Ultrasonic devices and methods for regeneration of activated carbon

An ultrasonic generator system, comprising:

• a beam having a length extending in a longitudinal direction, the beam operable to be disposed in a tank, the tank housing a bed of activated carbon through which pressurized water flows, the beam comprising a first and a second pair of opposing sidewalls that define a hollow interior therebetween;
• a plurality of first pair of ultrasonic transducers disposed on the first pair of opposing sidewalls of the beam;
• and
• a plurality of second pair of ultrasonic transducers disposed on the second pair of opposing sidewalls of the beam, wherein each first pair and each second pair of transducers are alternately disposed along a longitudinal length of the interior of the beam;
• wherein, when pressurized water is not flowing through the tank, then each first pair of transducers are separated by a first air gap and each second pair of transducers are separated by a second air gap and the first and second pairs of transducers are operable to generate ultrasonic vibrations to regenerate the activated carbon;
• and
• when the pressurized water is flowing through the tank, then the first and second air gaps are closed by water pressure exerted by the pressurized water on the first and second pair of opposing sidewalls of the beam, and each pair of the first pair of transducers abut together to provide structural support against the water pressure for the first pair of opposing sidewalls of the beam and each pair of the second pair of transducers abut together to provide structural support against the water pressure for the second pair of opposing sidewalls of the beam.

A method of regenerating activated carbon, the method comprising:

• providing an ultrasonic generator system, comprising:
• a beam having a length extending in a longitudinal direction, the beam operable to be disposed in a tank, the tank housing a bed of activated carbon through which pressurized water flows, the beam comprising a first and a second pair of opposing sidewalls that define a hollow interior therebetween;
• a first pair and a second pair of ultrasonic transducers disposed on the first and second pair of opposing sidewalls of the beam, respectively, wherein the first pair of transducers are separated by a first air gap and the second pair of transducers are separated by a second air gap when pressurized water is not flowing in the tank, and
• a first and a second end plate attached to opposing distal ends of the first and second pairs of sidewalls of the beam, the first and second end plates, first and second transducers and first and second sidewalls of the beam comprising a first beam module;
• generating ultrasonic vibrations from the first and second pair of transducers to regenerate the activated carbon, when pressurized water in not flowing in the tank;
• and
• closing the first and second air gaps by water pressure exerted on the first and second sidewalls of the beam when pressurized water is flowing in the tank, such that the first pair of transducers abut together to provide structural support against the water pressure for the first pair of opposing sidewalls of the beam and the second pair of transducers abut together to provide structural support against the water pressure for the second pair of opposing sidewalls of the beam.