Acoustic Drying Chamber Using Ultrasonic Boundary-Layer Disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat and mass transfer processes are energy-intensive and often slow, with limitations in controlling the drying rate and efficiency, particularly due to the boundary layer effect on heat transfer rates, which can be improved by disrupting the boundary layer using acoustic energy.
Innovation Solution
The use of an acoustic energy-transfer system that employs ultrasonic transducers to generate acoustically energized air, which is directed at the material to be processed, disrupting the boundary layer and enhancing heat and mass transfer rates through the application of acoustic fields for drying, heating, cooling, and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional heat and mass transfer processes are used, then energy consumption is high and processing speed is slow, but if acoustic energy is applied to disrupt the boundary layer, then heat and mass transfer rates increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ultrasonic vibration (mechanical vibration) to disrupt the boundary layer at the material surface. The ultrasonic transducer generates high-frequency vibrations that create turbulence in the boundary layer, significantly enhancing heat and mass transfer rates and thus increasing the drying rate without requiring excessive energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the boundary layer by applying acoustic energy. By introducing ultrasonic waves, the boundary layer transitions from a stable, low-transfer state to a turbulent, high-transfer state, fundamentally altering the heat and mass transfer parameters at the material surface.
2Productivity
If acoustic energy is applied to disrupt the boundary layer, then heat and mass transfer rates increase, but equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical drying systems (heaters, fans, conveyors) with an acoustic field-based system. By using ultrasonic transducers to generate acoustic energy that disrupts the boundary layer, the system achieves enhanced heat and mass transfer without complex mechanical moving parts, thereby reducing overall equipment complexity while increasing processing speed.
3Productivity
If rapid cooling is applied throughout the volume of materials, then processing efficiency improves, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ultrasonic vibration to achieve rapid cooling throughout the material volume. The high-frequency mechanical vibrations facilitate uniform heat distribution and phase change throughout the bulk material, enabling flash freezing or rapid cooling that maintains structural integrity by avoiding thermal gradients and stress concentrations that occur with conventional surface-only cooling methods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly increases the cooling and drying rates, enabling rapid cooling throughout the volume of materials, improving processing efficiency and maintaining structural integrity and nutritional value, especially in applications like flash freezing and low-temperature drying.
Implementation Method 1
employing ultrasonic transducers to generate acoustically energized air, which is directed at the material to be processed, disrupting the boundary layer and enhancing heat and mass transfer rates through the application of acoustic fields
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~3B
Figure 4A
AI summary
An acoustic energy-transfer apparatus including: an acoustic chest, the acoustic chest defining an inner chamber sized to receive a material to be acoustically energized; and an acoustic device positioned within the acoustic chest and oriented to direct acoustic energy towards the material to be acoustically energized. A method for drying a material, the method including: positioning a material in an acoustic chest including an acoustic device; and directing acoustically energized air from the acoustic device at the material within the acoustic chest.