A smart device for particle separation in water using ultrasonic standing waves

This paper presents the theory, design, and evaluation of a smart device for the enhanced separation of particles mixed in fluid. The smart device takes advantage of the ultrasonic standing wave, which was generated by the operation of a piezoceramic PZT patch installed in the smart device. The details of the device design including the electro-acoustical modelling for separation and PZT transducer are described. Based on this design, the separation device was fabricated and evaluated. In the experiments, an optical camera with a zoom lens was used to monitor the position of interested particles within the separation channel layer in the device. The electric impedance of the PZT patch bonded on the separation device was measured. The device shows a strong levitation and separation force against 50 μm diameter particles mixed with water at the separation channel in the device. Experimental results also showed that the device can work with both heavy and light sand particles mixed with water due to the generated standing wave field in the separation channel.