Ultrasonic cleaning of interior surfaces
Abstract
An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus for cleaning the interior surfaces of tubes. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic generator and reflector each coupled to opposing ends of the open-ended, fluid-filled tube. Fluid-tight couplings seal the reflector and generator to the tube, preventing leakage of fluid from the interior of the tube. The reflector and generator are operatively connected to actuators, whereby the distance between them can be varied. When the distance is changed, the frequency of the sound waves is simultaneously adjusted to maintain the resonant frequency of the tube so that a standing wave is formed in the tube, the nodes of which are moved axially to cause cavitation along the length of the tube. Cavitation maximizes mechanical disruption and agitation of the fluid, dislodging foreign material from the interior surface.
- Inventors:
-
- Aiken, SC
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 869170
- Patent Number(s):
- 5289838
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B08 - CLEANING B08B - CLEANING IN GENERAL
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- ultrasonic; cleaning; interior; surfaces; apparatus; tubes; generator; reflector; coupled; opposing; open-ended; fluid-filled; tube; fluid-tight; couplings; seal; preventing; leakage; fluid; operatively; connected; actuators; whereby; distance; varied; changed; frequency; sound; waves; simultaneously; adjusted; maintain; resonant; standing; wave; formed; nodes; moved; axially; cavitation; length; maximizes; mechanical; disruption; agitation; dislodging; foreign; material; surface; ultrasonic cleaning; resonant frequency; sound waves; interior surface; interior surfaces; standing wave; operatively connected; cleaning apparatus; ultrasonic generator; moved axially; filled tube; foreign material; fluid-filled tube; tight coupling; sound wave; /134/
Citation Formats
Odell, D MacKenzie C. Ultrasonic cleaning of interior surfaces. United States: N. p., 1994.
Web.
Odell, D MacKenzie C. Ultrasonic cleaning of interior surfaces. United States.
Odell, D MacKenzie C. Sat .
"Ultrasonic cleaning of interior surfaces". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869170.
@article{osti_869170,
title = {Ultrasonic cleaning of interior surfaces},
author = {Odell, D MacKenzie C.},
abstractNote = {An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus for cleaning the interior surfaces of tubes. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic generator and reflector each coupled to opposing ends of the open-ended, fluid-filled tube. Fluid-tight couplings seal the reflector and generator to the tube, preventing leakage of fluid from the interior of the tube. The reflector and generator are operatively connected to actuators, whereby the distance between them can be varied. When the distance is changed, the frequency of the sound waves is simultaneously adjusted to maintain the resonant frequency of the tube so that a standing wave is formed in the tube, the nodes of which are moved axially to cause cavitation along the length of the tube. Cavitation maximizes mechanical disruption and agitation of the fluid, dislodging foreign material from the interior surface.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1994},
month = {1}
}