How to Select an Ultrasonic Tank for Your Industrial Cleaning Application

An ultrasonic cleaning system consists of an ultrasonic generator one or more transducers and the ultrasonic cleaning tank that holds the cleaning solution where the part is cleaned. In a well-designed system, the selected frequency of the generator, system power and tank characteristics all contribute to providing optimum cleaning performance.

The size of the ultrasonic tank is crucial to the ultrasonic cleaning system’s overall cleaning performance. If the ultrasonic cleaning system is a single-use installation, the cleaning tank can be sized to exactly contain the parts to be cleaned. For parts are big, long, or have odd shapes, it’s best to have a custom tank sized to meet the needs of the application. For ultrasonic cleaning systems that are used for many different cleaning applications, the choice of the tank size is critical so as to not limit the cleaning system’s flexibility.

 After determining the size of the largest part or items to be cleaned, the minimum tank size needed for the application will be known. For cleaning smaller and/or more delicate parts, a parts basket can be used to hold the parts and prevent them from coming into contact with the vibrating tank on the bottom as well as on the sides. Therefore, the tank should be a bit larger to hold the parts inside the part basket.

 The bigger the tank, the more transducers may be required to ensure that the amount of bubbles is generated evenly throughout the cleaning solution. The type of transducer impacts the design of the cleaning tank. They can be bolt-on transducers (fixed onto the tank) or immersible transducers (submerged in the cleaning liquid inside the tank).

Kaijo’s ultrasonic cleaning tanks can be customized for your cleaning application. Read our complete article “How to Select an Ultrasonic Tank for Your Industrial Cleaning Application” to learn more about what Kaijo can do to help you. If you have questions, or would like to schedule a free consultation, call 408–675–5575 or email info@kaijo-shibuya.com.

How Do Ultrasonic Cleaning Transducers Work?

Ultrasonic cleaning transducers convert the high-frequency electric signal of an ultrasonic cleaning system to sound waves within the cleaning solution. Ultrasonic cleaning systems are made up of an ultrasonic generator, a transducer and a tank to hold the cleaning solution. Frequencies in the lower range from 20 kHz to 160 kHz effectively clean heavy hard to clean contamination from a robust part, while higher frequencies up 2 MHz are used for gentle cleaning of delicate components.

Ultrasonic Cleaning Transducer Features

Kaijo’s ultrasonic cleaning transducers have to generate an equal and consistent distribution of sound waves in the cleaning solution while withstanding the vibrations, temperature and the cleaning action of the system. Ultrasonic sound waves create high-energy cavitation bubbles in the cleaning solution, which create a scrubbing and cleaning action, dislodging the dirt and contaminants from the surfaces of the parts immersed in the cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may also contain mild detergent and can also be heated for faster cleaning.

The housing of Kaijo’s ultrasonic cleaning transducer is protected by 316L polished stainless steel so that the transducer is not affected by the cleaning solution and can resist the possible pitting from the cavitation bubbles. They are hermetically sealed and can operate in cleaning solutions of up to 100 degrees centigrade. Lower frequency range transducers are provided with power levels of 600 W or 1200 W, and higher frequency units are available at 1200 W.

There are three types of ultrasonic transducers:

• Immersible transducers – these are independent units and are the most flexible in their application. They can be placed into different tanks, or different transducers can be placed in the same tank.
• Bolt-on transducers– they can be semi-permanent placement on a cleaning tank.
• Mounted transducers– they are integrated into the tank.

If you would like additional information, read the complete article entitled “How Do Ultrasonic Cleaning Transducers Work?” You may also contact Kaijo at 408-657-5575 or email info@kaijo-shibuya.com to discuss what kind of ultrasonic transducer and cleaning system should be used for your application.