KNOWLEDGE
What is the working principle of an ultrasonic Homogenizer?
The working principle of an ultrasonic homogenizer is to use the cavitation effect and other physical effects of ultrasound in liquid to achieve homogenization. The cavitation effect refers to the formation of holes or small bubbles in weaker areas of the liquid under the action of ultrasound. The small bubbles follow the pulse of ultrasound and collapse within one sound cycle. Ultrasonic cavitation can also generate strong mechanical effects, producing fast jets or acoustic impulses near solid interfaces and strong shock waves in liquids. Physical effects refer to the effective agitation and flow of ultrasonic waves in liquids, which can damage the structure of the medium and crush particles in the liquid. These are mainly caused by collisions between liquids, microphase flow, and shock waves, leading to changes in the surface morphology of particles.
What is the working principle of an ultrasonic Homogenizer?
1. The generation and propagation of ultrasound
The ultrasonic homogenizer mainly consists of three parts: ultrasonic vibration components, ultrasonic driving power supply, and reaction kettle. The ultrasonic vibration components mainly include high-power ultrasonic transducers, amplitude converters, and tool heads (emitters), which are used to generate ultrasonic vibration and emit this vibration energy into the liquid. The transducer converts the input electrical energy into mechanical energy, namely ultrasonic waves. Ultrasound breaks down into numerous tiny bubbles in liquid at a vibration frequency of hundreds of thousands of times per second.
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2. The occurrence of cavitation effect
Under the action of ultrasound, tiny bubbles form in the liquid that vibrate hundreds of thousands of times per second. These bubbles, under continuous action, will rapidly grow and then suddenly close, generating an ultra-strong shock wave that generates pressure of several thousand atmospheres and local high temperatures around the bubbles. This physical phenomenon is called ultrasonic cavitation effect.
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3. Application of cavitation effect
The cavitation effect of ultrasound can not only stimulate or promote many chemical reactions, accelerate the rate of chemical reactions, but also change the direction of chemical reactions, producing some effects. During the homogenization process, the cavitation effect of ultrasound causes bubbles in the liquid to slowly expand during the negative pressure half cycle, contract slowly but not rupture during the positive pressure half cycle, and the bubbles undergo periodic and non-linear oscillation motion, resulting in strong mechanical effects such as shock waves.
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4. Implementation of homogenization effect
Through this method, ultrasonic homogenizers can effectively emulsify, separate, disperse, homogenize, degass, clean, and accelerate chemical reactions. It can be used for the crushing of animal and plant tissues, cells, bacteria, spore strains, as well as for the shearing and crushing of particles in solution, thereby achieving homogenization.