Acoustic analysis of jet atomization for uniform dispersion of nano- and micro-droplets

In this study, the mechanisms of jet atomization were analyzed based on a frequency analysis of atomization sounds in the audible range (∼20 kHz). Jet atomization is a two-dimensional, high-speed atomization using a diaphragm, and interesting acoustic signals and atomization phenomena were detected on hydrophobic and hydrophilic diaphragms. The hydrophilic diaphragm strongly interacted and resonated with the surface wave, resulting in symmetrical jet atomization relative to the diaphragm. The resonance between the diaphragm and the surface wave was supported by a calculation of the eigenfrequency of the diaphragm and the coincidence of the droplet diameters as calculated from Lang's equation. Notably, the diaphragm excited by the ultrasonic transducer acted as a new transducer vibrating perpendicular to the transducer. As a result, when the diaphragm and the surface wave were in resonance at 2.4 MHz, a symmetrical two-dimensional high-speed jet atomization was generated in the direction perpendicular to the transducer’s vibration direction. This study also revealed that the atomization state can be determined based on the acoustic analysis. This acoustic analysis of atomization sounds can be applied in more advanced atomization control, such as for providing uniform dispersions of droplets containing DNA, drugs, or microplastics.