Abstract: A process of creating an aerosol includes coating at least one of a pair of counter-rotating, adjacent rollers with a fluid, the pair of counter-rotating rollers defining a nip therebetween, rotating the counter-rotating rollers to cause the fluid to be drawn into an upstream side of the nip, causing fluid filaments of the fluid to form on a downstream side of the nip, the fluid filaments stretching between respective surfaces of the pair of counter-rotating rollers and breaking into droplets on the downstream side of the nip, and harvesting the droplets at the downstream side of the nip.

Abstract: An aerosol creation system includes a pair of counter-rotating rollers, a nip between the two rollers, the nip having an upstream side and a downstream side, and a pool of fluid on the upstream side of the nip, the fluid being drawn into the nip through the motion of the rollers, such that on the downstream side the fluid stretches between diverging surfaces of the two rollers and forms filaments that breaks up into droplets. A multi-roller aerosol creation system includes more than two rollers arranged to touch each other in a configuration, wherein areas where the rollers touch form nips, each nip having an upstream side and a downstream side, wherein the downstream side of the nips are positioned within a central space within the configuration of the rollers, and fluid surrounding the circular configuration, wherein an outer region of the circular configuration forms the upstream side of the nips.

Abstract: A method of creating aerosols includes drawing a fluid from a fluid source through a first nip, the first nip defined between a first roller and an inner surface of a ring, the first nip having an upstream side and a downstream side, drawing the fluid from the fluid source through a second nip, the second nip defined between a second roller and the inner surface of the ring, the second roller positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the first roller in a circular configuration, the second nip having an upstream side and a downstream side, stretching the fluid between diverging surfaces of the first roller and the inner surface of the ring on the downstream side of the first nip to form a first fluid filament, stretching the fluid between diverging surface of the second roller and the inner surface of the ring on the downstream side of the second nip to form a second fluid filament, causing the first fluid filament to break into a plurality of first droplets, and causing the second fluid filament to break

Abstract: A controlled-volume spray deposition system has a fluid feed system including a pair of bi-directional, counter-rotating rollers to dispense fluid as a first surface, the rollers operable to rotate in a first direction to dispense the fluid, a second surface positioned to receive the fluid when the rollers rotate in the first direction, and the rollers operable to rotate in a second direction to retract the fluid to cause the fluid to stretch and form a filament until it breaks to form a spray. A method of generating a controlled-volume spray includes feeding fluid between two counter-rotating rollers as a first surface as they rotate in a first direction until the fluid contacts a second surface, reversing the counter-rotating rollers such that they pull the fluid to form a fluid filament, and causing the filament to break into a spray.

Abstract: A method of creating a three-dimensional object includes generating a spray from a fluid by stretching the fluid between two diverging surfaces into a fluid filament until the fluid filament breaks into a plurality of droplets and forms the spray, entraining the spray in a carrier gas flow, directing the carrier gas flow toward a target surface through a multi-nozzle array, and repeatedly applying the carrier gas flow on a target surface to form the three-dimensional object by controlling the direction of the carrier gas flow toward the target surface.

Abstract: A method of creating aerosols includes drawing a fluid from a fluid source through a first nip, the first nip defined between a first roller and an inner surface of a ring, the first nip having an upstream side and a downstream side, drawing the fluid from the fluid source through a second nip, the second nip defined between a second roller and the inner surface of the ring, the second roller positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the first roller in a circular configuration, the second nip having an upstream side and a downstream side, stretching the fluid between diverging surfaces of the first roller and the inner surface of the ring on the downstream side of the first nip to form a first fluid filament, stretching the fluid between diverging surface of the second roller and the inner surface of the ring on the downstream side of the second nip to form a second fluid filament, causing the first fluid filament to break into a plurality of first droplets, and causing the second fluid filament to break

Abstract: The disclosed spray deposition systems and methods use spray charging and discharging techniques to assist with digital deposition of spray droplets on a substrate. For example, the disclosed systems and methods have a charging system that generates spray droplets from a spray generator and charges the droplets. Focusing electrodes help to collimate the droplets into a tight droplet stream and, optionally, steering electrodes help direct the tight droplet stream. A charge removal system neutralizes or removes the charge from the droplets, either during the deposition of the droplets on a substrate or after the droplets have been deposited on a substrate.

Abstract: Aerosols can be created by filament stretching and breaking of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids by applying a strain to and stretching the fluid. The fluid is stretched along a strain pathway and forms a fluid filament between diverging surfaces. The stretched fluid filament breaks into droplets that can be harvested to form a mist or aerosol. The aerosol creation systems can include one or more pairs of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned adjacent to each other that stretch the fluid or a pair of pistons that move toward and away from each other to stretch the fluid. Some aerosol creation systems can include multiple pairs of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned in a circular, oval, or linear pattern. The aerosol creation system with multiple pairs of counter-rotating rollers can generate mist is one or more directions and can be positioned between two concentric rings or linearly, among other configurations.

Abstract: A process of creating an aerosol includes coating at least one of a pair of counter-rotating, adjacent rollers with a fluid, the pair of counter-rotating rollers defining a nip therebetween, rotating the counter-rotating rollers to cause the fluid to be drawn into an upstream side of the nip, causing fluid filaments of the fluid to form on a downstream side of the nip, the fluid filaments stretching between respective surfaces of the pair of counter-rotating rollers and breaking into droplets on the downstream side of the nip, and harvesting the droplets at the downstream side of the nip.

Abstract: A method of creating a three-dimensional object includes generating a spray from a fluid by stretching the fluid between two diverging surfaces into a fluid filament until the fluid filament breaks into a plurality of droplets and forms the spray, entraining the spray in a carrier gas flow, directing the carrier gas flow toward a target surface through a multi-nozzle array, and repeatedly applying the carrier gas flow on a target surface to form the three-dimensional object by controlling the direction of the carrier gas flow toward the target surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for estimating a location of a gas leak, based on machine learning from forward gas concentration data provided by an analog or scale model including a gas source. The system improves significantly over previous systems by providing high quality, physically accurate forward modeling data inexpensively. During operation, the system configures an aerosol source at a first location to emit a gaseous aerosol. The system then configures a laser source to illuminate the aerosol with a laser sheet. The system may then obtain an image of a reflection of the laser sheet from the aerosol. The system may then analyze the image to quantify a three-dimensional concentration distribution of the aerosol. The system may then estimate, based on solving an inverse problem and an observed second gas concentration, a second location of a second gas source.

Abstract: Polymer spray deposition systems and methods are disclosed that can be used with a wide range of thermoplastic materials to produce high resolution objects having the complexity and structural integrity typically only achieved using more traditional manufacturing techniques, like injection molding processes. The polymeric spray deposition systems and methods use a spray generator that stretches the fluid between two diverging surfaces, such as two rollers or between two pistons. The stretched fluid breaks apart into a plurality of droplets and is guided through a delivery system, that can include an optional droplet size selector, and into a multi-nozzle array. The multi-nozzle array is controlled and directs the spray onto a target surface, thereby creating a three-dimensional object. The disclosed polymer spray deposition systems and methods can be used in three-dimensional print heads and printing techniques.

Abstract: Aerosols can be created by filament stretching and breaking of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids by applying a strain to and stretching the fluid. The fluid is stretched along a strain pathway and forms a fluid filament. The fluid filament is caused to break into droplets that can be harvested to form a mist or aerosol. Such a system for aerosol creation can include a pair of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned adjacent to each other that stretch the fluid or a pair of pistons that move toward and away from each other to stretch the fluid.

Abstract: Aerosols can be created by filament stretching and breaking of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids by applying a strain to and stretching the fluid. The fluid is stretched along a strain pathway and forms a fluid filament. The fluid filament is caused to break into droplets that can be harvested to form a mist or aerosol. Such a system for aerosol creation can include a pair of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned adjacent to each other that stretch the fluid or a pair of pistons that move toward and away from each other to stretch the fluid.

Abstract: The disclosed spray deposition systems and methods use spray charging and discharging techniques to assist with digital deposition of spray droplets on a substrate. For example, the disclosed systems and methods have a charging system that generates spray droplets from a spray generator and charges the droplets. Focusing electrodes help to collimate the droplets into a tight droplet stream and, optionally, steering electrodes help direct the tight droplet stream. A charge removal system neutralizes or removes the charge from the droplets, either during the deposition of the droplets on a substrate or after the droplets have been deposited on a substrate.

Abstract: The disclosed spray deposition systems and methods use spray charging and discharging techniques to assist with digital deposition of spray droplets on a substrate. For example, the disclosed systems and methods have a charging system that generates spray droplets from a spray generator and charges the droplets. Focusing electrodes help to collimate the droplets into a tight droplet stream and, optionally, steering electrodes help direct the tight droplet stream. A charge removal system neutralizes or removes the charge from the droplets, either during the deposition of the droplets on a substrate or after the droplets have been deposited on a substrate.

Abstract: A controlled-volume spray deposition system has a fluid feed system including a pair of bi-directional, counter-rotating rollers to dispense fluid as a first surface, the rollers operable to rotate in a first direction to dispense the fluid, a second surface positioned to receive the fluid when the rollers rotate in the first direction, and the rollers operable to rotate in a second direction to retract the fluid to cause the fluid to stretch and form a filament until it breaks to form a spray. A method of generating a controlled-volume spray includes feeding fluid between two counter-rotating rollers as a first surface as they rotate in a first direction until the fluid contacts a second surface, reversing the counter-rotating rollers such that they pull the fluid to form a fluid filament, and causing the filament to break into a spray.

Abstract: Aerosols can be created by filament stretching and breaking of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids by applying a strain to and stretching the fluid. The fluid is stretched along a strain pathway and forms a fluid filament between diverging surfaces. The stretched fluid filament breaks into droplets that can be harvested to form a mist or aerosol. The aerosol creation systems can include one or more pairs of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned adjacent to each other that stretch the fluid or a pair of pistons that move toward and away from each other to stretch the fluid. Some aerosol creation systems can include multiple pairs of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned in a circular, oval, or linear pattern. The aerosol creation system with multiple pairs of counter-rotating rollers can generate mist is one or more directions and can be positioned between two concentric rings or linearly, among other configurations.

Abstract: Aerosols can be created by filament stretching and breaking of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids by applying a strain to and stretching the fluid. The fluid is stretched along a strain pathway and forms a fluid filament between diverging surfaces. The stretched fluid filament breaks into droplets that can be harvested to form a mist or aerosol. The aerosol creation systems can include one or more pairs of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned adjacent to each other that stretch the fluid or a pair of pistons that move toward and away from each other to stretch the fluid. Some aerosol creation systems can include multiple pairs of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned in a circular, oval, or linear pattern. The aerosol creation system with multiple pairs of counter-rotating rollers can generate mist is one or more directions and can be positioned between two concentric rings or linearly, among other configurations.

Abstract: Aerosols can be created by filament stretching and breaking of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids by applying a strain to and stretching the fluid. The fluid is stretched along a strain pathway and forms a fluid filament between diverging surfaces. The stretched fluid filament breaks into droplets that can be harvested to form a mist or aerosol. The aerosol creation systems can include one or more pairs of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned adjacent to each other that stretch the fluid or a pair of pistons that move toward and away from each other to stretch the fluid. Some aerosol creation systems can include multiple pairs of counter-rotating rollers that are positioned in a circular, oval, or linear pattern. The aerosol creation system with multiple pairs of counter-rotating rollers can generate mist is one or more directions and can be positioned between two concentric rings or linearly, among other configurations.