Research on jet characteristics of new composite cavitation nozzle

The cavitation jet cleaning technology is efficient, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly, yet its limited cavitation capacity restricts its application in tasks like rust removal, scale removal, and paint stripping. To address this, a new composite cavitation nozzle based on ultrasonic modulation is developed, enhancing jet erosion capabilities through cavitation and pulse-enhanced mechanisms. Simulations using FLUENT reveal that the new nozzle generates a surface pressure of approximately 3.26 MPa, exceeding organ-pipe nozzles and displaying pronounced pulse fluctuations. Experimental results further demonstrate an average jet impact force of 3.4 MPa with regular pulse patterns. In sandstone erosion tests, the nozzle achieves an average erosion depth of 3.80 mm at an inlet pressure of 15 MPa, with erosion depth proportional to inlet pressure. The nozzle also exhibits superior cleaning performance in decontamination trials. Compared with traditional high-pressure and organ-pipe nozzles, the new composite nozzle significantly improves jet amplitude, pulse stability, and overall cleaning efficacy. These findings provide a practical, innovative approach for advancing cavitation jet technology in engineering applications.