Study on the Motion Characteristics of Solid Particles in Fine Flow Channels by Ultrasonic Cavitation

• Published in: Micromachines (Basel) 2022-07, Vol.13 (8), p.1196
• Main Authors: Yuan, Mu, Li, Chen, Ge, Jiangqin, Xu, Qingduo, Li, Zhian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: bubble observation experiment; Bubbles; Bulk solids; Cavitation; Channeling (Physics); Efficiency; fine particles; Flow velocity; fluent simulation; Fluids; High speed cameras; Mechanical properties; Microchannels; microfluidic; microfluidic mixing; Microjets; Observations; Parameters; Particle flow; Precision machining; Radiation; Simulation; Sound pressure; Time and motion study; ultrasonic cavitation; Ultrasonic equipment; Viscosity
• ISSN: 2072-666X; 2072-666X
• DOI: 10.3390/mi13081196

Microjets caused by the cavitation effect in microchannels can affect the motion trajectory of solid particles in microchannels under ultrasonic conditions. The optimal parameters for an observation experiment were obtained through simulations, and an experiment was designed to verify these parameters. When the cavitation bubbles collapse in the near-wall area, the solid particles in the microchannel can be displaced along the expected motion trajectory. Using fluent software to simulate the bubble collapse process, it can be seen that, when an ultrasonic sound pressure acts on a bubble near the wall, the pressure causes the top of the bubble wall to sink inward and eventually penetrate the bottom of the bubble wall, forming a high-speed microjet. The maximum speed of the jet can reach nearly 28 m/s, and the liquid near the top of the bubble also moves at a high speed, driving the particles in the liquid towards the wall. A high-speed camera was used to observe the ultrasonic cavitation process of bubbles in the water to verify the simulation results. A comparison of particle motion with and without ultrasonic waves proved the feasibility of using the ultrasonic cavitation effect to guide small particles towards the wall. This method provides a novel experimental basis for changing the fluid layer state in the microchannel and improving precision machining.