Ultrasonic Lamb Wave Separation for Liquid Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic separation methods for substances of different densities from liquids are prone to interference from changes in temperature, composition, and container deposits, limiting their effectiveness and efficiency due to fixed interference patterns determined by transducer arrangement.
Innovation Solution
Generating ultrasonic waves as Lamb waves in the container walls and radiating them at an angle of incidence other than 90 degrees creates a stationary interference pattern that is less affected by changes in the liquid parameters, allowing for enhanced separation by forming interference regions outside the transducer emission areas and improving coagulation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic standing wave fields are generated by perpendicular back-reflection or phase-synchronous emission from opposite transducers, then particles or droplets accumulate at nodes and antinodes for separation, but even small changes in temperature, composition, or container deposits change the interference conditions and thus the standing wave field formation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of emitting ultrasonic waves perpendicularly from transducers and relying on reflection to create standing waves, the invention inverts the approach by generating Lamb waves that propagate along the container walls at oblique angles. This inversion of the wave generation geometry creates interference patterns that are less sensitive to changes in liquid properties and container conditions, thereby improving reliability while reducing sensitivity to boundary condition variations.
2Area of stationary object
If planar sound wave fields are used for separation, then the area of separation is determined by transducer arrangement, but outside the emission areas there is practically no interference and thus no separation effect
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from generating planar sound waves in a single dimension to generating Lamb waves that propagate along the container walls in multiple dimensions. By radiating these waves at oblique angles from opposite sides of the container, the interference patterns extend throughout the entire container volume, significantly increasing both the separation area and the overall separation efficiency compared to traditional transducer arrangements.
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 enhances separation efficiency by maintaining consistent interference patterns and increasing the separation effect, even outside the transducer-emitted areas, with improved coagulation and removal of substances like oil droplets from water.
Implementation Method 1
the ultrasonic waves are generated as Lamb waves in at least one wall of the separation container and are radiated into the liquid at an angle of incidence (φ) that differs from 90°
Implementation Method 2
a (stationary) interference pattern is generated, whose nodes and antinodes result from the angle of incidence (φ)
Implementation Method 3
particles or droplets coagulate and the increase in volume caused by the resulting uptake or are separated from the liquid
Implementation Method 4
This increase in volume increases the buoyancy forces (e.g. in the case of oils or fats), so that after a relatively short 'irradiation time' a layer of oil or fat is formed on the water
Implementation Method 5
separating substances of different densities from liquids by agglomeration by means of ultrasound and sedimentation
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
For separating substances of different density from liquids, e.g., solids and/or fats or oils from water, in a separating container, the application of ultrasonic waves to the liquid in such a way that the particles or drops attach to each other and coagulate is known. A volume increase is thereby produced, and the solids or liquids rise or fall and therefore these substances can be separated from the liquid. The problem addressed by the invention is that of improving the separation effect even in the case of changing parameters and to enlarge the spatial volume to which ultrasonic waves are applied. This problem is solved, according to the invention in that the ultrasonic waves are emitted into the liquid as Lamb waves (8) in at least one wall (12) of the separating container (10) at an introduction angle (φ) different from 90° in such a way that a (standing) interference pattern (9) is produced, the node and antinode regions (21, 22) of which result from the introduction angle (φ).