Ultrasonic Cleaning Tank Bubble Distribution for Uniform Cavitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic cleaning technologies face challenges in ensuring effective cleaning across the entire surface of items, preventing damage, and efficiently removing and drying diverse biological materials, while minimizing dirt retention in the cleaning tank, which affects the sterilization process.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus incorporates a tank with transducers and a gas introducer that produces macroscopic bubbles below the cleaning region, along with a controller for optimized ultrasonic wave distribution and a liquid introducer for jetting cleaning fluid, combined with a drying gas system to enhance cleaning efficiency and prevent dirt retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic pressure waves are directed into cleaning liquid to clean items, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but standing waves can cause uneven distribution leading to ineffective cleaning in some areas and excessive aggression in others
Solution Approach 1:
Gas bubbles are introduced as an intermediary medium between the ultrasonic transducer and the item to be cleaned. The bubbles absorb and scatter ultrasonic energy, preventing the formation of standing waves and creating more uniform cleaning across the item surface. The bubbles act as a buffer that redistributes acoustic energy evenly.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the cleaning medium is changed by introducing gas bubbles, transforming it from a simple liquid to a gas-liquid mixture. This parameter change modifies the acoustic properties of the medium, reducing standing wave formation and improving uniformity of ultrasonic energy distribution.
2Reliability
If ultrasonic cleaning is performed to remove dirt from surfaces, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but surface damage may occur due to excessive ultrasonic aggression
Solution Approach 1:
Gas bubbles are introduced beforehand to cushion the ultrasonic energy before it reaches the item surface. The bubbles absorb excess acoustic energy and prevent direct intense ultrasonic contact with sensitive surfaces, thereby preventing damage while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas bubble layer serves as a protective intermediary between the ultrasonic field and the item surface. It modulates the intensity of ultrasonic energy, allowing effective dirt removal while protecting delicate surfaces from excessive aggression.
3Reliability
If cleaning liquid is used to remove biological material from instruments, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but dirt may be retained in tank dead volumes and interstices
Solution Approach 1:
Ultrasonic vibration is applied to the tank surfaces, racks, and supports to dislodge and remove dirt that accumulates in dead volumes and interstices. The mechanical vibration prevents dirt retention by continuously agitating these areas, ensuring they remain clean for subsequent cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The introduction of gas bubbles changes the fluid dynamics in the tank, creating turbulence and preventing dirt settlement in dead volumes. The bubbling action maintains liquid movement that prevents contamination accumulation on tank surfaces and supports.
4Productivity
If items are removed from cleaning liquid after cleaning, then cleaning is complete, but cleaning liquid remains on items requiring additional drying
Solution Approach 1:
The gas introducer continues to operate after the cleaning cycle, providing a continuous stream of gas bubbles that facilitate drying. The bubbling action removes cleaning liquid from item surfaces through evaporation and physical displacement, extending the useful action from cleaning to drying without requiring item removal.
Solution Approach 2:
Gas bubbles introduced into the cleaning liquid promote evaporation and phase transition of residual cleaning liquid on item surfaces. The continuous gas flow accelerates the transition from liquid to vapor state, enabling efficient drying of cleaned items in place.
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 solution ensures effective cleaning and drying of items by optimizing ultrasonic wave distribution, preventing surface damage, and minimizing dirt retention in the tank, thereby improving the effectiveness of the cleaning process and facilitating sterilization.
Implementation Method 1
directing ultrasonic pressure waves into the tank
Implementation Method 2
The pressure waves produce micro-cavitation in the liquid
Implementation Method 3
provide a supply of gas into cleaning liquid in the tank so that macroscopic bubbles of gas are produced
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and method, the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus (10) comprising a tank (12) for in use receiving a cleaning liquid and for receiving an item to be cleaned in a cleaning region (16) thereof, a transducer (21) arranged, when driven, to direct ultrasonic pressure waves into cleaning liquid received in the tank (12) and a controller (30) arranged in use to drive the transducer (21), a gas introducer (40) arranged to in use provide a supply of gas into cleaning liquid in the tank so that macroscopic bubbles of gas are produced wherein the gas introducer (40) provides a plurality of bubble sources distributed below the cleaning region of the tank. The apparatus further comprises an assembly arranged in use to enable movement of the item to be cleaned in the cleaning region.