Nozzle Size for Surface Cleaners

JBurd

JBurd

New member
I might be splitting hairs here, but I heard somewhere that when calculating nozzle size in a scenario where you are splitting the flow into more than one nozzle (like a surface cleaner), it's not technically precise to divide the nozzle size from the chart by the number of nozzles. Yes, I know it gets you close enough, but I heard that there is something in the geometry and fluid mechanics that makes it imprecise. Does anyone have a formula to adjust for this, or at least know which direction the chart would error toward? The reason I ask is that I have a scenario where I am "in between" nozzle sizes for my new surface cleaner, and I have another dream project that involves about 10 nozzles, and I figure the effect will be multiplied.
 
Pressure gauge
 
If you're in between sizes then you're just going to have to choose between a slightly higher or lower pressure..... Now to the fun stuff - could you elaborate on this dream project?


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SprayBar nozzle matching, etc.

BigHal is saying that mis-matching orifice sizes will cause you to sacrifice flow or pressure.

And there's no general difference in sizing groups of nozzles, except wear-rates..
smaller and wider orifices wear faster than larger or narrower ones.

here's a few harder questions..
given a 3 nozzle SprayBar with 25 degree nozzles

vs. 4 nozzle SprayBar with 15 degree nozzles..
What's the difference in wear-rate ? ..and which one gives you better forward WorkSpeed (..without zebraStripes) ?
.. if the larger SprayBar is heavier, it might not spin as fast ??

If we want to maximize flow, matching nozzles..
where one of 3 is a different size, does the swivel wear out faster ?

..and yeah.. elaborate on that "Dream Project"..
.. I specialize in fulfilling those dreams :{)
 
Last edited:
Sirocco Jerry said:
BigHal is saying that mis-matching orifice sizes will cause you to sacrifice flow or pressure.

And there's no general difference in sizing groups of nozzles, except wear-rates..
smaller and wider orifices wear faster than larger or narrower ones.

here's a few harder questions..
given a 3 nozzle SprayBar with 25 degree nozzles

vs. 4 nozzle SprayBar with15degree nozzles..
What's the difference in wear-rate ? ..and which one gives you better forward WorkSpeed (..without zebraStripes) ?
.. if the larger SprayBar is heavier, it might not spin as fast ??

If we want to maximize flow, matching nozzles..
where one of 3 is a different size, does the swivel wear out faster ?

..and yeah.. elaborate on that "Dream Project"..
.. I specialize in fulfilling those dreams :{)
Click to expand...

Good to know...I think I figured I need 3.5 nozzles for my 6.5gpm 3000 psi surface cleaner. The dream project is just a 10' wide soap applicator bar (around 300 psi), something like the booms the farmers use except with a windshield and designed to soap vertical surfaces when overspray is critically dangerous. I made one with pin holes for a mid-rise project I consulted on last year, but fan nozzles would be better.
 
JBurd said:
I might be splitting hairs here, but I heard somewhere that when calculating nozzle size in a scenario where you are splitting the flow into more than one nozzle (like a surface cleaner), it's not technically precise to divide the nozzle size from the chart by the number of nozzles. Yes, I know it gets you close enough, but I heard that there is something in the geometry and fluid mechanics that makes it imprecise. Does anyone have a formula to adjust for this, or at least know which direction the chart would error toward? The reason I ask is that I have a scenario where I am "in between" nozzle sizes for my new surface cleaner, and I have another dream project that involves about 10 nozzles, and I figure the effect will be multiplied.
Click to expand...

Are you saying 2 #4 nozzles don't equal a #8 nozzle? Because on my 5.5 machine I get 2500 psi with a drip coming out of the bypass, with a #7 nozzle. I get 2500 psi with a drip using 2 #3.5's, so the difference has to be slight. I use a #3.5 and a #4 nozzle on each side of my 4 nozzle bar, with no uneven cleaning, so it is possible to mismatch nozzles. If that helps.
 
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