As with any kind of machine, making sure every component is compatible with your misting system is essential for peak performance, smooth operation, and long life. More than any of the other component, the misting nozzle is the one that is most fundamental, and the variety you use will determine how well your system will work.
All misting systems are comprised of a series of nozzles placed in a line or around a fan. When attached to high-pressure pumps, water is forced through the nozzles, forming droplets which evaporate into mist when they reach the air. In outdoor cooling applications, this can reduce the temperatures by 20° to 30° Fahrenheit. If the misting system is in a confined indoor area, it will provide a cool mist and will also increase humidity.
Which Type of Misting Nozzle Do You Need?
Stainless Steel vs. Brass Finish
You can find misting system nozzles in either a stainless steel or brass finish. Brass is used in many different types of plumbing fixtures because it is durable, resists corrosion, and will not rust. There is a slight patina that can form on brass that is similar to what is seen on copper. However, this is just a very thin surface layer of corrosion that can take years to develop, if it develops at all. Our brass nozzles have a stainless steel insert, so there is no corrosion at all on the inside of the nozzle.
Standard Mist Nozzles vs. Cleanable Mist Nozzles
You should also consider whether you want a standard nozzle or one that is designed to be easily cleaned.
With the standard misting nozzle, removing obstructions from the interior is difficult at best, and only successful in improving the nozzle performance about 50% of the time. This means that once the nozzles spray pattern becomes distorted, the nozzle usually has to be discarded and replaced.
The cleanable, anti-drip mist nozzle allows the barrel-shaped impeller to be removed from the body of the nozzle, allowing for easy cleaning of foreign debris – such as calcium buildup – and flushing with cleaning solution. In 95% of cases, a poor-spraying or plugged cleanable nozzle can be disassembled and cleaned, returning the nozzle to its original performance. Cleanable nozzles also include an anti-drip assembly inserted into the body of the nozzle. This assembly prevents misting nozzles from dripping each time the system is turned off. While these nozzles are a bit pricier, in most cases the overall investment of the entire misting system justifies the extra cost of the cleanable nozzles. They usually pay for themselves within the first year.
How to Find the Right Misting Nozzle Size
Fogco offers a range of nozzle sizes to accommodate different flow rates. Our mister nozzles also have different spray patterns from sixty to ninety degrees to provide the right coverage needed.
To ensure that your misting system runs as efficiently as possible for as long as possible, it’s important to find out what sort of nozzles your specific model of misting system requires. Misting nozzles come in a large number of variations:
- .006″/.15mm Nozzle (Yellow O-Ring): This nozzle is ideal for applications requiring extremely low flow with small droplet size and minimal moisture, and is our smallest nozzle orifice available (note: this size is only available in the cleanable nozzle version). It is most commonly used for humidification applications. At 1,000 psi, the mean diameter of the droplets from this size orifice are 12.2μ with droplets ranging from 1.2μ to 36.4μ and a spray diameter of approximately 45 degrees. This nozzle is not designed to be used at pressures below 500 psi.
- .008″/.20mm Nozzle (Red O-Ring): The .008″/.20mm misting nozzle is ideal for applications requiring low flow with small droplet size and limited moisture. It is most commonly used for humidification and cooling applications. At 1,000 psi, the mean diameter of the droplets from this size orifice are 12.7μ with droplets ranging from 1.4μ to 37.9μ and a spray diameter of between 60 and 65 degrees. This nozzle is not designed to be used at pressures below 250 psi.
- .012″/.30mm Nozzle (Black O-Ring): This nozzle is best for applications requiring moderate flow with small droplet size. It has a similar performance to the .008″/.20mm orifice nozzle, but with an increased flow rate. It is most commonly used for outdoor cooling and odor/dust control applications. At 1,000 psi, the mean diameter of the droplets from this size orifice are 13.1μ with droplets ranging from 1.6μ to 39.1μ and a spray diameter of between 65 and 75 degrees. This nozzle can be used with any pressures above 100 psi.
- .016″/.40mm nozzle (Brown O-Ring): The .016″/.40mm misting nozzle is ideal for applications requiring increased flow rates with moderately sized droplets. It is most commonly used for special effects and outdoor dust control applications. At 1,000 psi, the mean diameter of the droplets from this size orifice are 14.8μ with droplets ranging from 3.8μ to 47.9μ and a spray diameter of between 70 and 80 degrees. This nozzle can be used with any pressure.
- .020″/.50mm Nozzle (Green O-Ring): Our largest nozzle orifice, the .020″/.50mm misting nozzle, is ideal for applications requiring extreme flow with larger droplets where complete evaporation is not required. It is most commonly used for outdoor dust control in demolition applications. At 1,000 psi, the mean diameter of the droplets from this size orifice are 15.2μ with droplets ranging from 9.5μ to 49.9μ and a spray diameter of between 80 and 90 degrees. This nozzle can be used with any pressure.
Fogco High-Pressure Misting Nozzles
At Fogco, we pay close attention to each component of our mister systems. This means that we design the pumps, the tubing, and the mister nozzles to integrate fully with our systems. They can also be used with your existing system to create a fine, even mist for cooling and humidification. As you can see, we have many different nozzle options to provide the right types of mist for industrial, commercial, and residential misting systems. We only use brass or stainless steel in our nozzles which allows for durability, effective droplet size production and low maintenance requirements.
With more than 35 years of experience in the industry, we can help you design the misting solution that’s right for your residential or commercial environment. Contact us today to learn more.
