Simulation of Onset of the Capillary Surface Wave in the Ultrasonic Atomizer

• Published in: Micromachines (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 10; p. 1146
• Main Authors: Song, Yu-Lin, Cheng, Chih-Hsiao, Reddy, Manoj Kumar, Islam, Md Saikhul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 23-09-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Amplitudes; Atomizing; capillary wave; Capillary waves; COMSOL; Critical point; Droplets; Drug delivery systems; Finite element analysis; Frequency stability; harmonic; Liquid surfaces; Mechatronics; Physical properties; Simulation; subharmonic; surface wave; Surface waves; Surfactants; Velocity; Vibration; Viscosity
• ISSN: 2072-666X; 2072-666X
• DOI: 10.3390/mi12101146

The novel drug delivery system refers to the formulations and technologies for transporting a pharmaceutical compound in the body as it is needed to safely achieve its desired therapeutic effects. In this study, the onset vibrational amplitude of capillary surface waves for ultrasonic atomization spray is explained based on Faraday instability. Using ultrasonic frequency, the vibrational amplitude approached a critical point, and the liquid surface broke up into tiny drops. The micro-droplets were are steadily and continuously formed after the liquid feeding rate was optimized. The simulation study reported a minimum vibrational amplitude or onset value of 0.38 μm at 500 kHz frequency. The required minimum energy to atomize the drops was simulated by COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software. The simulation result agreed well with the numerical results of a subharmonic vibrational model that ocurred at 250 kHz frequency on the liquid surface. This newly designed single frequency ultrasonic atomizer showed its true physical characteristic of resonance on the fluid surface plane. Hence, this research will contribute to the future development of a single-frequency ultrasonic nebulizer and mechatronics for the generation of uniform atomized droplets.