Improvement of ultrasonic heat transfer enhancement using acoustical focusing and resonance properties

Abstract

This paper is aiming to improve the ultrasonic heat transfer enhancement by controlling the sound intensity distribution and constructing an acoustic focusing field, which can reduce energy dissipation and dramatically enhance the local sound intensity of heat transfer surface. Two design criteria are proposed to construct the acoustic focusing field by utilizing acoustic interference and acoustic resonance. Correspondingly, an elliptical acoustic focusing tank is designed and fabricated. Two-dimensional simulation and experimental tests of sound intensity distribution in the elliptical acoustic focusing tank are performed to verify the theoretical conception and design. In addition, the heat transfer coefficients are measured at different locations in the elliptical tank under natural convection, using a square tank as a control. The experimental results show that the elliptical acoustic focusing tank can promote the intensity of the whole sound field, especially the focus region compared with the square tank. The heat transfer coefficient and heat transfer enhancement rate anywhere in the elliptical tank is higher than that in the square tank. The maximum heat transfer enhancement rate of the elliptical tank is 55.3% in natural convection, which is 47.1% higher than that of the square tank under the same condition.