CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2017/064216, filed Jun. 12, 2017, which claims benefit of European Patent Application No. 16174161.6, filed Jun. 13, 2016, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field

The invention relates to a nozzle for atomizing and dispersing a discharge flow of a fluid.

The invention further relates to a spacing plate for use in the nozzle.

The invention relates more particularly to arrangements for efficiently distributing an atomized fluid via a nozzle throughout a volume filled with air or other gas.

Description of the Related Art

There are a wide variety of fire suppression systems commercially available today. A problem with these is that the nozzles atomizing and dispersing a discharge flow of a fluid have a rather complicated structure and are thus expensive to manufacture and, furthermore, troublesome to be tailored for varying requirements of the application environments.

SUMMARY

Viewed from a first aspect, there can be provided a nozzle for atomizing and dispersing a discharge flow of a fluid, the nozzle comprisinga bonnet, comprisingan inlet port for receiving said fluid in the nozzlea first surface extending outward from the inlet port,at least one deflector base, comprisinga second surface arranged opposite to the first surface,whereinat least one spacing plate being arranged between the first surface of the bonnet and the second surface of the deflector base, the spacing plate comprisingat least one gap extending through the spacing plate in its perpendicular direction and extending from the outer periphery of the spacing plate to a distance towards the inner section of the spacing plate, anda discharge port fluidly connected to the inlet port allowing said fluid to flow from the inlet port to surroundings of the nozzle, the discharge port being created between the first and the second surface and defined by the at least one gap of the spacing plate.

Thereby a nozzle which is simple and tailorable may be achieved. The capacity and the coverage area of the nozzle are simple to change without need for readjustment of the nozzle body. Thus, for instance, the spacing of the nozzles to be arranged in a room can be optimized in a simple and cost efficient way—even during the installation work in-situ. This way the amount of fluid dispersed through the nozzle or group of nozzles may be optimized.

Viewed from a further aspect, there can be provided a spacing plate for use in the nozzle mentioned above, the spacing plate comprising at least one gap extending through the spacing plate in its perpendicular direction and extending from the outer periphery of the spacing plate to a distance towards the inner section of the spacing plate.

Thereby a space plate which is simple and tailorable may be achieved.

The nozzle and the spacing plate are characterised by what is stated in the characterising parts of the independent claims. Some other embodiments are characterised by what is stated in the other claims. Inventive embodiments are also disclosed in the specification and drawings of this patent application. The inventive content of the patent application may also be defined in other ways than defined in the following claims. The inventive content may also be formed of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is examined in the light of expressed or implicit sub-tasks or in view of obtained benefits or benefit groups. Some of the definitions contained in the following claims may then be unnecessary in view of the separate inventive ideas. Features of the different embodiments of the invention may, within the scope of the basic inventive idea, be applied to other embodiments.

In an embodiment the spacing plate comprises plurality of gaps.

An advantage is that the fluid may be distributed in many directions.

In an embodiment said first and second surfaces are planar surfaces. An advantage is that the direction and the coverage area of the discharge flow of the nozzle may be optimized.

In an embodiment one of said first and second surfaces is a concave surface and the other of said first and second surfaces is a convex surface.

An advantage is that the atomized and dispersed flow may be directed optimally in surroundings of the nozzle.

In an embodiment the concave and the convex surfaces are conical surfaces.

An advantage is that the surfaces may be easily manufactured.

In an embodiment the spacing plate has been arranged in a coning angle α in relation to the longitudinal axis X of the nozzle, the coning angle α being in range of 0°-180°.

An advantage is that the direction of the discharge flow and the coverage area of the nozzle may be optimized.

In an embodiment the first and/or second surface(s) is/are arranged in contact with the spacing plate on an outer rim area of the spacing plate, and that a cavity is arranged between an inner rim area of the spacing plate and the first and/or second surface(s), said cavity arranged to connect the discharge port to the inlet port.

An advantage is that the flow channel in the nozzle may be created in a simple way.

In an embodiment the nozzle comprises a connecting piece arranged between the spacing plate and the deflector base, and at least one second spacing plate arranged between the connecting piece and the deflector base, the nozzle thus comprising a second set of discharge ports defined by the at least one gap of the second spacing plate.

An advantage is that the atomizing and dispersing capacity of the nozzle may be enhanced.

In an embodiment the spacing plate comprises at least one gap extending through the spacing plate in its perpendicular direction and extending from the outer periphery of the spacing plate to a distance towards the inner section of the spacing plate.

An advantage is that the plate may be manufactured by simple way.

In an embodiment of the spacing plate, the gap narrows towards the outer periphery.

An advantage is that the flow resistance caused by the spacing plate may be lowered, without jeopardizing the atomization of the fluid and without increasing the resistance of the flow. Lower resistance means lower energy consumption, smaller pump and smaller piping which are reducing the costs of the system.

