Effect of Nozzle Geometry on Hydroentangling Water Jets: Experimental Observations

Abstract

This paper reports on the role of nozzle geometry on the characteristics of hydroen tangling water jets, specifically the behavior of three different conventional nozzle geometries under pressures below 3500 psi. Profiles of the water jets are digitized with a Nikon Dlx digital camera from which we extract the water-jet breakup lengths and spray angles under different operating conditions. Our preliminary data indicate that the cone-up nozzle produces water jets with considerably shorter intact lengths and slightly larger spray angles and a higher coefficient of discharge compared to the two other geometries considered. We attribute this distinct behavior to friction-induced and cavitation-induced turbulence inside the cone-up nozzles; a constricted water jet is formed by cone-down or cylindrical nozzles. Our results are in excellent agreement with previous experimental and computational data.