The Role of Acoustic Streaming in Ultrasound-Enhanced Electrospinning - a FEM Simulation Study

Abstract

We present a finite element method (FEM)-based simulation model for acoustic streaming and fountain formation. Streaming field predicted by the model shows agreement with experiments in a validation study. After validation, the model is used to predict the acoustic streaming field in our ultrasoundenhanced electrospinning device. The predicted field gives velocity magnitudes in the micrometers per second range. While this appears slow, such a rate is hypothesized to be significant for the process. Finally, surface force driven acoustic streaming is observed by the simulations.

Scaling-up the Ultrasound-Enhanced Electrospinning Device

“…4 shows the mass of the nanofiber mats produced during 10 min experiments. As a reference we used our previous iteration of the USES device [12] to produce five nanofiber mats. The average mass (± standard deviation) of the mats was (5.56 ± 0.66) mg.…”

“…This indicates that scaling-up the USES technology, at least to this extent, is not limited by the interactions of the acoustic fields or the forming acoustic fountains. We have also been investigating acoustic streaming phenomenon in USES [14] and propose that the fiber diameter control in USES could be related to this. With seven focused ultrasound fields close together, the streaming fields could affect each other and hence affect the USES fiber diameter control.…”