Simulation of a Layered Resonator for a Microfluidic Ultrasonic Separator

This paper focuses on the simulation of a layered resonator for a microfluidic ultrasonic separator with a special emphasis on analysing the stored energy-frequency product in the microfluid chamber. Since the acoustic force acting on a small spherical particle in a standing wave in the cavity of an ultrasonic separator is proportional to the product of the energy density in the standing wave and the driving frequency, the energy-frequency product can be used as a prediction of the separation performance in an ultrasonic separator. The electro-acoustic characteristics of the resonator under different conditions are also investigated. In particular, the influence of the reflector thickness on the stored energy-frequency product of the layered resonator is examined. Furthermore, the acoustic pressure distribution in the fluid chamber of the ultrasonic separator is investigated in detail. Predicted results from simulations compare well with experimental measurements and show that the model can be used to predict the electro-acoustic characteristics and the separation performance.