Development of an acoustic levitation system for the manipulation of liquid drops

• Grant number: 17/14743-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Electrical, Magnetic and Electronic Measurements, Instrumentation
• Principal Investigator: Marco Aurélio Brizzotti Andrade
• Grantee: Sydney Hashimoto Oku
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to develop an acoustic levitation system for the contactless manipulation of liquid drops in air. At first, the linear acoustic theory and the equations describing the acoustic radiation force on particles much smaller than the acoustic wavelength will be reviewed. Then, the Finite Element Method will be employed to simulate the potential of the acoustic radiation force in single-axis acoustic levitators, and computational simulations will be applied to design an acoustic levitation system for the contactless manipulation of drops. After designing the system, a prototype will be built and its levitation and manipulation capability will be experimentally evaluated. (AU)