ULTRASONIC CLEANING

Ultrasonic cleaning

Ultrasonic cleaning is a method of cleaning that uses an ultrasonic device to clean delicate objects or items with intricate parts. Ultrasonic is the science of sound waves above the limits of human audibility. The ultrasonic device uses a cleaning solution which can be fuel (hydrocarbon) and high frequency sound waves to clean the items.

Ultrasound ranges in frequency from about 20 to 400 kHz. The most commonly used frequencies for industrial cleaning are those between 20 KHz and 50KHz. Ultrasonic cleaning is employed in a variety of industries especially aeronautical and can be used on many materials and objects of varying sizes and shapes. The mechanical effect of ultrasonic energy can be helpful in both speeding dissolution and displacing particles.

Ultrasonic Equipment

To introduce ultrasonic energy into a cleaning system requires an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic power supply or "generator." The generator supplies electrical energy at the desired ultrasonic frequency. The ultrasonic transducer converts the electrical energy from the ultrasonic generator into mechanical vibrations. As these vibrating sound waves travel through water, microscopic bubbles form and repeatedly implode upon a given surface. This powerful action removes visible and even microscopic dirt particles making a dirty mini-blind or any other object cleaner than alternative methods. Not only is this ultrasonic cleaning method completely user-friendly and extremely effective, but it is fast, safe, and gentle.

The ultrasonic power supply (generator) converts 50/60 Hz voltage to high frequency 20 or 40 kHz (20,000/40,000 cycles per second) electrical energy. This electrical energy is transmitted to the piezoelectric transducer within the converter, where it is changed to high-frequency mechanical vibration. The vibrations from the converter are amplified by the probe (horn), creating pressure waves in the liquid.

Ultrasonic Transducers

There are two general types of ultrasonic transducers commonly used Magnetostrictive and piezoelectric. Both accomplish the same task of converting alternating electrical energy to vibratory mechanical energy but do it through the use of different means.

Magnetostrictive transducers utilize the principle of magnetostriction in which certain materials expand and contract when placed in an alternating magnetic field. Piezoelectric transducers convert alternating electrical energy directly to mechanical energy through use of the piezoelectric effect in which certain materials change dimension when an electrical charge is applied to them.