Knowledge Base

Nomenclature: Acoustic Cleaners are also called as Acoustic Horns or Sonic Horns. In power generation industry, acoustic cleaners are called as Sonic Soot Blowers.

Structural Parts:
Acoustic Cleaners consists of two parts :

1. A wave generator encompasses a titanium diaphragm. The compressed air enters the wave generator through the connection provided & vibrates the diaphragm which in turn produces sound.

2. A Bell section amplifies the sound produced by wave generator to the desired frequency.

Air Requirement: Compressed air preferably instrument air is required at following parameters :

• Pressure = 4.8 to 6.2 Bar
• Volume = 45 scfm (during sounding)

Timing Pattern: The acoustic cleaners are sounded for a few seconds at periodic intervals. The timing pattern can be altered to suit the applications.


Frequency Vs. Wavelength :

The sound frequency & it’s wavelength are inversely proportional to each other.

Higher the frequency ----- Lower the wavelength. e.g. 420 Hz, 350 Hz & 230 Hz frequencies have shorter wavelength. Such frequencies cater to smaller applications such hoppers, ID fans etc..

Lower the frequency ----- Higher the wavelength. e.g. 120 Hz, 75 Hz & 60 Hz frequencies have longer wavelength. Such frequencies cater to bigger applications such as storage silos, boilers etc..


Multidirectional Effect :

Sound waves are multidirectional & hence travel everywhere. Acoustic cleaners with carefully selected frequencies can cover entire area of the equipments such as storage silos, boilers & heat exchangers.

Acoustic cleaners can replace conventional technologies having unidirectional/localized effect such as :

1. Vibrating Motors
2. Air Canons
3. Steam Soot Blowers
4. Mechanical Rapping System


Effect on Equipment Structures :

The energy level in the sound waves produced by acoustic cleaners is sufficient to vibrate the particles & not the structures. 

The resonating frequencies are in the range of 10 – 30 Hz whereas Primasonics acoustic cleaners are designed with sound frequencies of 60 Hz & above. Hence acoustic cleaners will not create any harm to concrete or metallic structures. 

Primasonics acoustic cleaners are successfully working on concrete silos as old as 30 years.


Demonstrations :

Effect of acoustic cleaner on stored powder


Effect of sonic soot blowers in boilers