High volume ultrasonic flow cell

A flow cell for the ultrasonic treatment of a liquid, said flow cell comprising:

• a housing having a wall at least partially defining a flow chamber therein, said housing having a first liquid passage and a second liquid passage for flowing the liquid into and out of the flow chamber;
• an ultrasonic horn extending into the flow chamber for imparting ultrasonic energy to liquid in the flow chamber, said ultrasonic horn having an outer surface and an end surface, and having a recess formed in the end surface, said end surface defining a generally horizontal plane;
• a tubular member having a first end in fluid communication with a second end, the first end of said tubular member being in fluid communication with the second liquid passage, and the second end of said tubular member extending into the recess in said ultrasonic horn beyond the generally horizontal plane defined by the end surface of said ultrasonic horn, whereby liquid is forced to flow at least partially into the recess in said ultrasonic horn as the liquid flows through the flow chamber;
• and,
• the first liquid passage is positioned in an upper portion of said wall and is above the end surface of said ultrasonic horn and the in said ultrasonic horn is oriented to face downward, whereby liquid is forced to flow past the outer surface of said ultrasonic horn as the liquid flows through the flow chamber.

A flow cell for the ultrasonic treatment of a liquid, said flow cell comprising:

• a housing having an inner surface at least partially defining a flow chamber, said housing having a first liquid passage and a second liquid passage for flowing the liquid into and out of the flow chamber;
• an ultrasonic horn extending into the flow chamber, said ultrasonic horn having an outer surface and an end surface, and having a recess formed in the end surface, said recess having an inner surface;
• a tubular member having a first end in fluid communication with a second end and having an outer surface and an inner surface, the first end of said tubular member being in fluid communication with the second liquid passage, and the second end of said tubular member extending into the recess in said ultrasonic horn;
• the first liquid passage is positioned in an upper portion of said wall and is above the end surface of said ultrasonic horn and the recess in said ultrasonic horn is oriented to face downward, whereby liquid is forced to flow past the outer surface of said ultrasonic horn as the liquid flows through the flow chamber;
• a first flow pathway defined between the inner surface of said housing and the outer surface of said ultrasonic horn;
• a second flow pathway defined between the inner surface of the recess of said ultrasonic horn and the outer surface of said tubular member;
• a third flow pathway defined by the inner surface of said tubular member;
• and
• wherein said first liquid passage is in fluid communication with said second liquid passage via said first flow pathway, said second flow pathway and said third flow pathway.