Browsing by Subject "fluid-filled pipe"

Industrial ultrasonic cleaning plays a crucial role in optimizing processes and production in various industrial equipment by eliminating the need for harmful chemicals and minimizing production downtime. While previous research has focused on optimizing ultrasonic cleaning for larger and complex geometries, by controlling acoustic pressure fields and cavitation, the potential contribution of online cleaning using elastic vibrations of the equipment wall remains insufficiently explored. To bridge this gap, this study employs a combination of simulation techniques and laboratory experiments to investigate the significance of elastic guided waves and evaluate the influence of different pulsed driving waveform properties on cleaning efficacy. Specifically, the study focuses on the delivery of ultrasonic energy along the pipe wall. While confirming the effective delivery of ultrasonic energy across the length of pipes, the mechanisms underlying scale removal are still open to interpretation. Notably, specific flexural wave modes of a fluid-filled pipe, e.g. F_FFP (n,1) mode family, are identified as potential carriers of the cleaning effect. The research highlights the significance of high momentary power and total effective power in achieving efficient cleaning. The presence of liquid introduces complexities such as mode conversions and the possibility of cavitation. Further investigations are recommended to explore the individual roles of normal and tangential vibration components at the wall-scale interface. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive analysis to optimize ultrasonic cleaning processes for larger and complex geometries, determine effective parameters for particle detachment, and enhance overall cleaning efficiency.