Tomsk scientists have proposed a new way to collect dust – using ultrasonic radiation.
They propose to collect debris invisible to the eye using ultrasonic waves and direct the dust to a suction device, thus obtaining an “ultrasonic vacuum cleaner”.
Radio physicists of Tomsk State University have been engaged in ultrasonic levitation for a long time. Previously, they were developing a setup for a new 3D printing method. And now scientists have proposed a new application of this technology.
Specialists have designed a remote installation that can collect particles and move them to a given point using ultrasonic waves.
– We can focus ultrasonic radiation at a given distance, pick up dust particles from a certain place and transport them to a vacuum cleaner, – says Dmitry Sukhanov, Head of the Laboratory of Electromagnetic Control Methods of the SFTI TSU, Professor of the Department of Radiophysics of the RFF TSU. – This will make it possible to clean the premises without having to sneak into every corner. After all, the ultrasonic field penetrates almost everywhere and can pick up particles from a variety of areas.
A prototype of an ultrasonic vacuum cleaner consists of two arrays of ultrasonic emitters, which are focused at one point, at a frequency of 40 kilohertz. According to scientists, there is a certain phase difference between them. By changing it, a moving picture of standing waves is created. This allows you to move the particles to the specified areas.
Radiophysicists claim that the new technology can be used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food and other “clean” industries. An ultrasonic vacuum cleaner can even work in space. So it is quite possible that soon the astronauts will be able to clean up the orbital station – in zero gravity.
“Moreover, it is possible to move dust on the ISS with an ultrasonic field without counteracting the force of gravity, which will have a positive effect on the cleaning efficiency,” the scientists note.
Currently, radio physicists are working to make the system more productive.
“When we understand in what form the installation will provide the most efficient transportation of dust particles, it will be possible to start assembling a working prototype,” says Dmitry Sukhanov.