High power density ultrasonic fuel cleaning with planar transducers
AssigneeDominion Engineering, Inc.
InventorsDavid J. GROSS, David Arguelles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are a range of ultrasonic cleaning assemblies that include radiating surfaces activated by corresponding arrays of planar transducers configured to increase the power applied to a reduced volume of fluid associated with a fuel assembly, thereby increasing that applied power density for improved cleaning. The individual ultrasonic cleaning assemblies may be arranged in a variety of modules that, in turn, may be combined to increase the length of the cleaning zone and provide variations in the power density applied to improve the cleaning uniformity.
Claims2
A submersible ultrasonic cleaning assembly comprising;
- an array of planar ultrasonic transducers applied to a first plurality of pressure walls to form a plurality of radiating surfaces;
- the radiating surfaces being arranged to form an interior a polygonal opening defining a cleaning zone;
- and
- a second plurality of pressure walls cooperating with the first plurality of pressure walls to enclose the transducers.
A method of ultrasonic cleaning comprising;
- configuring an array of planar ultrasonic transducers to form a radiating surface;
- arranging a plurality of radiating surfaces to form a module having a polygonal opening defining a cleaning zone;
- maintaining a volume of liquid within the polygonal opening;
- applying ultrasonic agitation to the liquid to form a cleaning zone having a bulk energy density of at least 200 watts/gallon;
- and
- moving a contaminated object through the cleaning zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.