Cavitation intensity of water under practical ultrasonic cleaning conditions

When measuring cavitation during cooling of thermally degassed water cavitation maxima are frequently observed at various temperatures. Relations between this phenomenon and frequency and power of ultrasounds as well as air content in water have been examined. It was found out that the secondary water regassing with air is the reason.     

Influence of concentration of substances used in ultrasonic cleaning in alkaline solutions on cavitation intensity

Cavitation intensity vs. temperature of aqueous solutions of three substances most frequently used in ultrasonic cleaning: sodium carbonate, metasilicate and phosphate were measured. Shapes of cavitation - temperature curves for 0-10% solutions during heating and cooling in the 20-70 degrees C temperature range were compared. Maximal cavitation intensity curves for these solutions at 60 degrees C (most frequently used temperature of ultrasonic cleaning in aqueous solutions), in identical conditions and at various ultrasound frequencies are presented as diagrams.     

A comparison of ultrasonic cavitation intensity in liquids

Cavitation intensity in 37 organic liquids is compared with cavitation intensity in water under the same conditions. Temperature ranges are established over which cavitation intensities in these liquids are at their highest.     

超声清洗装置空化噪声谱分析法空化噪声级测量

空化强度是用以衡量液体介质中空化活动的剧烈程度,同时空化效应在超声清洗中起关键作用,因此,测量超声清洗槽中的空化强度便可了解其中空化活动的情况.当发生空化时,液体介质中会产生成分复杂空化噪声,对空化噪声谱进行分析和计算得到空化噪声级,据此可判断空化强度.实验测得结果表明:超声清洗装置内稳态空化分布广泛、均匀,瞬态空化分...     

Physical and chemical effects of acoustic cavitation in selected ultrasonic cleaning applications

Acoustic cavitation in a liquid medium generates several physical and chemical effects. The oscillation and collapse of cavitation bubbles, driven at low ultrasonic frequencies (e.g., 20 kHz), can generate strong shear forces, microjets, microstreaming and shockwaves. Such strong physical forces have been used in cleaning and flux improvement of ultrafiltration processes. These physical effects have also been shown to deactivate pathogens. The efficiency of deactivation of pathogens is not only dependent on ultrasonic experimental parameters, but also on the properties of the pathogens themselves. Bacteria with thick shell wall are found to be resistant to ultrasonic deactivation process. Some evidence does suggest that the chemical effects (radicals) of acoustic cavitation are also effective in deactivating pathogens. Another aspect of cleaning, namely, purification of water contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants, has also been discussed in detail. Strong oxidising agents produced within acoustic cavitation bubbles could be used to degrade organic pollutants and convert toxic inorganic pollutants to less harmful substances. The effect of ultrasonic frequency and surface activity of solutes on the sonochemical degradation efficiency has also been discussed in this overview.     

In-situ observations and acoustic measurements upon fragmentation of free-floating intermetallics under ultrasonic cavitation in water

Grain refinement in alloys is a well-known effect of ultrasonic melt processing. Fragmentation of primary crystals by cavitation-induced action in liquid metals is considered as one of the main driving mechanisms for producing finer and equiaxed grain structures. However, in-situ observations of the fragmentation process are generally complex and difficult to follow in opaque liquid metals, especially for the free-floating crystals. In the present study, we develop a transparent test rig to observe in real time the fragmentation potential of free-floating primary Al₃Zr particles under ultrasonic excitation in water (an established analogue medium to liquid aluminium for cavitation studies). An effective treatment domain was identified and fragmentation time determined using acoustic pressure field mapping. For the first time, real-time high-speed imaging captured the dynamic interaction of shock waves from the collapsing bubbles with floating intermetallic particles that led to their fragmentation. The breakage sequence as well as the cavitation erosion pattern were studied by means of post-treatment microscopic characterisation of the fragments. Fragment size distribution and crack patterns on the fractured surface were then analysed and quantified. Application of ultrasound is shown to rapidly (<10 s) reduce intermetallic size (from 5 mm down to 10 μm), thereby increasing the number of potential nucleation sites for the grain refinement of aluminium alloys during melt treatment.     

超声清洗过程环境压力对声空化效应的影响*

在不同深度条件下的水下构建物超声清洗中,声空化是重要的源动力之一。为探明水下环境压力对声空化的影响,本文基于数值计算的方法,通过对超声波作用下气泡动力学的研究,讨论了环境压力对空化泡溃灭时的气泡最大半径、释放能量以及溃灭功率等因素的影响。结果表明：空化泡最大半径与环境压力在一定范围内呈近似线性关系;随着环境压力增大,空化泡释放能量和溃灭功率均显著减小,且两者在变化趋势和变化幅度上几乎一致;当环境压力大于声压幅值时,空化泡的最大半径、内部压强、内部温度与释放能量均远低于空化发生在环境压力小于声压幅值时的情形。     

超声振动珩磨作用下空化泡动力学及影响参数

为了合理利用超声振动珩磨作用下的空化效应,以磨削区单个空化泡为研究对象,考虑珩磨头合成扰动速度和珩磨压力的作用建立了磨削区空化泡的动力学模型。数值模拟了空化泡初始半径,珩磨压力,液体静压力和超声声压幅值对磨削区空化效应的影响。研究表明考虑超声振动珩磨作用时,空化泡膨胀的幅值会受到抑制,其溃灭时间也会缩短,而且较容易出现稳态空化。珩磨压力和液体静压力对磨削区空化主要起抑制作用,超声波声压幅值在一定范围内能够促进磨削区空化效果的提升。本文的研究为进一步理解超声振动珩磨的空化机理提供了理论支持。     

The influence of air content in water on ultrasonic cavitation field

Cavitation is a complex physical phenomenon affected by many factors, one of which is the gas dissolved in the medium. Researchers have given some efforts to the influence of gas content on sonoluminescence or some specific chemical reactions in and around the bubble, but limited work has been reported about the influence on the ultrasonic cavitation field distribution. In this work, the intensity distribution of the ultrasound field in a cleaning tank has been measured with the hydrophone. After analysed and visualised by MATLAB software, it was found that the cavitation intensity distribution in degassed water was much better than that in tap water. And further study proved that degassing process can improve the cavitation effect dramatically both in intensity and scope. Finally, the cavitation fields in mediums with different gas content were measured and the specific influence of air content on cavitation field was discussed.     

Sonoluminescence intensity and ultrasonic cavitation temperature in organic solvents: Effects of generated radicals

Ultrasonic cavitation in organic solvents remains poorly understood in contrast with aqueous systems, largely because of complexities related to solvent decomposition. In this study, we sonicated different types of organic solvents (i.e. linear alkanes, aliphatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, and acetate esters) under argon saturation. The average temperature of the cavitation bubbles was estimated using the methyl radical recombination method. We also discuss the effects of the physical properties of the solvents, such as vapor pressure and viscosity, on the cavitation temperature. The average cavitation bubble temperature and sonoluminescence intensity were higher in organic solvents with lower vapor pressure; for aromatic alcohols, these values were particularly high. It was found that the specific high sonoluminescence intensities and average cavitation temperatures exhibited in aromatic alcohols are caused by the highly resonance-stable generated radicals. The results obtained in this study are very useful for acceleration of sonochemical reaction in organic solvents, which are indispensable for organic synthesis and material synthesis.     

Chemical activation of ultrasonic cavitation

A method for intensifying ultrasonic cavitation in water and aqueous solutions has been proposed, which consists of a chemical fixation of dissolved oxygen. The influence of selected reducing agents on the intensity of cavitation in water and alkaline solutions has been investigated.     

Surface acoustic cavitation understood via nanosecond electrochemistry. Part III: Shear stress in ultrasonic cleaning

Acoustic cavitation is extensively used for cleaning purposes. However, little is known about the fundamental aspects of the cleaning process. Our previous electrochemical data suggested that acoustic bubbles were oscillating at a distance of only a few tens of nanometers above the surface [J. Phys. Chem. B 105 (2001) 12087; E. Maisonhaute, B.A. Brookes, R.G. Compton, J. Phys. Chem. B 106 (2002) 3166–3172]. The flow velocities resulting from the bubble collapse lead to important drag and shear forces on the surface, responsible for cleaning and/or eroding the latter. We review here the forces acting on an adsorbed particle located on the surface, and develop arguments to explain why small adsorbates are harder to remove by sonication. Then, experimental results on particle desorption and surface effects brought about by ultrasound are presented and shown to agree with our theoretical predictions.     

Studies of a novel sensor for assessing the spatial distribution of cavitation activity within ultrasonic cleaning vessels

This paper describes investigations of the spatial distribution of cavitation activity generated within an ultrasonic cleaning vessel, undertaken using a novel cavitation sensor concept. The new sensor monitors high frequency acoustic emissions (>1 MHz) generated by micron-sized bubbles driven into acoustic cavitation by the applied acoustic field. Novel design features of the sensor, including its hollow, cylindrical shape, provide the sensor with spatial resolution, enabling it to associate the megahertz acoustic emissions produced by the cavitating bubbles with specific regions of space within the vessel. The performance of the new sensor has been tested using a 40 kHz ultrasonic cleaner employing four transducers and operating at a nominal electrical power of 140 W under controlled conditions. The results demonstrate the ability of the sensors to identify 'hot-spots' and 'cold-spots' in cavitation activity within the vessel, and show good qualitative agreement with an assessment of the spatial distribution of cavitation determined through erosion monitoring of thin sheets of aluminium foil. The implications of the studies for the development of reliable methods of quantifying the performance of cleaning vessels are discussed in detail.     

超声空化引起界面湍动促进的传质机理

本文分析了超声空化引起界面湍动对传质过程的影响,提出了相界面上超声空化气泡析出增强边界层液体湍动并促进传质的机理,在传质理论和流体动力学原理的基础上,建立了超声空化引起界面湍动促进的传质机理模型,获得了超声空化引起界面湍动促进的传质系数表达式。实验结果验证了模型的合理性。该模型既证实了超声对传质有强化效应,又对传质过程有很好的预测功能,为工业化提供了理论依据。     

Observations of cavitation erosion pit formation

Previous investigations showed that a single cavitation bubble collapse can cause more than one erosion pit (Philipp & Lauterborn [1]). But our preliminary study showed just the opposite – that in some cases a single cavitation pit can result from more than one cavitation event. The present study shows deeper investigation of this phenomenon. An investigation of the erosion effects of ultrasonic cavitation on a thin aluminum foil was made. In the study we observed the formation of individual pits by means of high speed cameras (>1000 fps) and quantitatively evaluated the series of images by stereoscopy and the shape from shading method. This enabled the reconstruction of the time evolution of the pit shape. Results show how the foil is deformed several times before a hole is finally punctured. It was determined that larger single pits result from several impacts of shock waves on the same area, which means that they are merely special cases of pit clusters (pit clusters where pits overlap perfectly). Finally it was shown that a thin foil, which is subjected to cavitation, behaves as a membrane. It was concluded that the physics behind erosion depends significantly on the means of generating cavitation (acoustic, hydrodynamic, laser light) and the specimen characteristics (thin foil, massive specimen), which makes comparison of results of materials resistance to cavitation from different experimental set-ups questionable.Further development of the shape from shading method in the scope of cavitation erosion testing will enable better evaluation of cavitation erosion models.     

双泡超声空化计算分析

将由速度势叠加原理得到的双泡超声空化动力学微分方程归一化,通过matlab语言编程计算,分析了水中空化泡的线度、双泡间距、声压幅值、声波频率等因素对空化过程的影响. 在双泡超声空化动力学微分方程中引入双频超声,探讨了双泡双频超声问题. 研究表明泡的线度是决定空化特性的主要因素,声压幅值对空化特性的影响最大,其次是超声波的频率;双泡间的相互作用影响空化特性,这种影响随双泡间距的增大而减弱;双频超声对双泡空化特性的影响有限,这种影响在两超声分量的声压幅值相等时较强. 关键词： 超声空化 双泡 双频超声     

Technical aspects of ultrasonic cleaning

To a great extent, the cleaning fluid used determines the effectiveness of an ultrasonic cleaner. This article describes experiments for identifying cavitation and determining its distribution so that the workpiece can be put in the right position in the tank. Viscosity, surface tension and vapour pressure of a liquid decide whether it has good cavitating properties, and it is important to choose the right solvent for each cleaning task. Greasy, dust-covered and oxidized surfaces are each cleaned best with a particular range of solvents     

On the definition of cavitation intensity

Cavitation intensity has already been used to character the activity or strength of cavitation, and several methods are developed to measure the cavitation intensity. However, the previous definitions of cavitation intensity are often either vague or biased. In this paper, from the point of view of energy, the authors proposed a generalized definition of cavitation intensity, derived an approximate formula to calculate the cavitation intensity and discussed its measure method.     

Frequency dependence of ultrasonic cleaning

The frequency dependence of ultrasonic cleaning efficiency has been investigated both theoretically and experimentally for frequencies from ≈ 25 to ≈ 250 kHz. Theoretically it is useful to divide contaminants into two groups: microscopic contaminants and submicroscopic contaminants. Microscopic contaminants are best removed by lower frequency ultrasound, while submicroscopic contaminants are often best removed by ultrasound at higher frequencies. Experimental support for these conclusions is given, including ultrasonic removal of blood clots, fingerprints, proteins and grinding pastes. The shapes of many of the decontamination versus time curves are compatible with the theoretical models, which include diffusion and chemical reaction kinetics.     

Flow-mode water treatment under simultaneous hydrodynamic cavitation and plasma

Over the last two decades, the scientific community and industry have made huge efforts to develop environmental protection technologies. In particular, the scarcity of drinking water has prompted the investigation of several physico-chemical treatments, and synergistic effects have been observed in hyphenated techniques. Herein, we report the first example of water treatment under simultaneous hydrodynamic cavitation and plasma discharge with the intense generation of radicals, UV light, shock waves and charged particles. This highly reactive environment is well suited to the bulk treatment of polluted water (i.e. E. coli disinfection and organic pollutant degradation). We have developed a new prototype and have efficiently applied this hybrid technology to water disinfection and the complete degradation of methanol in water with the aim of demonstrating its scalability. We have analyzed the mechanisms of water disinfection under the abovementioned conditions and verified them by measuring cavitation noise spectra and plasma emission spectra. We have also used the degradation of textile dyes and methanol solutions as an indicator for the formation of radicals.