Analysis of the Influence of Nozzle Structure of Dry Powder Fire Extinguishing System on Supersonic Jet Characteristics

Abstract

The nozzle, as a critical jet component in dry powder fire extinguishing systems, significantly affects jet characteristics through its geometric configuration. To explore the influence of structural parameters on ultrafine dry powder gas-solid two-phase jet characteristics, a bidirectional coupled numerical model based on the SST k-ω turbulence model and the Discrete Phase Model is employed. This study examines how variations in the semi-expansion angle (α) and semi-contraction angle (β) of the nozzle affect compressible gas flow behavior and particle distribution trajectories through a combination of simulations and experiments. The results indicate that when α = 2°, the gas jet is in an under-expanded state, leading to increased particle dispersion due to the stripping effect of the surrounding high-speed airflow. Within the range of x = 0–180 mm, the dry powder exhibits a diffusion trend. When α = 4.5°, the gas jet core region is the longest, providing optimal particle acceleration. Under constant inlet pressure, reducing α enhances particle collimation. The reduction of α alters the gas jet state, with α = 2° showing better powder diffusion compared to α = 6°. However, an excessively small α is detrimental to increasing the range of dry powder. With consistent structural parameters, the diffusion and range of dry powder remain the same across different β values, and variations in β have a relatively minor impact on supersonic jet characteristics. These findings offer theoretical guidance for optimizing and improving nozzles in ultrafine dry powder fire extinguishing systems.