Spray Nozzles, the Unsung Heroes of Industry
Spray nozzles are a device that most people would not give a second thought. They are, however, found in a multitude of industrial and commercial applications. Spray nozzles are ubiquitous and are found wherever there is a need to fill, wash, cool, atomise, humidify, dry, lubricate, coat and a vast contingent of other industrial and commercial processes that require the spraying of liquids and/or gases. The homeowner will typically encounter them in their garden irrigation systems. They come in a myriad of shapes and sizes and are made from an array of different materials, from plastics to ceramics, and most of the common metals.
Nozzles for water in a residential setting work at municipal pressures. Normal tap pressure is usually 4 or 6 kPa in most municipalities. Nozzles in industrial and commercial settings can run to very high pressures such as those used in waterjet cutting technology. Spray nozzles and specialist high-pressure pumps are employed in tandem to deliver the pressure required in many industrial and commercial applications.
Which Industries Use Spray Nozzles?
Spray nozzles are found in almost any industry where there’s a requirement to clean something – from process or holding tanks to vehicles and facilities or infrastructure. Surface treatment plants, food and beverage companies, paper and pulp manufacturers, chemical companies, mining operations, pharmaceutical companies and the agriculture and transport sectors, to name a few, make extensive use of nozzles.
Specialist Applications for Spray Nozzles
Aside from the need to clean, many industries have specific process-driven requirements that use spray technology. In the mining sector, there is often a need to suppress dust resulting from mining operations.
Water-based wet systems use spray technology to increase the moisture content of the dust particles to prevent them from becoming airborne while adding moisture to the air to capture dust particles that are already airborne. Chemical wetting, foaming and binding agents are sometimes used in conjunction with water to improve results.
In the agricultural sector, nozzles are used to apply fertilizers, insecticides, weed killers and many other substances to crops. In these applications, the nozzle controls the application rate, as well as the droplet size determining coverage and spray drift risk. The best nozzle for a given application will maximise efficacy while containing chemicals to the target area by minimising spray drift.
Consult with Your Industry Experts
Spray nozzles are often subject to high rates of abrasion. They are constantly exposed to the flow of liquid and/or gasses at high flow rates. In some instances, utilising ceramic nozzles can extend nozzle life by twenty times or more. The pump behind the spray nozzle is critical to how the nozzle performs. This is particularly important in applications where high pressure is required. Contact Bestline Manufacturing, a leading expert in spray nozzles and pressure pumps, for more information.