A swirler for swirling fluid in a nozzle has a swirler body. The swirler body defines an inlet end, an outlet end opposed to the inlet end, and a circumferential periphery. The circumferential periphery extends axially from the inlet end to the outlet end. The outlet end defines a first swirl chamber. The inlet end defines a second swirl chamber.

Methods and apparatus provide for spray drying a liquid product into a dried powder without applying heat, including: forming a slurry including a liquid solvent, a carrier, and an active ingredient; applying an electrostatic charge to the slurry; atomizing the charged slurry to produce a plurality of electrostatically charged, wet particles; suspending the electrostatically charged, wet particles for a sufficient time to permit repulsive forces induced by the electrostatic charge on at least some wet particles to cause at least some of such particles to divide into wet sub-particles; and continuing the suspending step, without the presence of any heated drying fluids, for a sufficient time to drive off a sufficient amount of the liquid solvent within most of the wet particles to leave a plurality of dried particles (the powder), each dried particle containing the active ingredient encapsulated within the carrier.

Wear-resistant assemblies that may be installed for use in spray nozzle assemblies, and spray nozzle assembles equipped with such a component. Such an assembly includes a wear-resistant member having an axial surface and a base portion, and further includes a ring member having an inner perimeter that surrounds and contacts the outer perimeter of the base portion of the wear-resistant member. The ring member is formed of a material that is different from the material that defines the axial surface of the wear-resistant member, and less resistant to abrasive wear than the material of the axial surface.