Patent ID: 7850149

Claim:
A nozzle assembly for a desuperheating device configured for spraying cooling water, the nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet fluidly interconnected by a plurality of housing passages, the housing outlet defining a valve seat; and a valve element disposed within the nozzle housing and axially slidable therewithin between a closed and an open position, the valve element having a valve body and a valve stem extending axially outwardly therefrom, the valve body including upper and lower body portions separated by a circumferential opening, the upper body portion having a conical outer surface, the lower body portion having an outer surface; wherein the conical outer surface is sealingly engagable to the valve seat such that the flow of cooling water out of the nozzle housing is prevented when the valve element is in the closed position, the conical outer surface and the valve seat collectively defining an annular gap when the valve element is axially displaced to the open position such that the cooling water may pass through the annular gap.