High Productivity Low Noise Abrasive Blast Nozzle

Navy vessels, along with other military, civil, and commercial equipment and structures, are routinely stripped by abrasive blasting in preparation for re-coating. Using existing nozzles, blasting generates continuous noise levels up to 145 dBA, and even with correctly worn double hearing protection, blasting operators are at risk of hearing damage. Noise induced hearing loss has become the most costly Department of Defense disability, and in FY15, 2.5M veterans received $1B in compensation benefits for tinnitus and hearing loss. Creare will develop an improved blast nozzle design that offers improved coating removal productivity and energy efficiency while reducing noise emissions by up to 30 dB relative to existing nozzles. This design will generate significant savings in labor, energy, and costs associated with hearing damage, making this nozzle a disruptive technology evolution that will be attractive in essentially all military and commercial blasting operations.