Modeling of the acoustic pressure fields and the distribution of the cavitation phenomena in a dual frequency sonic processor

An attempt has been made to model the acoustic pressure field and the spati al distribution of the cavitation phenomena in a dual frequency sonic proce ssor. A methodology has been presented with numerical simulations to optimi ze the conditions of the dual frequency acoustic field. The simulations pre sented in this work reveal that with manipulation of the parameters (viz., frequency ratio and the pressure amplitude ratio of the two acoustic waves and the phase difference between the two waves) of the dual frequency acous tic field it is possible to control the mode (stable or transient) and spat ial distribution of the cavitation events in the sonic processor. It has be en shown that two major shortcomings of the sonic reactor, viz., directiona l sensitivity of the cavitation events and erosion of the sonicator surface can be overcome by application of a dual frequency acoustic field. (C) 200 0 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.