On-line estimation of the ultrasonic power in a continuous flow sonochemical reactor

Abstract

Sonochemical reactors can be very effective in many applications, including: Degradation of chemical pollutants, inactivation of microorganisms, or production of biofuels. However, due to various factors, the ultrasonic power that is dissipated into sonicated liquid may vary in time. Hence, it is obvious that the ultrasonic power must be known for an optimal design and operation of the sonoreactor. In this paper, we present a method for on-line estimation of the ultrasonic power in continuous flow sonoreactors. In this method, we design an observer that estimates unknown model parameters by using a mathematical model of the sonoreactor and by measuring input and output temperatures in the sonoreactor system. The effectiveness of the method is shown for a simulated and real continuous flow sonoreactors. We also discuss the possibilities of ultrasonic power stabilization by using control algorithms.