Airborne Power Ultrasonic Technologies for Intensification of Food and Environmental Processes

Publication date: 2016 Source:Physics Procedia, Volume 87 Author(s): Enrique Riera, Víctor M. Acosta, José Bon, Manuel Aleixandre, Alfonso Blanco, Roque R. Andrés, Andrea Cardoni, Ignacio Martinez, Luís E. Herranz, Rosario Delgado, Juan A. Gallego-Juárez Airborne power ultrasound is a green technology with a great potential for food and environmental applications, among others. This technology aims at producing permanent changes in objects and substances by means of the propagation of high-intensity waves through air and multiphase media. Specifically, the nonlinear effects produced in such media are responsible for the beneficial repercussions of ultrasound in airborne applications. Processing enhancement is achieved through minimizing the impedance mismatch between the ultrasonic radiator source and the medium by the generation of large vibration displacements and the concentration of energy radiation thus overcoming the high acoustic absorption of fluids, and in particular of gases such as air. Within this work the enhancing effects of airborne power ultrasound in various solid/liquid/gas applications including drying of solid and semi-solid substances, and the agglomeration of tiny particles in air cleaning processes are presented. Moreover, the design of new ultrasonic devices capable of generating these effects are described along with practical methods aimed at maintaining a stable performance of the tuned systems at operational powers. Hence, design ...
Source: Physics Procedia - Category: Physics Source Type: research