Similarity considerations for acoustic agglomeration

Acoustic agglomerators work, not only in reducing the total number concentration but also to effectively shift the size distribution to a larger size range depending on the frequency and intensity applied to the particular particle size distribution. The acoustic agglomerator is like any other conventional particulate abatement device from the viewpoint, that the design, materials and construction are dictated solely for that particular application and given system conditions. In addition, the acoustic agglomerator has to be tuned to that specific application for best results. In spite of the low efficiencies of sound generators, the total energy consumption is small, rapidly increasing at the higher sound intensity levels where turbulence dominates, wherein the amount of useful energy for agglomeration is smaller relative to the input acoustic energy, although it is counter benefitted by the increase in the rate of agglomeration and removal. Thus it is the availability of space and costs which inherently decides the rates of agglomeration and removal which indirectly determines the intensity levels to be used.