Trapping of particles by the leakage of a standing wave ultrasonic field

This paper presents a method of trapping particles by the acoustic leakage from a low frequency standing wave ultrasonic field. The standing wave ultrasonic field is generated in a triangular air gap between two vibrating V-shaped metal strips. Particles are trapped to the lower outlet of the standing wave ultrasonic field. The acoustic radiation force acting on the particles in this method is opposite to the direction of the acoustic leakage. Particles such as medicine pills with a weight up to 256 mg per particle can be trapped. A physical model is developed to analyze the trapping phenomena. The effects of the vibration displacement amplitude at the tip of the V-shaped metal strip, particle's shape and weight, and size of standing wave ultrasonic field on the trapping capability are investigated theoretically and experimentally.