Acoustic streaming induced by ultrasonic flexural vibrations and associated enhancement of convective heat transfer

Acoustic streaming induced by ultrasonic flexural vibrations and the associated convection enhancement are investigated. Acoustic streaming pattern, streaming velocity, and associated heat transfer characteristics are experimentally observed. Moreover, analytical analysis based on Nyborg's formulation is performed along with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation using a numerical solver CFX 4.3. Two distinctive acoustic streaming patterns in half-wavelength of the flexural vibrations are observed, which agree well with the theory. However, acoustic streaming velocities obtained from CFD simulation, based on the incompressible flow assumption, exceed the theoretically estimated velocity by a factor ranging from 10 to 100, depending upon the location along the beam. Both CFD simulation and analytical analysis reveal that the acoustic streaming velocity is proportional to the square of the vibration amplitude and the wavelength of the vibrating beam that decreases with the excitation frequency. It is observed that the streaming velocity decreases with the excitation frequency. Also, with an open-ended channel, a substantial increase in streaming velocity is observed from CFD simulations. Using acoustic streaming, a temperature drop of 40 degrees C with a vibration amplitude of 25 microm at 28.4 kHz is experimentally achieved.     

Enhancement of heat transfer in forced convection by using dual low-high frequency ultrasound

Combined sonication with dual-frequency ultrasound has been investigated to enhance heat transfer in forced convection. The test section used for this study consists of a channel with, on one hand, heating blocks normal to the water flow, equipped with thermocouples, and, on the other hand, two ultrasonic emitters. One is facing the heating blocks, thus the ultrasonic field is perpendicular, and the second ultrasonic field is collinear to the water flow. Two types of ultrasonic waves were used: low-frequency ultrasound (25 kHz) to generate mainly acoustic cavitation and high-frequency ultrasound (2 MHz) well-known to induce Eckart’s acoustic streaming. A thermal approach was conducted to investigate heat transfer enhancement in the presence of ultrasound. This approach was completed with PIV measurements to assess the hydrodynamic behavior modifications under ultrasound. Sonochemiluminescence experiments were performed to account for the presence and the location of acoustic cavitation within the water flow. The results have shown a synergetic effect using combined low-and-high-frequency sonication. Enhancement of heat transfer is related to greater induced turbulence within the water flow by comparison with single-frequency sonication. However, the ultrasonically-induced turbulence is not homogeneously distributed within the water flow and the synergy effect on heat transfer enhancement depends mainly on the generation of turbulence along the heating wall. For the optimal configuration of dual-frequency sonication used in this work, a local heat transfer enhancement factor up to 366% was observed and Turbulent Kinetic Energy was enhanced by up to 84% when compared to silent regime.     

Investigation on influencing factors of acoustic streaming in thermoacoustic waveguides with slowly varying cross-section

The influencing factors of acoustic streaming in thermoacoustic waveguides with slowly varying cross-section are analyzed based on theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. The distribution curves of acoustic streaming velocity in waveguides with different characteristic scales are presented in several specific cases.The results show that appropriate forms of varying cross-section can strengthen or weaken acoustic streaming for specific acoustic fields and the thermophysical parameters have no effect on this part.In addition,the influence of time-average temperature distribution on acoustic streaming is substantial in tubes with a width of the order of the thermal penetration depth.Without time-average temperature distribution,the effect of heat conduction on acoustic streaming is great in tubes whose width is an order of about 10 to 20 times the viscous penetration depth.     

Acoustic Streaming under Thermal Boundary Conditions of the Third Kind

A numerical study of acoustic streaming in a cylindrical cavity subjected to vibrational action with a small vibration amplitude is performed. The dependence of the streaming character on the intensity of heat exchange with the surrounding medium is studied. A change in the forms of the acoustic streaming vortices is shown for a smooth transition from adiabatic to isothermal boundary conditions, which occurs via variation in the heat transfer coefficient. The values of the dimensionless heat transfer coefficient are determined for which the acoustic streaming pattern is close to the limiting cases corresponding to adiabatic and isothermal boundary conditions. For limiting cases of thermal boundary conditions, comparison with an analytical solution is performed.     

渐变截面热声波导管内的声流影响因素分析

通过理论分析和数值仿真,对渐变截面热声波导管内声流各影响因素进行了具体的分析,并给出了不同情形下波导管内的声流速度分布特性曲线。研究表明,热物理参数对渐变截面导致的声流变化无影响,针对具体的声场设计合适的截面变化形式可以使得管内声流在整体上得到一定程度的抑制或加强。此外,当波导管截面尺度与热穿透深度同数量级时,轴向时均温度分布对声流的影响十分显著。当不存在非零时均温度梯度时,热传导效应对声流的影响在管截面尺度为黏性穿透深度约10至20倍量级时最大。      

流体低速绕流振动圆柱对流换热数值研究

运用Fluent的动态网格技术,对空气低速绕流振动圆柱的对流换热进行了研究,分析了流动和振动参数对换热的影响。数值计算表明,在本文计算范围内,壁面振动可使换热强化,最大可强化9倍,换热的强化随振幅和频率的增大而增大。场协同分析表明,圆柱振动强化换热的原因在于速度场和温度梯度场之间的协同程度得到了改善。     

Macrosonics in industry: 4. Chemical processing

Acoustic irradiation can result in increased inter-phase mass and heat transfer rates. The second-order acoustic effects of cavitation, interfacial instability, radiation pressure and acoustic streaming are responsible for the enhancement in these rate processes. The application of sonic and ultrasonic energy in industrial processing is reviewed. A number of units using acoustic energy to enhance rates of conventional unit processes, for example, drying, solid-liquid extraction, etc, are described. In addition, new applications in waste water treatment and oil-water emulsion fuels are described. The development of newer, more efficient generators should lead to a greater use of acoustic energy for large-scale industrial processing.     

声波作用下球形颗粒外声流分布的数值模拟

综合考虑声学边界层内的热损失和黏性损失,建立处于平面驻波声压波节位置二维球形颗粒外声流计算模型,利用分离时间尺度的数值方法对颗粒外声流流场特征进行模拟。将模拟结果与相应的解析解和实验结果对比,验证了数值模拟的可靠性。在此基础上,研究了雷诺数Re和斯特劳哈尔数Sr对球形颗粒声学边界层内二阶声流流场结构、涡流强度及范围的影响规律。结果表明,随Sr和Re增大,声学边界层内的涡流结构尺度呈指数形式减小,其涡流尺度与颗粒直径D和激励频率f成反比,与流体介质运动黏度v成正比;且满足低Sr和高Re的声振系统可形成范围较大、更强烈的声流运动。该数值方法可用于对任意物理模型外声流特性的评估。      

A thermoacoustic-Stirling heat engine: detailed study

A new type of thermoacoustic engine based on traveling waves and ideally reversible heat transfer is described. Measurements and analysis of its performance are presented. This new engine outperforms previous thermoacoustic engines, which are based on standing waves and intrinsically irreversible heat transfer, by more than 50%. At its most efficient operating point, it delivers 710 W of acoustic power to its resonator with a thermal efficiency of 0.30, corresponding to 41% of the Carnot efficiency. At its most powerful operating point, it delivers 890 W to its resonator with a thermal efficiency of 0.22. The efficiency of this engine can be degraded by two types of acoustic streaming. These are suppressed by appropriate tapering of crucial surfaces in the engine and by using additional nonlinearity to induce an opposing time-averaged pressure difference. Data are presented which show the nearly complete elimination of the streaming convective heat loads. Analysis of these and other irreversibilities show which components of the engine require further research to achieve higher efficiency. Additionally, these data show that the dynamics and acoustic power flows are well understood, but the details of the streaming suppression and associated heat convection are only qualitatively understood.     

Characterization of acoustic streaming and heating using synchronized infrared thermography and particle image velocimetry

Real-time measurements of acoustic streaming velocities and surface temperature fields using synchronized particle image velocimetry and infrared thermography are reported. Measurements were conducted using a 20 kHz Langevin type acoustic horn mounted vertically in a model sonochemical reactor of either degassed water or a glycerin-water mixture. These dissipative phenomena are found to be sensitive to small variations in the medium viscosity, and a correlation between the heat flux and vorticity was determined for unsteady convective heat transfer.     

声波作用下铜球传热特性实验*

针对频率为500 Hz～3000 Hz和声压级为110 d B～133 d B的声场作用对铜球在空气中自然冷却的传热特性的影响,通过热电偶测温的方法,分析铜球温度梯度的分布与声场声压级、频率以及铜球直径的关系。结果表面,当频率f一定时,随着声压级的增加,铜球的传热效果得到明显增强,对于直径为5 mm的铜球,在133 d B声场中传热系数最大增加了25%。当声压级一定时,在频率范围中存在某一频率,此时铜球的传热系数最大,此特殊频率随着声压级的增大而增大。当铜球的直径为5 mm时,可以在低频段观测到声流效应的影响,而当铜球的直径为10 mm、15mm时,很难在低频段辨别出声流效应的影响。所得结论为声波应用于电站锅炉中,强化煤颗粒燃烧提供了依据。     

Acoustic streaming with allowance for heat transfer

Acoustic streaming in a gas-filled cavity under vibration is numerically investigated. The case of thermally insulated cavity walls is compared with the case of walls maintained at a constant temperature. A strong influence of heat transfer on the acoustic streaming pattern is revealed for weakly nonlinear processes and vibration frequencies below resonance. Cavities of different diameters are considered.     

Characterization of high intensity focused ultrasound transducers using acoustic streaming

A new approach for characterizing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducers is presented. The technique is based upon the acoustic streaming field generated by absorption of the HIFU beam in a liquid medium. The streaming field is quantified using digital particle image velocimetry, and a numerical algorithm is employed to compute the acoustic intensity field giving rise to the observed streaming field. The method as presented here is applicable to moderate intensity regimes, above the intensities which may be damaging to conventional hydrophones, but below the levels where nonlinear propagation effects are appreciable. Intensity fields and acoustic powers predicted using the streaming method were found to agree within 10% with measurements obtained using hydrophones and radiation force balances. Besides acoustic intensity fields, the streaming technique may be used to determine other important HIFU parameters, such as beam tilt angle or absorption of the propagation medium.     

肋片双面带涡产生器的扁管管片式散热器数值研究

采用数值模拟的方法,研究了流道内上下两肋片均布置有涡产生器的扁管管片式散热板芯的传热与阻力特性,并与流道单面布置涡产生器的换热板芯进行了对比.结果表明,采用双面带涡产生器的肋片表面能在提高Nu的同时,降低流动阻力,换热性能得到了明显的提高,在Re=1500时,平均Nu数提高了8.6%,横向平均Nu最大提高了30%,阻力下降了6.5%.     

Droplet combustion in standing sound waves

Interaction between droplet combustion and acoustic oscillation is clarified. As the simplest model, an isolated fuel droplet is combusted in a standing sound wave. Apart from the conventional idea that oscillatory component of flow influences heat and mass transfer and promotes combustion, a new model that a secondary flow dominates combustion promotion is examined. The secondary flow, found by the authors in the previous work, is driven by acoustic radiation force due to Reynolds normal stress, and named as thermo-acoustic streaming. Since the force is described by the same equation as buoyancy, i.e., F = ΔρVg, the nature of the streaming is thought to be the same as natural convection. The flow patterns of the streaming are analyzed and its influence on burning rate of a droplet is predicted. Experimental investigation was mainly done with burning droplets located in the middle of node and anti-node of standing sound waves. This location realizes the strongest streaming. By varying sound pressure level, ambient pressure, and acoustic frequency, the strength of the streaming was controlled. Flame configuration including soot and burning rate were examined. Microgravity conditions were employed to clarify the influence of acoustic field through the streaming, since it is similar to and must be distinguished from natural convection. Experiments using microgravity conditions confirmed the new combustion promotion model and the way to quantify it. By introducing a new non-dimensional number Gr_a, that is the ratio of acoustic radiation force to viscosity, burning rate constants for various ambient and sound conditions are rearranged. As a result, it was found that the excess burning rate (k/k₀ − 1) is proportional to or , for weak sound and for strong sound, respectively.     

Enhancement of gas phase heat transfer by acoustic field application

This study discusses a possibility for enhancement of heat transfer between solids and ambient gas by application of powerful acoustic fields. Experiments are carried out by using preheated Pt wires (length 0.1-0.15 m, diameter 50 and 100 micro m) positioned at the velocity antinode of a standing wave (frequency range 216-1031 Hz) or in the path of a travelling wave (frequency range 6.9-17.2 kHz). A number of experiments were conducted under conditions of gas flowing across the wire surface. Effects of sound frequency, sound strength, gas flow velocity and wire preheating temperature on the Nusselt number are examined with and without sound application. The gas phase heat transfer rate is enhanced with acoustic field strength. Higher temperatures result in a vigorous radiation from the wire surface and attenuate the effect of sound. The larger the gas flow velocity, the smaller is the effect of sound wave on heat transfer enhancement.     

Investigation of mass transfer intensification under power ultrasound irradiation using 3D computational simulation: A comparative analysis

This paper aims at investigating the influence of acoustic streaming induced by low-frequency (24 kHz) ultrasound irradiation on mass transfer in a two-phase system. The main objective is to discuss the possible mass transfer improvements under ultrasound irradiation. Three analyses were conducted: i) experimental analysis of mass transfer under ultrasound irradiation; ii) comparative analysis between the results of the ultrasound assisted mass transfer with that obtained from mechanically stirring; and iii) computational analysis of the systems using 3D CFD simulation. In the experimental part, the interactive effects of liquid rheological properties, ultrasound power and superficial gas velocity on mass transfer were investigated in two different sonicators. The results were then compared with that of mechanical stirring. In the computational part, the results were illustrated as a function of acoustic streaming behaviour, fluid flow pattern, gas/liquid volume fraction and turbulence in the two-phase system and finally the mass transfer coefficient was specified. It was found that additional turbulence created by ultrasound played the most important role on intensifying the mass transfer phenomena compared to that in stirred vessel. Furthermore, long residence time which depends on geometrical parameters is another key for mass transfer. The results obtained in the present study would help researchers understand the role of ultrasound as an energy source and acoustic streaming as one of the most important of ultrasound waves on intensifying gas-liquid mass transfer in a two-phase system and can be a breakthrough in the design procedure as no similar studies were found in the existing literature.     

Heat transport by acoustic streaming within a cylindrical resonator

Several experiments on heat transport within a cylindrical resonance tube, mediated by acoustic streaming, are described. The amplitude dependence of the heat transfer coefficient, h, from a hot object located inside the tube depends on the size of the object. For an object short compared to the acoustic displacement amplitude, h is proportional to the square root of amplitude; for a long object, h is linear in amplitude. For an empty resonator with a heated wall segment, the radial heat flux varies with position in a manner consistent with the global streaming pattern within the tube. The magnitude of heat transport from the heated wall segment is increased by inserting an object into the tube because the localized streaming velocity induced by the object is larger than the global streaming velocity in the empty tube. These effects could find application in the cooling of hot objects like electronic components or in thermoacoustic engines.     

Numerical investigation of using various electrode arrangements for amplifying the EHD enhanced heat transfer in a smooth channel

Forced convection heat transfer enhancement with electrohydrodynamic (EHD) technique of turbulent flow inside a smooth channel has been numerically investigated. A two dimensional numerical approach has been chosen to evaluate the local and average heat transfer coefficient. In addition, the swirling flow pattern in the presence of an electric field has been studied. To achieve higher enhancement while using multiple electrodes, variety of electrode arrangements have been examined for specified values of Reynolds number, applied voltage, and wire radius. The results demonstrate that different electrode arrangements cause significant improvement of the heat transfer coefficient.