Although most people are familiar with the idea of a spray, it is perhaps less well understood exactly what a spray is. The definition of a spray is a collection of droplets dispersed in a gas. When someone sprays, for example, an aerosol can of deodorant, liquid stored inside the can is scattered as a cloud of fine drops in the air. It can be seen how this fits together with the definition of a spray.
In the above example, the air was the gas that that the drops of deodorant were dispersed in. However, the definition of a spray allows for liquid to be sprayed into any gas, for example when various liquids are sprayed into the emissions of power plants, to help strip out harmful chemicals.
The name given to the act of turning a liquid into a spray is atomization. Despite the implication, this does not mean that the fluid is actually dispersed as lone atoms, but instead simply as minute liquid globules. By looking at some of the many applications sprays have, some of the more useful properties will be revealed. Because of the great variety of functions for sprays, only a few notable cases will be looked at.
One area where spraying has great usefulness is in the food and drinks industry. As well as spray washing fresh produce, foods can be coated with flavorings, or any other additives, using a spray. In the case where a food requires a spicy coating, a spray allows the precise amount of this to be controlled. If spice mix was simply poured on, it could easily end up far too hot for many people. Also, sprays allow an even quantity to be distributed over the entire surface.
Staying with food and drink, many commonplace foods are created using a technique called spray drying. Here, liquid products are turned into a fine spray, which is dried out in hot air. Instant coffee, milk powder, colorings and spice powders are made with this process.
A more common and well recognized use of sprays is that of spray painting, although there are more refined examples of this than the simple can of spray paint that immediately comes to mind. Whatever product has to be painted can be made to literally attract the paint, by using electrical charges. The product and the paint are charged oppositely, and this is called electrostatic spray painting. Using this technique can be advantageous where paint has to be applied into tight spots which a paintbrush cannot reach.
One final example of the importance of spray techniques is that of fuel sprays. Fuel sprays are used in a huge variety of engine types, such as petrol, diesel and jet engines, as well as steam boilers and even rocket engines. The fuel is atomized prior to being ignited, and the fact it has been atomized is very important. This maximizes the surface area of the fuel and mixes it with the air, creating the optimum conditions for combustion.
As can be seen, the familiar but poorly understood concept of the spray touches our lives in numerous and powerful ways, whether that is in the power stations that heat our homes, the food we eat, common products like deodorants and spray paint, or the vehicles that make our world run.
In the above example, the air was the gas that that the drops of deodorant were dispersed in. However, the definition of a spray allows for liquid to be sprayed into any gas, for example when various liquids are sprayed into the emissions of power plants, to help strip out harmful chemicals.
The name given to the act of turning a liquid into a spray is atomization. Despite the implication, this does not mean that the fluid is actually dispersed as lone atoms, but instead simply as minute liquid globules. By looking at some of the many applications sprays have, some of the more useful properties will be revealed. Because of the great variety of functions for sprays, only a few notable cases will be looked at.
One area where spraying has great usefulness is in the food and drinks industry. As well as spray washing fresh produce, foods can be coated with flavorings, or any other additives, using a spray. In the case where a food requires a spicy coating, a spray allows the precise amount of this to be controlled. If spice mix was simply poured on, it could easily end up far too hot for many people. Also, sprays allow an even quantity to be distributed over the entire surface.
Staying with food and drink, many commonplace foods are created using a technique called spray drying. Here, liquid products are turned into a fine spray, which is dried out in hot air. Instant coffee, milk powder, colorings and spice powders are made with this process.
A more common and well recognized use of sprays is that of spray painting, although there are more refined examples of this than the simple can of spray paint that immediately comes to mind. Whatever product has to be painted can be made to literally attract the paint, by using electrical charges. The product and the paint are charged oppositely, and this is called electrostatic spray painting. Using this technique can be advantageous where paint has to be applied into tight spots which a paintbrush cannot reach.
One final example of the importance of spray techniques is that of fuel sprays. Fuel sprays are used in a huge variety of engine types, such as petrol, diesel and jet engines, as well as steam boilers and even rocket engines. The fuel is atomized prior to being ignited, and the fact it has been atomized is very important. This maximizes the surface area of the fuel and mixes it with the air, creating the optimum conditions for combustion.
As can be seen, the familiar but poorly understood concept of the spray touches our lives in numerous and powerful ways, whether that is in the power stations that heat our homes, the food we eat, common products like deodorants and spray paint, or the vehicles that make our world run.
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