Tag: agricultural spray nozzles

Axial vs. Deflector: Which BETE Fan Nozzle Really Makes the Cut?

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

Since BETE became part of the EXAIR family back in 2024, we’ve been able to offer a much deeper bench of spray technology to solve the more complex fluid delivery problems our customers face. When you need precision in a spray process, choosing the right pattern is just as critical as the fluid you’re pumping. Fan nozzles are the go-to when you need a flat sheet of liquid with a specific impact. Whether you’re washing down a conveyor or applying a thin coating to a part, the goal is uniform distribution and, often, high force.

There are two primary ways these fan patterns are created: axial and deflector. With an axial fan nozzle, the liquid exits through an orifice and naturally widens into a flat spray. These are great for general cleaning and washing because they provide a tapered edge. This is perfect for overlapping multiple nozzles on a header to get seamless, uniform coverage across a wide area without any “light” spots between nozzles.

Then you have deflector-style nozzles. In this design, the fluid hits an external surface after exiting the orifice, which “peels” the liquid into an extra-wide fan. Because the fluid is deflected, these nozzles can achieve a much higher impact at lower flow rates, making them ideal for heavy-duty scrubbing, rinsing, or suppressing dust.

We see these used across a ton of different industries because of that versatility. In food and beverage, they’re a staple for bottle and container washing. In the steel industry, you’ll find them cooling down rolls or applying lubricants. They even play a huge role in fire protection, specifically in deluge systems where you need to move a lot of water quickly and accurately.

The main takeaway is that fan nozzles are the best choice whenever you have relative motion between the nozzle and the target. If you have a product moving down a line that needs to be wetted, coated, or cleaned, a fan pattern is likely the most efficient way to get it done.

Between EXAIR’s compressed air expertise and BETE’s industrial spray nozzle catalog, we can help you spec out the right nozzle for the job. Give us a call and we’ll walk through the flow rates and spray angles your application requires.

Tyler Daniel

Application Engineer

E-mail: TylerDaniel@EXAIR.com

From Field to Market: How EXAIR Helps Streamline Vegetable Processing

Published on by John BallLeave a comment

Homonyms are words that are pronounced and spelled the same but have different meanings.  In this blog, I will cover the word lettuce.  One meaning is the leafy vegetable and the other is money.  And I like to save both.  I have an agriculture application that I would like to share where EXAIR was able to supply different products to help save lettuce. 

PowerStream Liquid Nozzle

When vegetables come from the field, they need to be cleaned and packaged for delivery to grocery stores.  The first thing that they need to do is to wash the leaves to remove dirt, compost, and bugs.  They had drilled pipes to spray water onto the leaves, using a lot of water. They were looking to do it more economically. The vegetable packing house purchased the EXAIR PowerStream Liquid Nozzles, model DL8075SS, to do the washing.  These stainless steel nozzles were mounted on a manifold to spray water onto the lettuce leaves.  With the PowerStream nozzles, we can break the water into smaller droplet sizes to increase coverage and reduce water requirements.  Thus, saving money.

The next step would be to dry the lettuce.  They were using a blower-powered air knife, but they could not remove all the insects as it was not powerful enough.  Also, by blowing hotter air which was created by the blower, lettuce would start to brown much quicker.  To improve, they purchased a model 110036SS Stainless Steel Super Air Knife.  The Super Air Knife is an efficient, powerful way to blow compressed air.  With a 40:1 amplification ratio, it will draw in 40-parts of ambient air to 1-part compressed air.  From our Super Air Knife, we blow ambient temperature air, add mass to give a much higher force to remove the water and the insects, and save on compressed air consumption. 

To reduce spoilage, you must have the proper equipment.  For this company, they were able to improve their process to increase production.  And by utilizing less water and less compressed air, they were able to increase profit.  If you would like to improve your processes in packing houses, EXAIR has a variety of products that can help you.  You can contact an Application Engineer to discuss.  For the company above, more lettuce out the door meant more lettuce in their pockets. 

John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb

Photo of Vegetables by akadarcee.  Pixabay content license.

HollowStream Spray Nozzles

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

At EXAIR we are known for our intelligent compressed air products. We’ve written many blogs on the benefits of our quiet and efficient compressed air products. We also have a handful of products that don’t use compressed air. Our  HollowStream™ Cone Liquid Nozzles are one such product.

As the name would suggest, the HollowStream™ Cone Liquid Nozzles produce a hollow cone of liquid, creating a ring around the target. This will reduce the liquid usage as compared to the OmniStream™ Cone Liquid Nozzles.  They are available in NPT female threads in 1/8″, 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ sizes with a variety of liquid flow rates.

When fluid is supplied into the body, a swirling action is created within the vortex chamber. This vortex is what creates the cone pattern. Then the precision orifice of the nozzle breaks this surface tension of the liquid, exiting the nozzle with the hollow ring pattern. Compared to our Air Atomizing Spray Nozzles, these nozzles generate more liquid volume and produce a coarser spray pattern. They can achieve flow rates ranging from 0.06 GPM and up to 14.00 GPM.

Diagram illustrating airflow in a vortex tube, showing a spiral airflow pattern directed toward the exit.

They are all made of 303 stainless steel with a vaneless design to help resist clogging, making them a great option for slurries, or liquids containing particulate. They can handle 250 PSIG of liquid pressure and operate at temperatures up to 800°F. And due to the fact that they only require pressurized liquid, and not an additional source of compressed air, they are easy to plumb, and are suited for applications where there may be space constraints.

Some common applications include cooling, cleaning, washing, rinsing and dust suppression. As long as you know the spray pattern you are looking to achieve, or the flow rate you want to maintain, our performance tables in our catalog and website make it easy to make your selection.

A table detailing FullStream Cone Nozzles, including columns for inlet connection, model, capacity, max free passage, flow rate in GPM and LPM at various psi levels, and spray angle measurements.

If you would like to discuss your spray application, and how EXAIR’s products can save you money, then give us a call!

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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Twitter: @EXAIR_AW

Precision and Control with EXAIR Internal Mix Atomizing Nozzles

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

When it comes to applying coatings, cooling, humidifying, or lubricating, precision atomization makes all the difference. EXAIR’s Internal Mix Atomizing Nozzles are engineered to provide fine, uniform spray patterns with exceptional control—helping manufacturers achieve consistent results while conserving compressed air and liquid.

Internal Mix Atomizing Spray Nozzles

How EXAIR Internal Mix Atomizing Nozzles Work

EXAIR’s Internal Mix Atomizing Nozzles mix compressed air and liquid inside the nozzle body. This design produces the finest atomization and is ideal when both air and liquid flow rates can be precisely controlled.

The result? A highly consistent spray pattern with optimized droplet size and coverage—perfect for applications requiring accuracy and repeatability.

Key Benefits

  • Fine atomization: Internal mixing produces a mist with smaller droplets for superior coverage and surface finish.
  • Flexible spray patterns: Available in round, narrow-angle, and flat fan patterns to suit a wide range of needs.
  • Precise flow control: Independent adjustment of air and liquid allows you to fine-tune performance for your exact process.
  • Durable construction: Built in stainless steel for long life and corrosion resistance, even in harsh environments.
  • Reduced waste: Delivers the right amount of liquid—exactly where it’s needed—minimizing overspray and product loss.

Applications Across Industries

EXAIR Internal Mix Atomizing Nozzles are used in a wide variety of industries and processes, including:

  • Coating and painting of parts or products
  • Cooling of molds, tooling, and components
  • Moistening of materials in paper, textile, or food processing
  • Lubrication in metalworking or cutting operations
  • Dust suppression in handling and processing operations
142 distinct models. 8 different patterns. Liquid flow rates from 0.1 to 303 gallons per hour. If you’ve got a spraying application, EXAIR has an Atomizing Nozzle for you!

Why Choose EXAIR?

With EXAIR, you’re getting more than just a nozzle—you’re getting a complete engineered solution backed by decades of experience in compressed air efficiency. Every nozzle is designed for reliability, ease of maintenance, and precise performance, ensuring a consistent spray every time.

Looking to improve your spray application efficiency?
Explore EXAIR’s Internal Mix Atomizing Nozzles and discover how precision atomization can enhance quality, reduce waste, and improve process control in your operation.

Jordan Shouse, CCASS

Application Engineer

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