Modelling of particle paths passing through an ultrasonic standing wave

Within an ultrasonic standing wave particles experience acoustic radiation forces causing agglomeration at the nodal planes of the wave. The technique can be used to agglomerate, suspend, or manipulate particles within a flow. To control agglomeration rate it is important to balance forces on the particles and, in the case where a fluid/particle mix flows across the applied acoustic field, it is also necessary to optimise fluid flow rate. To investigate the acoustic and fluid forces in such a system a particle model has been developed, extending an earlier model used to characterise the 1-dimensional field in a layered resonator. In order to simulate fluid drag forces, CFD software has been used to determine the velocity profile of the fluid/particle mix passing through the acoustic device. The profile is then incorporated into a MATLAB model. Based on particle force components, a numerical approach has been used to determine particle paths. Using particle coordinates, both particle concentration across the fluid channel and concentration through multiple outlets are calculated. Such an approach has been used to analyse the operation of a microfluidic flow-through separator, which uses a half wavelength standing wave across the main channel of the device. This causes particles to converge near the axial plane of the channel, delivering high and low particle concentrated flow through two outlets, respectively. By extending the model to analyse particle separation over a frequency range, it is possible to identify the resonant frequencies of the device and associated separation performance. This approach will also be used to improve the geometric design of the microengineered fluid channels, where the particle model can determine the limiting fluid flow rate for separation to occur, the value of which is then applied to a CFD model of the device geometry.     

Mode-switching: A new technique for electronically varying the agglomeration position in an acoustic particle manipulator

Acoustic radiation forces offer a means of manipulating particles within a fluid. Much interest in recent years has focussed on the use of radiation forces in microfluidic (or “lab on a chip”) devices. Such devices are well matched to the use of ultrasonic standing waves in which the resonant dimensions of the chamber are smaller than the ultrasonic wavelength in use. However, such devices have typically been limited to moving particles to one or two predetermined planes, whose positions are determined by acoustic pressure nodes/anti-nodes set up in the ultrasonic standing wave. In most cases devices have been designed to move particles to either the centre or (more recently) the side of a flow channel using ultrasonic frequencies that produce a half or quarter wavelength over the channel, respectively.It is demonstrated here that by rapidly switching back and forth between half and quarter wavelength frequencies - mode-switching - a new agglomeration position is established that permits beads to be brought to any arbitrary point between the half and quarter-wave nodes. This new agglomeration position is effectively a position of stable equilibrium. This has many potential applications, particularly in cell sorting and manipulation. It should also enable precise control of agglomeration position to be maintained regardless of manufacturing tolerances, temperature variations, fluid medium characteristics and particle concentration.     

The use of acoustic radiation forces to position particles within fluid droplets

Handling of micrometer sizes particles, such as biological cells or coated beads, plays a relevant role in the field of life science. A number of devices have been presented in the last years, in which acoustic forces generated by coupling the vibration of a solid structure excited by a piezoelectric transducer to the particle suspension are used to collect particles in lines or position them in clumps on a grid. Following the trend of lab-on-a-chip devices, efforts have been made to shrink the size of such systems, aiming at less reagent consumption and shorter reaction times. The majority of these systems consist of closed fluid filled volumes, typically channels. Here the use of an open fluid volume, a droplet, is examined. By exciting resonances into the droplet positioned on a surface, particles can be gathered into a line, two parallel lines or, as the frequency of excitation is increased, into more complex patterns. Such a concentration process will have useful applications in improved detection sensitivity of low concentration particulate solutions.     

Finite element modeling of a microparticle manipulator

The contactless movement of microparticles and cells to known locations within a fluid volume is of interest in the fields of microtechnology and life sciences. A device which can position such inhomogeneities suspended in a fluid at multiple locations is described and modeled. The device consists of a thin fluid layer contained in a channel etched into a silicon wafer. Waves are excited by a macro-piezoelectric plate with electrodes on the top and bottom surfaces and, as a result, waves propagate into the adjacent fluid. The result is a pressure field throughout the fluidic volume. When an inhomogeneity in a fluid is exposed to an ultrasonic field the acoustic radiation force results; this is found by integrating the pressure over the surface of the particle, retaining second order terms, and taking the time average. Thus, due to the presence of a pressure field in the fluid in which the particles are suspended, a force field is created. The particles are then collected at the locations of the force potential minima. In the device described here, the force field is used to position particles into lines. The locations of the particles are predicted by using a finite element model of the system. The experimental and modeling results, presented here, are in good agreement.     

Investigation of two-dimensional acoustic resonant modes in a particle separator

Within an acoustic standing wave particles experience acoustic radiation forces, a phenomenon which is exploited in particle or cell manipulation devices. When developing such devices, one-dimensional acoustic characteristics corresponding to the transducer(s) are typically of most importance and determine the primary radiation forces acting on the particles. However, radiation forces have also been observed to act in the lateral direction, perpendicular to the primary radiation force, forming striated patterns. These lateral forces are due to lateral variations in the acoustic field influenced by the geometry and materials used in the resonator. The ability to control them would present an advantage where their effect is either detrimental or beneficial to the particle manipulation process. The two-dimensional characteristics of an ultrasonic separator device have been modelled within a finite element analysis (FEA) package. The fluid chamber of the device, within which the standing wave is produced, has a width to height ratio of approximately 30:1 and it is across the height that a half-wavelength standing wave is produced to control particle movement. Two-dimensional modal analyses have calculated resonant frequencies which agree well with both the one-dimensional modelling of the device and experimentally measured frequencies. However, these two-dimensional analyses also reveal that these modes exhibit distinctive periodic variations in the acoustic pressure field across the width of the fluid chamber. Such variations lead to lateral radiation forces forming particle bands (striations) and are indicative of enclosure modes. The striation spacings predicted by the FEA simulations for several modes compare well with those measured experimentally for the ultrasonic particle separator device. It is also shown that device geometry and materials control enclosure modes and therefore the strength and characteristics of lateral radiation forces, suggesting the potential use of FEA in designing for the control of enclosure modes in similar particle manipulator devices.     

基于AlN声表面波滤波传感器器件的有限元仿真

声表面波器件是一种利用压电材料的压电效应与逆压电效应工作电子器件, 文章首先详细描述了声表面波器件的设计与仿真过程,运用有限元分析的方法分别计算了利用声表面波的 SAW 器件与利用体波的 BAW 器件的性能与各项参数,对相关的器件进行了计算分析,分别用上述方法研究了基于 AlN 薄膜的声表面波器件和悬臂梁结构的体波器件,推导得出了器件的电学导纳与频率之间的关系, 通过分析器件的导纳-频率曲线,推导出器件内部声波的模式以及合适的工作频率,最终得出在 IDT 周期为 8 微米的情况下,SAW 器件的理想工作频率是 0.7-1.95GHz,BAW 器件的理想工作频率在 0.6-3.2GHz 的结果。     

Axisymmetric acoustophoresis for paper pulp concentration

In pulp and paper mills, mechanical processes such as screening and washing are commonly used to remove accumulated solid suspensions and concentrate the pulp. For environmental reasons and to optimize paper production, an emerging challenge is to develop alternative methods to concentrate paper pulp between 3 % and 6 % consistency for which the mixed pulp-water flow is complex. Among the proposed solutions in the literature, solutions based on acoustic levitation, also referred as acoustophoresis, of low-consistency pulp have been demonstrated as a potential solution for efficient pulp concentration and water recirculation. However, no sensitivity analysis on the ultrasound and physical parameters was proposed, limiting the extension to a realistic application. Thus, this paper presents a numerical modeling of acoustophoresis for pulp flow concentration in a pipe. For this purpose, the pulp flow is defined as a pseudo-homogenous fluid with a turbulent Low Re k- ∊ formalism, and the pulp particles are considered spherical and deflected by two acoustic forces, namely the acoustic radiation force and the Stokes drag force, both induced by an ultrasound wave generated along the walls of a circular pipe. The combined action of these two forces in the pulp flow enables to concentrate the particles at the center of the pipe. The influences of particle size and mechanical properties, fluid properties and ultrasound parameters are analyzed within a parametric study to optimize the particle deflection and the pulp concentration. The experimental feasibility of the industrial use of acoustophoresis for the concentration of paper pulp is demonstrated with a concentration gain up to 15 %.     

Towards the automation of micron-sized particle handling by use of acoustic manipulation assisted by microfluidics

The use of acoustic radiation forces for the manipulation and positioning of micrometer sized particles has shown to be a promising approach. Resonant excitation of a system containing a particle laden fluid filled cavity, can (depending on the mode excited) result in positioning of the particles in parallel lines (1-D) or distinct clumps in a grid formation (2-D) due to the high amplitude standing pressure fields that arise in the fluid. In a broader context, the alignment of particles using acoustic forces can be used to assist manipulation processes which utilise an external mechanical tool, for instance a microgripper. In such a system, particles can be removed sequentially from a line formed by acoustic forces within a microfluidic channel, hence allowing a degree of automation. In order to fully automate the gripping process, the particles must be confined to a repeatable and accurate location in two dimensions (assuming that in the third dimension they sit on the lower surface of the channel). Only in this way it is possible to remove subsequent particles by simply bringing the gripper to a known location and activating its fingers. This combined use of acoustic forces and mechanical gripping requires that one extremity of the channel is open. However, the presence of the liquid-air interface which occurs at this opening, causes the standing pressure field to decay to zero towards the opening. In a volume of liquid in proximity to the interface positioning of particles by acoustic forces is therefore no longer possible. In addition, the longitudinal gradient of the field can cause a drift of particles towards the longitudinal center of the channel at some frequencies, undesirably moving them further away from the interface, and so further from the gripper. As a solution the use of microfluidic flow induced drag forces in addition to the acoustic force potential has been investigated.     

High frequency SAW stabilized oscillators for chemical agents sensors

The surface acoustic wave (SAW) chemical agents sensors usually operate in the oscillator feed-back configuration. It converts a molecular interactions between SAW surface and chemisensitive layer placed on it to relative easy to measurement electrical quantities (most often it is an operating frequency or phase change). Although in the SAW sensors the key role play chemisensitive coatings but nearly as important as the coatings are electronic circuits cooperating with SAW devices. The results of theoretical calculations show that the SAW sensors operating frequency increasing is profitable from the sensitivity point of view. Unfortunately, an advantageous sensitivity-frequency dependence is hard to apply because of decreasing of SAW device dimensions and thereby the area of the chemisensitive layer with the operating frequency. The smaller area of the layer, the smaller amount of detecting gas particles sorbed and the weakest response of the sensor. It is possible to avoid the problem using special constructions of SAW stabilised oscillators. In the paper such constructions have been described.     

A dual frequency, ultrasonic, microengineered particle manipulator

Ultrasonic standing waves can be used to generate forces on particles within a fluid. Recent work has concentrated on developing devices that manipulate the particles so that they are concentrated near the centre of the cavity. It is also possible to design a device that concentrates the particles at the wall of a cavity. This paper describes a device that has the capability of operating in several modes to allow concentration of particles at either the cavity wall or the centre of the cavity, depending on the driving frequency.     

Solution-processed ZnO nanoparticle-based semiconductor oxide thin-film transistors

We have prepared solution-processed oxide semiconductor thin-film transistors using ZnO nanoparticles with various particle shapes. Uniform, dense, thin films were produced by spin-coating ZnO nanoparticle dispersions containing either nanorods or nanospheres. The influence of annealing atmosphere on both nanoparticle-based TFT devices was investigated. XPS analysis revealed that the ZnO particles of the nanorod and nanosphere dispersions have distinct stoichiometries (i.e., molar ratios of Zn:O). The starting particles in turn predetermine the carrier concentration within the annealed ZnO films, which in turn determines whether the device is a semiconductor or metallic conductor, depending upon the annealing atmosphere. Grain structures of the channel layer also play an important role in determining the device performance of the nanoparticle derived ZnO TFTs.     

Modelling in the design of a flow-through ultrasonic separator

This paper describes the design and testing of a flow-through ultrasonic separation device that allows the concentration of particles within a fluid. The device operates without the use of an acoustically transparent element. Three models are used to examine the behaviour of the cell, dealing with acoustic-particle interaction, electro-acoustic characteristics, and fluid flow. The device is able to concentrate up to 84% of the 60 microns sand particles in the 'dirty' stream, 13% in the intermediate stream and 3% in the 'clean' stream. Flow rates of up to 20 lh-1 (equating to an inlet velocity of 10(-2) ms-1) have been used with an electrical power input of up to 50 W (10 kWm-1).     

Rapid concentration of particle and bioparticle suspension based on surface acoustic wave

A method of rapid particle concentration in a droplet has been developed using surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology. A droplet was partially placed on a surface acoustic wave propagation path, and particles were concentrated at the center of the droplet due to the asymmetry. The device consists of two IDTs and two reflectors. The one IDT is used for generating SAW and the opposite IDT is used for detecting output voltage signal amplitude, and then for calculating acoustic power density of a droplet. To investigate concentration effect of the device, starch suspension and rabbit blood cells were used in this paper. Different acoustic power density was applied ranging from 6.13 mw mm⁻² to 210.9 mw mm⁻². The concentration process occurs within 15 s under appropriate acoustic power density put on the droplet, which is much faster than currently available particle concentration mechanisms, and the method is also efficient, which concentrating the particles into an aggregate about one-fifth the size of the original droplet. Additional, the concentration process is no damage to bioparticles. This concentration method can improve greatly SAW biosensor system sensitivity.     

An emerging reactor technology for chemical synthesis: Surface acoustic wave-assisted closed-vessel Suzuki coupling reactions

In this paper we demonstrate the use of an energy-efficient surface acoustic wave (SAW) device for driving closed-vessel SAW-assisted (CVSAW), ligand-free Suzuki couplings in aqueous media. The reactions were carried out on a mmolar scale with low to ultra-low catalyst loadings. The reactions were driven by heating resulting from the penetration of acoustic energy derived from RF Raleigh waves generated by a piezoelectric chip via a renewable fluid coupling layer. The yields were uniformly high and the reactions could be executed without added ligand and in water. In terms of energy density this new technology was determined to be roughly as efficient as microwaves and superior to ultrasound.     

Acoustic flows in a fluid layer on a vibrating substrate

The field of radiation forces in a fluid layer on a solid substrate is calculated. This field is formed during propagation of surface capillary wave along a free surface. The wave is excited by substrate vibrations as a result of instability development. The structure of acoustic flows is studied. Their effect on small-size particles and the possibilities of generating ordered structures from these particles are discussed.     

The selection of layer thicknesses to control acoustic radiation force profiles in layered resonators

Ultrasonic standing waves can be used to generate radiation forces on particles within a fluid. A number of authors have derived detailed representations of these forces but these are most commonly applied using an approximation to the energy distribution based upon an idealized standing wave within a mode based upon rigid boundaries. An electro-acoustic model of the acoustic energy distribution within a standing wave with arbitrary thickness boundaries has been expanded to model the radiation force on an example particle within the acoustic field. This is used to examine the force profile on a particle at resonances other than those predicted with rigid boundaries, and with pressure nodes at different positions. A simple analytical method for predicting modal conditions for combinations of frequencies and layer thickness characteristics is presented, which predicts that resonances can exist that will produce a pressure node at arbitrary positions in the fluid layer of such a system. This can be used to design resonators that will drive particles to positions other than the center of the fluid layer, including the fluid/solid boundary of the layer, with significant potential applications in sensing systems. Further, the model also predicts conditions for multiple subwavelength resonances within the fluid layer of a single resonator, each resonance having different nodal planes for particle concentration.     

The Limits of Primary Radiation Forces in Bulk Acoustic Standing Waves for Concentrating Nanoparticles

Acoustic waves are increasingly used to concentrate, separate, and pattern nanoparticles in liquids, but the extent to which nanoparticles of different size and composition can be focused is not well‐defined. This article describes a simple analytical model for predicting the distribution of nanoparticles around the node of a 1D bulk acoustic standing wave over time as a function of pressure amplitude, acoustic contrast factor (i.e., nanoparticle and fluid composition), and size of the nanoparticles. Predictions from this model are systematically compared to results from experiments on gold nanoparticles of different sizes to determine the model's accuracy in estimating both the rate and the degree of nanoparticle focusing across a range of pressure amplitudes. The model is further used to predict the minimum particle size that can be focused for different nanoparticle and fluid compositions, and those predictions are tested with gold, silica, and polystyrene nanoparticles in water. A procedure combining UV‐light and photoacid is used to induce the aggregation of nanoparticles to illustrate the effect of nanoparticle aggregation on the observed degree of acoustic focusing. Overall, these findings clarify the extent to which acoustic resonating devices can be used to manipulate, pattern, and enrich nanoparticles suspended in liquids.     

Trapping of microparticles in the near field of an ultrasonic transducer

We are investigating means of handling microparticles in microfluidic systems, in particular localized acoustic trapping of microparticles in a flow-through device. Standing ultrasonic waves were generated across a microfluidic channel by ultrasonic microtransducers integrated in one of the channel walls. Particles in a fluid passing a transducer were drawn to pressure minima in the acoustic field, thereby being trapped and confined at the lateral position of the transducer. The spatial distribution of trapped particles was evaluated and compared with calculated acoustic intensity distributions. The particle trapping was found to be strongly affected by near field pressure variations due to diffraction effects associated with the finite sized transducer element. Since laterally confining radiation forces are proportional to gradients in the acoustic energy density, these near field pressure variations may be used to get strong trapping forces, thus increasing the lateral trapping efficiency of the device. In the experiments, particles were successfully trapped in linear fluid flow rates up to 1mm/s. It is anticipated that acoustic trapping using integrated transducers can be exploited in miniaturised total chemical analysis systems (microTAS), where e.g. microbeads with immobilised antibodies can be trapped in arrays and subjected to minute amounts of sample followed by a reaction, detected using fluorescence.     

Quasi-resonances in sound-insulating coatings

This paper is concerned with the radiation of sound waves from a submerged cylindrical body which is coated by an imperfect elastic layer; that is, the coating only covers part of the cylinder. The focus of the study is to quantify the effect of the gap in the elastic layer on the radiated acoustic power. A finite element method is employed to determine the acoustic pressure field in the fluid and the displacement field in the coupled layer. This reveals that the effect of a modest sized gap in the coating does not markedly alter the radiated field except at distinct frequencies, at which values the coating exhibits strong fluid-coupled oscillations. We develop a simple analytical model to explain the resonance phenomenon and show that quasi-resonances arise when the wavelength of the deformation pattern ‘matches’ the azimuthal length of the surface of the coating. This resonant behaviour is conveniently captured by a single parameter Q, which is the ratio of the typical inertial fluid pressure induced by the wall oscillation to the stiffness of the elastic coating. For each choice of material parameters, there is shown to be an infinite set of values of Q corresponding to distinct quasi-resonance mode numbers. The effects on the radiated field due to variations in various physical parameters, such as acoustic wavenumber and elastic layer inertia, are also discussed.