sprayvinkel

Sprayvinkel, also known as spray angle in English, refers to the angular width of a liquid spray produced by a nozzle or atomizer. It describes how widely the liquid disperses as it exits the nozzle, typically expressed in degrees and defined as the angle between the outer edges of the spray pattern. The spray angle can be reported as a full angle or, less commonly, as a half-angle of the cone.

Measurement and pattern types: Nozzles may produce different spray patterns, such as hollow-cone, full-cone, and solid streams. The same nozzle type can have different spray angles depending on the design and operating conditions. The spray angle is influenced by pressure, nozzle geometry, and fluid properties, and it may vary with distance from the nozzle due to droplet spread and air entrainment.

Factors and effects: Higher operating pressure generally widens the spray and can alter the drop size distribution; changes in viscosity or temperature also affect the angle. A larger spray angle covers a wider area at a given distance but reduces the reach and may produce finer droplets, increasing drift risk. Conversely, a smaller angle concentrates the spray into a narrower path with greater reach.

Applications: Spray angle is important in painting and coating, agricultural and horticultural spraying, and irrigation or fire-suppressant systems. In practice, selecting a nozzle involves matching the spray angle to the target area, height, distance, and drift controls.

See also: nozzle, spray pattern, hollow-cone nozzle, full-cone nozzle, fan nozzle.