Streaming induced by ultrasonic vibration in a water vessel

The flow pattern induced by ultrasonic vibration in a water vessel is investigated experimentally using several liquids. In tap water, vortex streaming of cavitation bubbles around the pressure node of a standing wave occurred because of the large number of cavitation bubbles generated by the ultrasonic vibration. Acoustic streaming of the Rayleigh type caused by cavitation bubble streaming is also induced in tap water. In a glycerin aqueous solution of 30%, Eckart streaming, which flowed upward from the vibrator, occurred due to the dissipation of ultrasonic energy caused by viscosity, On the other hand, in degassed water, streaming is hardly generated at all since a uniform and stable standing wave is formed in the water vessel. The velocity of the acoustic streaming generated in the water vessel by 27.8 kHz vibration is 1 to 6 mm/s. The cavitation bubble streaming in tap water is completely independent of normal Rayleigh or Eckart streaming. This bubble streaming is considerably faster than previous streaming.