Rapid prototyping of water nozzles using CFD modeling and 3D printing results

Abstract

In recent years, there has been greater interest in rapid prototyping methods employed in various industries. Prototypes are increasingly often made using 3D printing technology, which is mainly due to the relatively low costs of developing and producing such a structure and the short time needed for their physical production. The work presents the possibility of using rapid prototyping techniques, such as water propulsion nozzles. They are mainly used in the energy industry, e.g. for the production of water mist in jets or condensers. Such nozzles enable the formation of a stream, and its range and efficiency depend on the design requirements. CFD (computational fluid dynamics) tools and 3D printing will be used to assess the nozzle’s effectiveness. A 3D printer based on FDM technology was used to produce nozzle prototypes. The CFD results were verified with experiment. Analyzes for four different nozzle shapes are presented and the discrepancies between the results of the initial experimental and numerical analyses are explained. To indicate the imperfections resulting from 3D printing, a 3D scanner was used to show the internal cross-section of the nozzle. The research conducted indicates the significant potential of 3D printing in rapid prototyping and its effectiveness in creating functional models for various engineering applications.