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.
Sprays are used extensively by companies producing foods and drinks. Spray washers are used to clean fruit and vegetables, while many flavorings and additives are sprayed onto foods. Sprays are very controllable, which helps manufacturers to ensure the correct amount of ingredient is added, for example a little too much spice will make food inedible for some people, so reasonable precision is required. Another advantage of sprays is that they can help ensure a uniform distribution of ingredient is applied over a food product.
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.
Perhaps the most important use of sprays is where they are used in engines. Fuel sprays inject the fuel into many types of engine, including petrol, diesel, jet and rocket engines, and also in steam boilers. The injection of fuel in this manner is highly significant, because turning it into a spray creates a very high surface area, while also dispersing it through the air, which allows it to be ignited very efficiently.
While the finer details of what a spray actually is elude most people, their myriad applications in food manufacture, in generating power, in fueling our engines and also in everyday things like deodorants and spray paint, demonstrates how important they really are.
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.
Sprays are used extensively by companies producing foods and drinks. Spray washers are used to clean fruit and vegetables, while many flavorings and additives are sprayed onto foods. Sprays are very controllable, which helps manufacturers to ensure the correct amount of ingredient is added, for example a little too much spice will make food inedible for some people, so reasonable precision is required. Another advantage of sprays is that they can help ensure a uniform distribution of ingredient is applied over a food product.
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.
Perhaps the most important use of sprays is where they are used in engines. Fuel sprays inject the fuel into many types of engine, including petrol, diesel, jet and rocket engines, and also in steam boilers. The injection of fuel in this manner is highly significant, because turning it into a spray creates a very high surface area, while also dispersing it through the air, which allows it to be ignited very efficiently.
While the finer details of what a spray actually is elude most people, their myriad applications in food manufacture, in generating power, in fueling our engines and also in everyday things like deodorants and spray paint, demonstrates how important they really are.
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Indoor tanning sessions require a specially constructed sun labs to be successful. Use of the right sunless tanning lotion is the other component in the process.
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