An Analytical and Experimental Study of Cleaning With Moving Waterjets

Abstract

A mathematical model of cleaning with moving waterjet is established by considering the structure of waterjet and applying Springer’s semi-empirical model on material erosion due to impact of water droplets. Based on this model, the cleaning width as a function of travel speed, standoff distance, water pressure, and nozzle radius is derived. Also derived is the relation of the critical cleaning standoff distance to travel speed, water pressure, and nozzle radius. The validity of the derived relations is verified by conducting moving waterjet experiments with varied cleaning system parameters.