The effect of flow and agitation on ultrasonic fields

Ultrasound technology shows a great potential for intensification of industrial processes like crystallization, precipitation or water treatment. These usually operate in continuous mode or require additional stirring of the mixture. Therefore, the effect of flow or agitation on the acoustic field is an important consideration for the design and scale-up of ultrasonic reactors. Previous research reported contradicting results, indicating that flow or agitation can either improve or attenuate the sound field, depending on the method used to characterize the cavitational activity. This study evaluates the effect of both flow and stirring under various operational conditions using multiple characterization techniques such as sonoluminescence and coated thermocouple measurements simultaneously.status: publishe