Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2025
07:55
Fabrication of Surface Acoustic Wave Devices on Lithium Niobate
Published on: June 18, 2020
12.1K
Deicing of Sessile Droplets Using Surface Acoustic Waves
K N Nampoothiri1,2, A Nath1, N S Satpathi1
1Fluid Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamilnadu 600036, India.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|March 8, 2023
Summary
Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) offer efficient deicing for water droplets by utilizing acoustothermal heating and acoustic streaming. Deicing time scales linearly with droplet volume, providing a promising alternative to conventional methods.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Engineering
Background:
- Deicing is crucial for transportation, energy, and telecommunication systems.
- Surface Acoustic Waves (SAWs) present an efficient deicing method with localized heating and low power requirements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamics of deicing microlitre water droplets using SAW actuation.
- To understand the influence of acoustothermal heating and acoustic streaming on deicing efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized low-power (0.3 W) SAW actuation on a LiNbO3 substrate for deicing water droplets (1-30 μL).
- Employed infrared thermography to characterize temperature distribution and dye-based optical microscopy to observe acoustic streaming.
- Measured time-dependent water volume changes from actuation to complete deicing.
Main Results:
- Deicing times ranged from 2.5 to 35 seconds, depending on droplet volume.
- Deicing is enhanced by ice detachment and acoustic streaming, evidenced by increased water volume, temperature, and heat transfer.
- Deicing time demonstrated a linear correlation with droplet volume.
Conclusions:
- SAW-based deicing is effective for microlitre water droplets, driven by acoustothermal heating and acoustic streaming.
- The study provides a deeper understanding of SAW deicing dynamics, supporting its potential as an alternative to standard protocols.
