Patent ID: 8616464

Claim:
A method for producing particles comprising: providing an atomizer comprising: a first annular channel for a liquid flow, wherein said first annular channel comprises a constriction having a diameter less than 0.51 mm for spreading a liquid into a thin film in the channel; and a first circular gas flow channel and a second annular channel for an atomizing gas flow, wherein said first and second annular channels are concentric, wherein said first annular channel is intermediate to the first circular gas flow channel and the second annular channel, and wherein said first circular gas flow channel and said second annular channel are positioned so that the atomizing gas impinges the liquid thin film to produce droplets at an impingement point downstream from a contact point between the liquid thin film and gas from the second annular channel; a third gas flow channel in fluid communication with and perpendicular to said first circular gas flow channel at the impingement point, wherein a flow of gas exiting the third gas flow channel impinges the liquid thin film; providing a drying chamber to dry the droplets to produce particles; providing a collector to collect the dried particles; and atomizing a liquid feedstock with the atomizer, drying the droplets produced thereby with the drying chamber, and collecting the dried particles with the collector.