Steam water spray systems

A method of wetting and heating webs of paper or other hygroscopic material using an atomizing nozzle, comprising:

• (a) forming in said nozzle a steam stream that is the combination of a swirling steam stream, one straight steam stream and another straight steam stream;
• (b) providing a mixture of a liquid atomized by said formed steam stream and said steam stream, said mixture having both moisture and heat;
• and
• (c) absorbing in a web of hygroscopic material advancing across the mixture of said atomized liquid and said steam stream said mixture moisture and heat.

A method of wetting and heating webs of paper or other hygroscopic material, comprising:

• (a) arranging at least first and second atomizing nozzles in an array wherein said at least first and second nozzles are adjacent to each other;
• (b) forming in each of said at least first and second nozzles a steam stream that is the combination of a swirling steam stream, one straight steam stream and another straight steam stream;
• (c) providing to each of said at least first and second nozzles a mixture of a liquid atomized by said formed steam stream and said formed steam stream, said mixture having both moisture and heat;
• and
• (d) absorbing in a web of hygroscopic material advancing across the mixture of said atomized liquid and said steam stream said mixture moisture and heat.

A method of wetting and heating webs of paper or other hygroscopic material using an atomizing nozzle, comprising:

• (a) creating an array of said atomizing nozzles;
• (b) forming in each of said nozzles a steam stream that is the combination of a swirling steam stream, one straight steam stream and another straight steam stream;
• (c) providing to each of said nozzles a mixture of a liquid atomized by said formed steam stream and said formed steam stream, said mixture having both moisture and heat;
• and
• (d) absorbing in a web of hygroscopic material advancing across the mixture of said atomized liquid and said steam stream said mixture moisture and heat.

Apparatus for atomizing a liquid with steam comprising:

• (a) a housing having a steam discharging outlet and a liquid discharging outlet aligned flush with each other;
• (b) a first nozzle in said housing for producing at said steam discharging outlet and along a predetermined axis a steam stream that is the combination of a swirling steam stream, one straight steam stream and another straight steam stream;
• (c) a second nozzle disposed in said first nozzle for producing at said liquid discharging outlet a controlled stream of liquid, said steam stream atomizing said stream of liquid external to said housing;
• and
• (d) a steam stream divider disposed in said first nozzle and outside of said second nozzle, said steam stream divider maintaining the concentricity of said steam stream and said controlled liquid stream.

Apparatus for atomizing a liquid with steam comprising:

• (a) a first nozzle for producing in said apparatus and along a predetermined axis a steam stream that is the combination of a swirling steam stream, one straight steam stream and another straight steam stream;
• (b) a second nozzle disposed in said first nozzle for producing in said apparatus a controlled stream of liquid, said steam stream atomizing said stream of liquid external to said apparatus;
• and
• (c) a steam stream divider disposed in said first nozzle and outside of said second nozzle, said steam stream divider maintaining the concentricity of said steam stream and said controlled liquid stream.