The pressure attenuator (number 11 in Figures 13 and 2) smoothes out variations in pressure after the high pressure water has exited the intensifier. With each reversal of cycle of the intensifier, there is a slight delay in the increase of water pressure in the opposite high pressure cylinder. This delay is due to: 1) reversal of motion where instantaneous velocity at the end of the stroke equals zero, and 2) mechanical delays of reversal. All of these factors can result in a drop in water pressure. Some manufacturers do use proprietary technology to reduce this pressure drop, which we suggest you investigate when selecting a pump. Generally, if a 50 HP pump can sustain a 0.014" orifice at 60,000 psi continuous operating pressure, the implication is that this hydraulic pressure drop challenge will have been addressed.

The pressure attenuator (number 11 in Figures 13 and 2) smoothes out variations in pressure after the high pressure water has exited the intensifier. With each reversal of cycle of the intensifier, there is a slight delay in the increase of water pressure in the opposite high pressure cylinder. This delay is due to: 1) reversal of motion where instantaneous velocity at the end of the stroke equals zero, and 2) mechanical delays of reversal. All of these factors can result in a drop in water pressure. Some manufacturers do use proprietary technology to reduce this pressure drop, which we suggest you investigate when selecting a pump. Generally, if a 50 HP pump can sustain a 0.014" orifice at 60,000 psi continuous operating pressure, the implication is that this hydraulic pressure drop challenge will have been addressed.

Figure 14 shows the pressure fluctuations in the high pressure water line prior to the pressure accumulator. This shows a pressure change from high to low of almost 22,000 psi. So, for a 60,000 psi system, the high pressure water would be going from 60,000 psi to 40,000 psi after every stroke of the intensifier.

If this pressure fluctuation were not smoothed out by the pressure attenuator, cutting results at the work piece would be undesirable. There would be a significant line in the part with every stroke of the intensifier. Recall that any change in pressure results in a change in speed of the waterjet stream at the cutting head. This change in speed changes the speed at which the abrasive particles are moving and, therefore, the amount of force they will impart on the work piece. Lower pressure leads to less speed of the water which leads to less force of the abrasive which leads to slower cutting, or rougher edge quality.

Fortunately the pressure attenuator smoothes out these pressure spikes so that the water at the cutting head maintains a steady pressure, speed and cutting power.

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