The disclosed spray deposition systems and methods control the formation and dispensation of droplets during the atomization of a fluid. Such systems and methods generally can generate small quantities and droplets of a desired size of highly-viscous fluids and/or fluids having non-Newtonian properties or other complex rheologies using mechanical systems and processes with the option of further controlling the droplet size and/or the volume of droplets with various enhancements. The systems and methods stretch fluid between a fluid feed system and a surface and are able to form the controlled-volume of the droplets.

Disclosed is two-tier fountain with a continuous scupper. A continuous scupper is a 360-degree, unrestricted border (i.e., continuous), scupper in an upper basin that creates an inward flowing laminar sheet of fluid. A continuous scupper maintains a laminar flow for great distances so that the fluid falls in a circular cascade sheet. On reaching the lower basin, the fluid creates a limited amount of turbulence during entry and therefore a reduced splash. The continuous scupper may be circular, or may have simple to complex variations that create different forms of circular cascade sheets. The upper basin may be open to the atmosphere, or may be closed to create even more spectacular circular cascade sheets.

A liquid dispensing method including steps of: providing a dispensing device having a refill time (RT) and repeatedly energizing the activation elements at a frequency greater than about 1/(RT). The device includes: a plurality of liquid dispensing elements, each element including: a chamber having a height (H), a nozzle having a diameter (D), an activation element having a length (L), and the refill time (RT); a liquid containing reservoir in fluid communication with the liquid dispensing elements; and a control element in electrical communication with the liquid dispensing elements. The ratio of the nozzle diameter (D) to chamber height (H) is between about 3 and about 10.

Disclosed is a gas distributor, including: a nozzle unit formed by joining a pair of nozzle members together such that the nozzle members face each other with a first nozzle gap defined between the nozzle members; and a nozzle assembly in which at least two nozzle units are assembled together in parallel, in which the nozzle gap includes a first flow path formed in parallel in a direction of the nozzle member, and a second flow path extended from the first flow path, formed with a smaller width than a width of the first flow path along a bonded surface, and discharging gas through an end portion of one side of the second flow path, and the second flow path is extended with the first flow path, and is inclinedly provided so that a width is gradually decreased in a portion adjacent to the first flow path.

A procedure for moderating the intensity of a hurricane in regions of the seas that are host to the oil and gas industries is described, using the Gulf of Mexico as an example of such a region, and snow-making machines as the instruments for carrying out the procedure. These machines are carried on moving platforms that follow the hurricane and on fixed platforms that are located in the path of the hurricane. In the described procedure snow-making machines are installed on fixed platforms throughout the region, and only those machines that are in the path of an approaching hurricane are turned on, while the snow-making machines on the moving platform(s) are operating continually.

A procedure for moderating the intensity of a hurricane in regions of the seas that are host to the oil and gas industries is described, using the Gulf of Mexico as an example of such a region, and snow-making machines as the instruments for carrying out the procedure. These machines are carried on moving platforms that follow the hurricane and on fixed platforms that are located in the path of the hurricane. In the described procedure snow-making machines are installed on fixed platforms throughout the region, and only those machines that are in the path of an approaching hurricane are turned on, while the snow-making machines on the moving platform(s) are operating continually.

The present inventions relate to the formation of a thin polymer film on a substrate. Apparatus is described for transforming a solid polymer resist into an aerosol of small particles, electrostatically charging and depositing the particles onto a substrate, and flowing the particles into a continuous layer. Apparatus is further described for transforming solid resist into an aerosol of small particles by heating the resist to form a low viscosity liquid such as is compatible with nebulization and applying the techniques of jet or impact nebulization and aerosol particle sizing to form the aerosol. A method is further described of using ionized gas to confer charge onto the aerosol particles and using a progression of charging devices establish an electric field directing the flow of charged particles to the substrate. The progression of charging devices and associated apparatus results in high collection efficiency for the aerosol particles.

A hand-held dispenser to dispense fluid includes a casing to fit into a hand of a user, a nozzle in the casing to dispense a mist, a fluid reservoir contained in the casing to hold a fluid to be turned into the mist, a filament extension atomizer contained in the casing to generate the mist, an air source contained in the casing to provide air flow to direct the mist to the nozzle, a motor contained in the casing to operate the filament extension atomizer, an actuator positioned on the casing to activate the dispenser, a control circuit contained in the casing to receive a signal from the actuator and to send a signal to the motor to cause the motor to actuate, and a power source contained in the casing to provide power to the motor upon receive a signal from the control circuit.

Microfluidic delivery systems for dispensing a fluid composition into the air comprising microfluidic die and at least one heating element that is configured to receive an electrical signal comprising a certain on-time and wave form to deliver a fluid composition into the air.

Aerosols can be created by filament stretching and breaking of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids by applying a strain to and stretching the fluid. The fluid is stretched along a strain pathway and forms a fluid filament between diverging surfaces. The stretched fluid filament breaks into droplets that can be harvested to form a mist or aerosol. The aerosol creation systems can include one or more pairs of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned adjacent to each other that stretch the fluid or a pair of pistons that move toward and away from each other to stretch the fluid. Some aerosol creation systems can include multiple pairs of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned in a circular, oval, or linear pattern. The aerosol creation system with multiple pairs of counter-rotating rollers can generate mist is one or more directions and can be positioned between two concentric rings or linearly, among other configurations.