Author Contributions
H.L. is the lead author and main contributor to the paper. She conducted the experimental investigation and has written the original draft of the manuscript and carried out the literature review and formal analysis of the data collected. P.S.L. has contributed to the conceptualization to carry out this investigation as well as supervision of the research, project management and coordination of the research activity, visualization of the manuscript and, furthermore, contributed toward reviewing and editing the original manuscript. L.C.W. has contributed plenty as the academic supervisor of the PhD research, also contributing toward funding acquisition and further reviewing and editing of the original paper. T.-H.G. has contributed by supervision of the PhD research, reviewing of the original paper, and also acquiring funding to carry out the current investigation.
Figure 1.
Example of cable connection to High-Power Ultrasonic Transducer (HPUT) using a male BNC test lead cable.
Figure 1.
Example of cable connection to High-Power Ultrasonic Transducer (HPUT) using a male BNC test lead cable.
Figure 2.
Technical drawing of 3D-printed housing to encapsulate the 40 kHz HPUT.
Figure 2.
Technical drawing of 3D-printed housing to encapsulate the 40 kHz HPUT.
Figure 3.
Cross-section of marinized RG58 cable.
Figure 3.
Cross-section of marinized RG58 cable.
Figure 4.
Impedance characterization of 40 kHz HPUT before and after marinization.
Figure 4.
Impedance characterization of 40 kHz HPUT before and after marinization.
Figure 5.
Power electronics system schematic.
Figure 5.
Power electronics system schematic.
Figure 6.
Bespoke High-Power Amplifier.
Figure 6.
Bespoke High-Power Amplifier.
Figure 7.
Flow diagram of the software operation.
Figure 7.
Flow diagram of the software operation.
Figure 8.
Wave generator—graphical user interface (GUI).
Figure 8.
Wave generator—graphical user interface (GUI).
Figure 9.
(a) Marinized HPUT with marinized cabling and (b) marinized HPUTs placed into prototype HPUT collar to commence laboratory investigations.
Figure 9.
(a) Marinized HPUT with marinized cabling and (b) marinized HPUTs placed into prototype HPUT collar to commence laboratory investigations.
Figure 10.
Examples of fouling removal results displaying an increase in material dislodged into the water after one cycle of cleaning.
Figure 10.
Examples of fouling removal results displaying an increase in material dislodged into the water after one cycle of cleaning.
Figure 11.
HPUT Collar CAD (left) and placed onto 6-inch pipe (right).
Figure 11.
HPUT Collar CAD (left) and placed onto 6-inch pipe (right).
Figure 12.
Point data along the length of pipe using Polytec CLV-3D Laser Vibrometer.
Figure 12.
Point data along the length of pipe using Polytec CLV-3D Laser Vibrometer.
Figure 13.
Performance of marinized configuration in air.
Figure 13.
Performance of marinized configuration in air.
Figure 14.
Performance of non-marinized configuration in air.
Figure 14.
Performance of non-marinized configuration in air.
Figure 15.
Performance of marinized configuration in water.
Figure 15.
Performance of marinized configuration in water.
Figure 16.
Performance of non-marinized configuration in water.
Figure 16.
Performance of non-marinized configuration in water.
Figure 17.
Schematic of U-shaped pipe specimen.
Figure 17.
Schematic of U-shaped pipe specimen.
Figure 18.
(a) U-shaped pipe set-up for fouling removal and (b) attachment of HPUT.
Figure 18.
(a) U-shaped pipe set-up for fouling removal and (b) attachment of HPUT.
Figure 19.
Before and after image of the inner wall of the U-shaped pipe.
Figure 19.
Before and after image of the inner wall of the U-shaped pipe.
Figure 20.
Integrated system architecture.
Figure 20.
Integrated system architecture.
Figure 21.
Integrated system schematic, displaying cleaning results after a cycle of fouling removal.
Figure 21.
Integrated system schematic, displaying cleaning results after a cycle of fouling removal.
Figure 22.
Assembly of the integrated system demonstration tank.
Figure 22.
Assembly of the integrated system demonstration tank.
Figure 23.
Final set-up of ultrasonic cleaning and Ultrasonic Guided Wave detection demonstration tank.
Figure 23.
Final set-up of ultrasonic cleaning and Ultrasonic Guided Wave detection demonstration tank.
Table 1.
Material properties of polyurethane used for marinization of the HPUT.
Table 1.
Material properties of polyurethane used for marinization of the HPUT.
Test | Result |
---|
Flammability | Not flame retardant |
Volume Resistivity | 13–1510 ohm.cm |
Surface Resistivity | 12.5–14.510 ohm.cm |
Dielectric Constant | 3.1 |
Breakdown Voltage | 20 KV/mm |
Hardness | 70 Shore A |
Tensile Strength | 3–4 MPa |
Operating Temperature | −55 to 130 °C (application and geometry dependent) |
Elongation at Break | 200% |
Table 2.
Component and material description of marinized RG58 cable.
Table 2.
Component and material description of marinized RG58 cable.
# | Component | Material |
---|
1 | Central Conductor | Tinned Copper |
2 | Dielectric | Solid Polyethylene |
3 | Outer Conductor | Tinned Copper Wire Braid |
4 | Inner Jacket | PVC TM2 |
5 | Outer Jacket | Polyurethane |
Table 3.
HPUT marinization requirements.
Table 3.
HPUT marinization requirements.
Specimen | Quantity | Marinized Cabling | HPUT Marinization | 3D Printed Housing |
---|
40 kHz HPUT | 4 | Connection from electrode plates to male BNC. Length of 10 m | Putty to cover electrodes and cabling—metal front mass of HPUT does not require marinization | HPUT housing to surround putty to be 80 mm in outer diameter |
Table 4.
Final hardware system requirements and features.
Table 4.
Final hardware system requirements and features.
Feature | Specification | Prototype |
---|
Powered by | Mains | Mains |
Voltage, V | 240 | 100–300 V |
Dimensions (L × W × H), cm | 50 × 30 × 20 | 37 × 36 × 23 |
Weight of the system, Kg | <10 Kgs | 1.5 Kgs |
Number of channels | 4 | 8 |
Inputs signal generators | 4 | 2 individual signal generators |
Powered by | Mains | Mains |
Table 5.
Power ultrasonic software requirements.
Table 5.
Power ultrasonic software requirements.
Feature | Prototype |
---|
Capabilities of the software, i.e., change the parameters based on the modeling results | Insert the input signal limits, i.e., frequency limits and number of samples Control the power Display the input signal Display the power outage from the transducer
|
Capability of driving the hardware | Yes |
Level of user-friendliness | Basic (knowledge of ultrasonic cleaning process) |
Data acquisition capabilities | Yes |
Data storage | Yes—laptop |
Reporting capabilities | Desirable |
Table 6.
Ultrasonic cleaning limiting parameters and further suggestions for optimization.
Table 6.
Ultrasonic cleaning limiting parameters and further suggestions for optimization.
Parameter | Limitation | Performance Optimization |
---|
Fouling Thickness | Takes longer to breakdown fouling layer | Optimize cleaning time to account structural constraints. This will increase the cleaning time duration and may require wave input optimization to account for attenuation. |
Pipe Wall Thickness | Reduction of delivery of power into liquid |
Structural Coating | Attenuation power delivery from HPUT into the metallic structure |
High-Power Amplifier Hardware | Power delivery into HPUT to compensate for power loss due to pipe thickness and coating | Improve power output and optimize wave generation, i.e., square wave |