plate of said pintle, wherein said inlet surface of said support spoke is non-planar;
• wherein said at least one support spoke is shaped to reduce the flow of liquid to said frame via said at least one support spoke.

An atomizing nozzle comprising:

• an outer frame;
• a pintle;
• at least one support spoke, having an inlet surface and an outlet surface, coupled to said outer frame and said inlet splash plate of said pintle, wherein said inlet surface of said support spoke is non-planar;
• a body;
• a chamber defined within said body, wherein said chamber has a base and an outlet;
• a liquid feed tube centrally aligned and extending longitudinally within the chamber for the introduction of a pressurized liquid directed towards said splash plate, said inlet tube having a discharge plane;
• and;
• a gas inlet for admitting pressurized atomizing gas to the chamber, where gas from the gas inlet is discharged at a gas exit surface located between the base of the nozzle chamber and the discharge plane of the liquid inlet tube;
• wherein said discharge plane of said liquid feed tube is a predetermined minimum distance from said inlet splash plate of said pintle wherein said at least one support spoke is shaped to reduce the flow of liquid to said frame along said at least one support spoke.