XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 215
Figure 3(a) shows the displacement field generated into
the solid wall and Figure 3(b) the related acoustic pressure
field generated into the internal liquid (nickel sulfate) of
the crystallizer. The field is particularly strong in the prox-
imity of the inlet, so as to prevent accumulation of crystals
at the walls of the inlet opening. The related physical mech-
anisms, explaining the prevention, are cyclic displacement
deformation of the solid wall and cavitation due to cyclic
acoustic pressure.
Figure 4 shows power ultrasound transducers attached
onto a real industrial crystallizer. Utilizing the information
obtained from the digital twin of the crystallizer, an eight
transducer (operating at 22 kHz frequency) ZPD solution
was installed onto the DTB crystallizer’s outer surface, four
around the outlet and four around the inlet (DN150). In
order to attach the piezoelectric power ultrasound transduc-
ers, specifically designed steel U-plates, pre-welded onto the
crystallizer casing at prearranged locations, were utilized.
Figure 3. Power ultrasonic actuation (4 × 260W, 22 kHz) in a crystallizer, (a) cyclic displacement field and (b) cyclic acoustic
pressure field, designed by FEM simulations to prevent fouling accumulation (crystallization) near the inlet
Figure 4. Ultrasonic transducers installed (a) near crystallizer outlet and {b) near crystallizer inlet
Figure 3(a) shows the displacement field generated into
the solid wall and Figure 3(b) the related acoustic pressure
field generated into the internal liquid (nickel sulfate) of
the crystallizer. The field is particularly strong in the prox-
imity of the inlet, so as to prevent accumulation of crystals
at the walls of the inlet opening. The related physical mech-
anisms, explaining the prevention, are cyclic displacement
deformation of the solid wall and cavitation due to cyclic
acoustic pressure.
Figure 4 shows power ultrasound transducers attached
onto a real industrial crystallizer. Utilizing the information
obtained from the digital twin of the crystallizer, an eight
transducer (operating at 22 kHz frequency) ZPD solution
was installed onto the DTB crystallizer’s outer surface, four
around the outlet and four around the inlet (DN150). In
order to attach the piezoelectric power ultrasound transduc-
ers, specifically designed steel U-plates, pre-welded onto the
crystallizer casing at prearranged locations, were utilized.
Figure 3. Power ultrasonic actuation (4 × 260W, 22 kHz) in a crystallizer, (a) cyclic displacement field and (b) cyclic acoustic
pressure field, designed by FEM simulations to prevent fouling accumulation (crystallization) near the inlet
Figure 4. Ultrasonic transducers installed (a) near crystallizer outlet and {b) near crystallizer inlet