Synchrotron X-ray imaging of the onset of ultrasonic horn cavitation

High-power ultrasonic horns operating at low frequency are known to generate a cone-shaped cavitation bubble cloud beneath them. The exact physical processes resulting in the conical structure are still unclear mainly due to challenges associated with their visualization. Herein, we address the onset of the cavitation cloud by exploiting high-speed X-ray phase contrast imaging. It reveals that the cone formation is not immediate but results from a three-step phenomenology: (i) inception and oscillation of single bubbles, (ii) individual cloud formation under splitting or lens effects, and (iii) cloud merging leading to the formation of a bubble layer and, eventually, to the cone structure due to the radial pressure gradient on the horn tip.     

Sonochemistry of molten gallium

This review article summarizes the comprehensive work that was done in our laboratory in recent years, as-well-as other reports, on the various aspects of sonochemistry of molten gallium. The low m_p (29.8 °C) of gallium enables its melting in warm water, aqueous solutions and organic liquids. This opened a new research direction that focused on the chemical and physical properties of gallium particles that were formed in such media. It includes their interactions with water and with organic and inorganic solutes in aqueous solutions and with carbon nanoparticles. Formation of nanoparticles of liquid gallium alloys was also reported.     

Research on synergistic erosion by cavitation and sediment: A review

Sediment erosion frequently occurs in areas with high incidences of cavitation. The collaborative impact of abrasion and cavitation presents a host of challenges, threats, and damages to hydraulic engineering. However, little is known about the synergistic wear mechanism, and research conclusions remain inconsistent. In this work, relevant studies on synergistic erosion have been collected, classified, and analyzed. Presently, research on synergistic wear primarily operates at the macro and micro levels. The microscopic level enables the visualization and quantification of the process by which particles gain momentum from bubbles, the trajectory of particle acceleration, and the mechanism that triggers strong interactions between bubble-particle. At the macro level, erosion is understood as the summation of damage effects on the wall that is caused by the interaction between a plethora of bubbles of varying scales and numerous particles. The synergistic bubble-particle effect is reflected in the dual inhibiting or promoting mechanism. Furthermore, while numerical simulations could be realized by coupling cavitation, multiphase flow, and erosion models, their accuracy is not infallible. In the future, the dual role of particles, and particles driven by micro-jets or shock waves should be fully considered when establishing a combined erosion model. In addition, enhancing the influence of flow field and boundary parameters around bubbles and utilizing FSI would improve the predictive accuracy of erosion location and erosion rate. This work helps to elucidate the combined wear mechanism of hydraulic machinery components in sediment-laden flow environments and provides a theoretical basis for the design, manufacture, processing, and maintenance of hydraulic machinery.     

部分流低温流体循环泵空化性能预测

为了对部分流低温流体(液氮) 循环泵空化特性进行预测. 基于软件 ANSYS-FLUENT, 计算选用Stardard k-ε 湍流模型,Simplec 压力耦合方式, 进行空化前 MRF 模型定常计算, 添加两相流参数, 选取 Singhal-et-al 空化模型, 添加两相参数, 考虑液-气密度比对低温流体液氮泵内能量的传递和交换的影响, 得到气液动量、 质量和能量守恒方程, 利用 RNGk-ε 湍流模型,Simplec 压力耦合方式, 对不同进液压力条件下, 部分流低温流体(液氮) 循环泵空化特性进行全流域空化数值计算. 进行泵空化特性试验, 在额定转速下, 随着泵前流体压力的降低呈现的空化性能, 数值计算与试验测得的泵头数值最大偏差在10% 以内, 曲线吻合性较好, 泵内流场空化发生伴有显著的压头下降, 空化过程增强, 空化区变大, 液相和汽相相互拖拽能力增强, 空化核心区由叶顶背压部分扩散到整个流道, 汽液界面不清晰, 直至断流. 本文采用的计算方法和研究结果为低温流体循环泵内部流体空化的诊断和性能优化提供了一定依据.     

Investigation of cavitation noise using Eulerian-Lagrangian multiscale modeling

We have employed the large eddy simulation (LES) approach to investigate the cavitation noise characteristics of an unsteady cavitating flow around a NACA66 (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) hydrofoil by employing an Eulerian-Lagrangian based multiscale cavitation model. A volume of fluid (VOF) method simulates the large cavity, whereas a Lagrangian discrete bubble model (DBM) tracks the small bubbles. Meanwhile, noise is determined using the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation (FW-H). Eulerian-Lagrangian analysis has shown that, in comparison to VOF, it is more effective in revealing microscopic characteristics of unsteady cavitating flows, including microscale bubbles, that are unresolvable around the cloud cavity, and their impact on the flow field. It is also evident that its evolution of cavitation features on the hydrofoil is more consistent with the experimental observations. The frequency of the maximum sound pressure level corresponds to the frequency of the main cavity shedding for the noise characteristics. Using the Eulerian-Lagrangian method to predict the noise signal, results show that the cavitation noise, generated by discrete bubbles due to their collapse, is mainly composed of high-frequency signals. In addition, the frequency of cavitation noise induced by discrete microbubbles is around 10 kHz. A typical characteristic of cavitation noise, including two intense pulses during the collapsing of the cloud cavity, is described, as well as the mechanisms that underlie these phenomena. The findings of this work provide for a fundamental understanding of cavitation and serve as a valuable reference for the design and intensification of hydrodynamic cavitation reactors.     

Piezoelectric atomization of liquids with dynamic viscosities up to 175 cP at room temperature

Piezoelectric atomization has been applied in the field of respiratory medicine delivery and chemistry. However, the wider application of this technique is limited by the viscosity of the liquid. High-viscosity liquid atomization has great potential for applications in aerospace, medicine, solid-state batteries and engines, but the actual development of atomization is behind expectations. In this study, instead of the traditional model of single-dimensional vibration as a power supply, we propose a novel atomization mechanism that uses two coupled vibrations to induce micro-amplitude elliptical motion of the particles on the surface of the liquid carrier, which produces a similar effect as localized traveling waves to push the liquid forward and induce cavitation to achieve atomization. To achieve this, a flow tube internal cavitation atomizer (FTICA) consisting of a vibration source, a connecting block and a liquid carrier is designed. The prototype can atomize liquids with dynamic viscosities up to 175 cP at room temperature with a driving frequency of 507 kHz and a voltage of 85 V. The maximum atomization rate in the experiment is 56.35 mg/min, and the average atomized particle diameter is 10 µm. Vibration models for the three parts of the proposed FTICA are established, and the vibration characteristics and atomization mechanism of the prototype were verified using the vibration displacement measurement experiment and the spectroscopic experiment. This study offers new possibilities for transpulmonary inhalation therapy, engine fuel supply, solid-state battery processing and other areas where high-viscosity microparticle atomization is needed.     

Barrier-breaking effects of ultrasonic cavitation for drug delivery and biomarker release

Recently, emerging evidence has demonstrated that cavitation actually creates important bidirectional channels on biological barriers for both intratumoral drug delivery and extratumoral biomarker release. To promote the barrier-breaking effects of cavitation for both therapy and diagnosis, we first reviewed recent technical advances of ultrasound and its contrast agents (microbubbles, nanodroplets, and gas-stabilizing nanoparticles) and then reported the newly-revealed cavitation physical details. In particular, we summarized five types of cellular responses of cavitation in breaking the plasma membrane (membrane retraction, sonoporation, endocytosis/exocytosis, blebbing and apoptosis) and compared the vascular cavitation effects of three different types of ultrasound contrast agents in breaking the blood-tumor barrier and tumor microenvironment. Moreover, we highlighted the current achievements of the barrier-breaking effects of cavitation in mediating drug delivery and biomarker release. We emphasized that the precise induction of a specific cavitation effect for barrier-breaking was still challenged by the complex combination of multiple acoustic and non-acoustic cavitation parameters. Therefore, we provided the cutting-edge in-situ cavitation imaging and feedback control methods and suggested the development of an international cavitation quantification standard for the clinical guidance of cavitation-mediated barrier-breaking effects.     

用碘释放法研究双束超声辐照的脉冲空化峰

本文使用双束同频脉冲超声水平正交辐照,通过磺释放法检测,发现双束同频水平正交辐照亦可观察到明显的空化峰现象及声化学产额增长。