Patent ID: 7726408

Claim:
A method of operating a fire suppression system, said system having an emitter comprising: a nozzle having an unobstructed bore positioned between an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle inlet being connected in fluid communication with a pressurized gas source, said outlet having a diameter; a duct, separate from said nozzle and connected in fluid communication with a pressurized liquid source, said duct having an exit orifice positioned adjacent to said nozzle outlet; a deflector surface positioned facing said nozzle outlet in spaced relation thereto, said deflector surface comprising a flat surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to said nozzle, said flat surface having a wetted area defined by a minimum diameter approximately equal to said outlet diameter; said method comprising: discharging said liquid from said exit orifice; discharging said gas from said nozzle outlet, said gas achieving supersonic speed; establishing a first shock front between said outlet and said deflector surface wherein said gas slows to subsonic speed and then impinges on said wetted area; establishing a second shock front proximate to said deflector surface, said gas moving across said wetted area and increasing to supersonic speed between said first shock front and said second shock front, and decreasing in speed after passing through said second shock front; entraining said liquid in said gas proximate to said second shock front to form a liquid-gas stream; and projecting said liquid-gas stream from said emitter.