While the general meaning of the word spray is widely known, most would struggle to give a more definitive explanation of the term. To illustrate what it really means, we can look at the spray that is produced when a deodorant can is used. The deodorant itself is stored as a liquid in the container, and emerges into the air as a mist. This familiar example ties in perfectly with how a spray is defined as drops of liquid distributed in a gas.
In the illustration given, the deodorant droplets were scattered in the air. Sprays can also be contained within other gaseous mediums, though. One demonstration of this is where chemicals are sprayed into the gasses produced in power plants, to remove pollutants.
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.
While spray drying is perhaps not familiar to the lay person, spray painting is far more widely known. As well as the mundane spray paint can known to all, there are other more advanced forms of spray painting. An interesting variation is electrostatic spray painting, where the paint spray is given an electric charge, and the item to be painted is given an opposite charge so that it will attract the paint. This has clear advantages over brush painting, where it can be very hard to paint into awkward areas.
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.
Although many people do not have a full understanding of what a spray is, the fact that sprays are used in power generation, familiar items such as deodorants and spray paint, food production, and in running some of our most important forms of transportation, shows how important they can be.
In the illustration given, the deodorant droplets were scattered in the air. Sprays can also be contained within other gaseous mediums, though. One demonstration of this is where chemicals are sprayed into the gasses produced in power plants, to remove pollutants.
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.
While spray drying is perhaps not familiar to the lay person, spray painting is far more widely known. As well as the mundane spray paint can known to all, there are other more advanced forms of spray painting. An interesting variation is electrostatic spray painting, where the paint spray is given an electric charge, and the item to be painted is given an opposite charge so that it will attract the paint. This has clear advantages over brush painting, where it can be very hard to paint into awkward areas.
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.
Although many people do not have a full understanding of what a spray is, the fact that sprays are used in power generation, familiar items such as deodorants and spray paint, food production, and in running some of our most important forms of transportation, shows how important they can be.
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