Development of novel cleaning systems for improving immersion cleaning based on the hunting behaviour of the pistol shrimp

Abstract Submersion-based cleaning methods such as ultrasound cleaning or pressure flooding are used very frequently, especially in industrial parts cleaning applications and also for heat exchangers. However, these methods have weaknesses when it comes to cleaning hard-to-reach areas such as holes and grooves. Therefore, methods are needed that improve cleaning especially in these areas. In this work, systems that imitate the hunting behaviour of the pistol shrimp were developed for this purpose. By abruptly closing its claw, the pistol shrimp creates a strong cavitation bubble with which it can scare off or stun attackers and prey. The aim was to generate high-speed water jets in a submerged state in order to imitate this cavitation effect. This was realised by using technical principles, which are also industrially applicable. For this purpose, two prototypes were developed, which generate targeted cavitation bubbles in different ways. The formation and implosion of the cavitation bubbles were visualized by high-speed imaging. In addition, experiments were carried out to determine the cleaning effect of the cavitating jets for a persistent test model soil. Finally, the results were evaluated and the two different approaches to create high-speed fluid jets with cavitation bubbles were assessed in terms of their cleaning performance.