Ultrasonic Enhancement of Heat Transfer Processes

Ultrasonic waves can significantly intensify heat transfer in liquids and at solid–fluid interfaces through mechanisms such as acoustic streaming, cavitation and microstreaming. Acoustic streaming generates steady fluid motion that disrupts thermal boundary layers, while the rapid formation and collapse of cavitation bubbles induces localised microjets and shock waves that enhance mixing and surface renewal. Across diverse configurations—ranging from fin-tube exchangers and enclosed cavities to focused radiators and water-cooling loops—ultrasound has been shown to increase heat transfer coefficients by up to several hundred per cent, with concomitant benefits in fouling mitigation. The technique offers a non-chemical, energy-efficient route for improving thermal management in electronic devices, chemical reactors and industrial heat exchangers, contributing to reduced pumping power, more compact designs and extended operational lifetimes. Ongoing research is refining transducer geometries, optimising frequency and power settings, and integrating ultrasonic modules into conventional systems to unlock scalable applications in sectors from power generation to food processing.

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Ultrasonic Enhancement of Heat Transfer Processes publication trend

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Technical terms

Acoustic streaming: Steady fluid flow induced by the attenuation of high-frequency acoustic waves, enhancing mixing and boundary-layer disruption.

Cavitation: Formation and collapse of vapour bubbles in a liquid under ultrasonic pressure fluctuations, generating microjets and shock waves that promote heat and mass transfer.

Nusselt number: Dimensionless parameter representing the ratio of convective to conductive heat transfer across a boundary layer.

Reynolds number: Dimensionless parameter characterising the ratio of inertial to viscous forces in a fluid flow, influencing transition and mixing intensity.

Ultrasonic frequency: Frequency of acoustic waves above 20 kHz, which determines cavitation threshold and streaming characteristics.

References

1. Enhancement of Heat Transfer by Ultrasound: Review and Recent Advances. International Journal of Chemical Engineering (2011).
2. Ultrasonic Vibration Technology to Improve the Thermal Performance of CPU Water-Cooling Systems: Experimental Investigation. Water (2022).
3. Louvered Fin-and-Flat Tube Compact Heat Exchanger under Ultrasonic Excitation. Fire (2022).
4. Heat transfer enhancement by a focused ultrasound field. AIP Advances (2020).