Effect of Nozzle Geometry on the Flow Dynamics and Resistance Inside and Outside the Cone-Straight Nozzle

The cone-straight nozzle has been commonly utilized in various applications, such as cleaning, cutting, and drilling, and hence investigated extensively with simulations and experiments. However, the internal flow patterns and dynamics, as well as the influence of internal flow on jetting performance, remain unclear. In this study, we carry out both experiments and computational fluid dynamics to understand the effect of different converging angles of the cone-straight nozzle on internal and external flow patterns. Nozzle flows are simulated by a large eddy simulations model and further compared with the experimental flow fields obtained by a particle image velocimetry (PIV) method. Nozzles with different converging angles and throat lengths have been used experimentally. The influence of nozzle converging angle, throat length, and inlet flow speed on flow field, skin friction resistance, and viscous force is discussed. Associated boundary layer transition and separation are investigated comparatively. The flow discharge coefficient and flow core length are measured by the PIV test system with a high-pressure pump. The experimental results show that a specific converging angle and flow speed can cause the boundary layer transition and separation. Skin friction resistance increases first and then decreases with the increase of inlet flow speed when the angle is larger than 20°. The resistance decreases gradually when the angle is lower than 15°. Importantly, the skin friction resistance remains a lower level when the converging angle is 15°, in agreement with the previous research results. The experimental results show that the nozzle with a converging angle of 10° or 15° has a higher discharge coefficient and a better cluster capacity. The nozzle with a throat length of 3 times the outlet diameter has a longer flow core. Considering the nozzle size, the nozzle with a converging angle of 15° and a throat length of 3 times the diameter of the outlet is suggested when the nozzle is used in jetting for obtaining a longer jetting distance.