Cavitation and acoustic streaming generated by different sonotrode tips

Both the experimental and numerical results revealed that the sonotrode tip shape affects the acoustic streaming significantly, altering the flow magnitude and direction from fast and downward under the plane and truncated tips to relatively slow and upward near the conical tip. Besides, the conical tip provides a more efficient cavitation treatment in comparison with the plane and truncated tips. The simulation results showed that widening of cavitation zone and altering of acoustic streaming velocity and direction near the sonotrode tip are responsible for the enhancement of cavitation treatment efficiency.