Noise generation in water jet technology

Water-jet technology is highly versatile and adaptable owing to the fact that its operating parameters (in particular, hydraulic pressure, flow rate and stand-off distance) can be adjusted to obtain the most suitable configuration depending on the specific application. Such characteristics give it a significant advantage which has led to the spread of this technology into numerous industrial sectors, including mineral, civil and environmental engineering. However, there are drawbacks regarding noise and therefore, the versatility of the technology could lead to severe health and safety issues in the workplace. This article presents the results of a study aimed at characterising the acoustic emission of water-jet technology in relation to key operating parameters. The results suggest some modification to operating practice in order to reduce the noise level of water-jet applications.