Nozzle Device And Nozzle For Atomisation And/Or Filtration And Methods For Using The Same

Abstract

Nozzle device and nozzle for atomisation and/or filtration as well as methods for using the same. The present invention relates to a nozzle and nozzle device for atomisation, in particular a micro-machined reinforced nozzle plate, that may produce small liquid droplets in air (spray) or into a liquid (emulsion) with a narrow droplet size distribution and to make small air bubbles into a liquid (foam) and to methods of making the same. The invention is further related to a nozzle part for filtration as well as means and methods to facilitate atomisation and filtration.

1 . Filtration device for filtration of a fluid, comprising a functional plate which is provided at a first main surface of a support body, the functional plate comprising at least one orifice and the support body comprising a cavity in fluid communication with said at least one orifice, wherein said functional plate has a thickness of less than 2 micron at the area of said cavity and wherein said at least one orifice in said functional plate has a length which is less than six times a diameter thereof, and in particular is shorter than said diameter
 and wherein said functional plate comprises a number of orifices which share said cavity in common and are jointly in fluid communication with said cavity   and wherein said orifices are arranged closely together into a group of orifices   and wherein said at least one orifice in said functional plate has a diameter less than 10 micron.   
     
     
         2 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein said support body comprises a silicon substrate and wherein said functional plate comprises a separate layer provided on said substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein the functional plate is provided with an immune binding or Elisa coupling agent. 
     
     
         4 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein a mutual spacing between an orifice and an adjacent orifice is between three and thirty times a diameter of said orifices. 
     
     
         5 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein said functional plate comprises a zone along a boundary of said cavity which is substantially free of any orifice and has a width which is at least a number of times as large as a thickness of said functional plate. 
     
     
         6 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein said functional plate has a bare surface and wherein said orifice protrudes slightly out of said bare surface of said functional plate. 
     
     
         7 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein, at said main surface, said cavity has a cross-section with a width of less than 250 micron, particularly less than 100 micron. 
     
     
         8 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein said cross-section has a length of more than 300 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein said silicon substrate is formed from a <110> silicon wafer. 
     
     
         10 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein a glass substrate is bonded to said functional plate and wherein said glass substrate comprises at least one flow channel which is in open communication with said cavity in said support body supporting said functional plate. 
     
     
         11 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein said functional plate is countersunk to a depth of between 10 and 500 micron in the ring shaped support frame. 
     
     
         12 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein an optic transparent cover plate is placed over the functional plate and wherein a flow channel with a depth of 50 to 500 micron is present between the functional plate and the cover plate. 
     
     
         13 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein said functional plate comprises a number of substantially identical orifices which are spaced apart over a mutual distance which is between 3 and 30 times, particularly between 3 and 10 times, their diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The filtration device of  claim 1  wherein functional plate is provided with a metallic layer facilitating optic non-transparency, non-quenching, electrolysis or electric heating applications. 
     
     
         15 . A method of filtering beer or milk by using the filtration means of the type according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A method of foaming or emulsifying a first fluid by using a functional plate which is provided at a first main surface of a support body, the functional plate comprising at least one orifice in fluid communication with a cavity in said support body, wherein said functional plate has a thickness of less than 2 micron at the area of said cavity in said support body, wherein said at least one orifice in said functional plate has a length which is less than six times a diameter thereof, and in particular is shorter than said diameter, and wherein the functional plate is brought into contact with a second fluid.