Geometric Optimization of Sonoreactors for the Enhancement of Sonochemical Activity

Acoustic cavitation concentrates and releases a very large amount of energy in localized areas, which can be used for many physical and chemical processes. Even though acoustic cavitation has been studied widely for decades, only few studies have been devoted to optimization of medium to large scale reactors. In this study, the effect of ultrasound irradiation distance on the sonochemical activity has been investigated in 36 and 108 kHz cylindrical sonoreactors with various liquid heights ranging from 80 to 340 mm. As the liquid height/irradiation distance is increased, the cavitation yield increases significantly under the approximately same input energy conditions. The sonochemiluminescence (SCL) images for the visualization of the cavitation field also show that a stronger and more stable standing wave field is formed with higher SCL activity at higher liquid heights.