---
title: "Acoustic cleaner"
description: "An acoustic cleaner is any device that uses high-intensity sound waves — typically at audible low frequencies between 60 and 450 Hz and sound pressure levels of 140 to 180 dB — to dislodge particulate fouling from inside industrial process equipment. The acoustic energy vibrates dust, ash, soot and other accreted solids, keeping them airborne and entrained in the gas flow so they cannot bond, bridge or harden on internal surfaces."
canonical_url: "https://sylio.co/glossary/acoustic-cleaner"
last_updated: "2026-06-28T02:29:28.881Z"
---

An **acoustic cleaner** is any device that uses high-intensity sound waves — typically at audible low frequencies between 60 and 450 Hz and sound pressure levels of 140 to 180 dB — to dislodge particulate fouling from inside industrial process equipment. The acoustic energy vibrates dust, ash, soot and other accreted solids, keeping them airborne and entrained in the gas flow so they cannot bond, bridge or harden on internal surfaces.

## How an acoustic cleaner works

A pneumatic driver — usually compressed air at 4 to 7 bar — sets a metal diaphragm or piston-whistle assembly vibrating at the cleaner's design frequency. The vibration is amplified through an exponential bell horn and projected into the equipment as a near-spherical pressure field. Particulate already deposited on tube banks, plates, catalyst layers or hopper walls receives an oscillating force that overcomes adhesion. Because the cleaner is non-contact, it can run while the plant is online, every few minutes, without thermal shock, tube erosion or refractory damage.

## Where acoustic cleaners are used

Acoustic cleaners are installed throughout the gas path and bulk-solids path of heavy industry:

- **Combustion plant** — boilers, [economisers](/glossary/economiser), [superheaters](/glossary/superheater), [air heaters](/glossary/air-heater)
- **Air-pollution control** — [electrostatic precipitators](/glossary/electrostatic-precipitator), [fabric filters](/glossary/fabric-filter), [SCR catalysts](/glossary/selective-catalytic-reduction)
- **Bulk solids** — [hoppers, silos and bunkers](/glossary/hopper) prone to [bridging](/glossary/bridging) and [rat-holing](/glossary/rat-holing)
- **Cement** — [preheater cyclones](/glossary/preheater-cyclone), [calciners](/glossary/calciner), [kiln inlets](/glossary/kiln-inlet-riser-duct)
- **Pulp and paper** — [kraft recovery boilers](/glossary/recovery-boiler), [lime kilns](/glossary/lime-kiln)

## Acoustic cleaners are not ultrasonic cleaners

The two terms are routinely confused but describe completely different technologies. Acoustic cleaners operate in the audible low-frequency band and clean dry industrial surfaces *in situ* with airborne sound. Ultrasonic cleaners operate above 20 kHz inside a liquid bath and clean small parts off-line by cavitation. See [acoustic cleaning vs ultrasonic cleaning](/glossary/acoustic-cleaning-vs-ultrasonic-cleaning).

## Related terms

- [Acoustic cleaning system](/glossary/acoustic-cleaning-system)
- [Sonic horn](/glossary/sonic-horn)
- [Sonic sootblower](/glossary/sonic-sootblower)
- [Infrasonic cleaner](/glossary/infrasonic-cleaner)