Theory 003/Acoustics & Vibration
Cleaning Is a Cavitation Threshold
The claim
Ultrasonic cleaning efficacy is set by how far the drive exceeds the cavitation threshold at that frequency, not by acoustic power.
01The mechanism
Cavitation nuclei require a pressure amplitude that rises with frequency. Power above threshold is wasted as heating.
02Predictions
- P1Cleaning should track overpressure above threshold.
- P2Doubling power at constant overpressure should not help.
03Refutation
Cleaning scaling with power regardless of threshold would remove the mechanism.