Acoustic Levitation Facility

In gas dominant pipelines, water droplets entrained in a gas phase lead to the formation of hydrate particles which can result in plug formation. The Fluid Science & Resources group is in possession of a high pressure acoustic levitator. This apparatus is used to study hydrate formation in the absence of contact with a solid surface under high pressure conditions. All processes in the cell can be monitored by a camera and sensors. Furthermore, well-defined dimensions of a levitated object allow in-depth investigation of interfaces. The Fluid Science & Resources group uses the high pressure acoustic levitator to study induction time distributions and nucleation rates of hydrate systems.