Effect of Dual Frequency Ultrasound on the Bubble Formation in a Capillary Tube

Abstract

A visual experimental investigation was conducted to determine the effect of dual frequency ultrasound on the bubble formation and growth in a capillary quartz tube. Two piezoelectric ceramics were used in this experiment. They were made of Pb-based lanthanum-doped zirconate titanates (PLZTs). The PLZTs were placed on a quartz tube with an inner diameter of 2 mm and an outer diameter of 3 mm. The capillary tube was vacuumed first and then charged with water using a filling ratio of 70%. The ultrasonic sound was applied to the heating section of a capillary tube. The bubble formation and growth were recorded by a high speed camera. As shown in figures, when the ultrasound with a single frequency of either 154 kHz or 474 kHz was applied, only one bubble was generated. When the dual frequencies of 154 kHz and 474 kHz were applied, more bubbles were generated. The speed of the bubble growth with dual frequency ultrasound was much higher than that with a single frequency. When a dual frequency ultrasound (154 kHz and 474 kHz) was used, the nucleation sites for bubble formation were significantly increased and the bubble growth rate enhanced.