Core technology
Acoustic cleaning system
Also known as acoustic cleaning systems, sonic cleaning system, industrial acoustic cleaning system.
An acoustic cleaning system is the engineered assembly that delivers programmed sound-wave cleaning to a defined area of industrial process equipment. A complete system bundles the acoustic cleaners themselves with their mounting hardware, compressed-air supply, pilot solenoid valves, a cycle controller or PLC interface, and any sound-attenuation enclosures required to meet noise-exposure limits at the work area.
Typical scope of supply
A turnkey acoustic cleaning system specified for an ESP, baghouse, SCR reactor or cement preheater tower usually comprises:
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Acoustic cleaners (horns) | Generate the cleaning sound wave |
| Mounting flanges and nozzles | Couple the horn to the vessel wall |
| Solenoid valves | Admit compressed air to each horn on demand |
| Cycle controller / PLC interface | Sequence horns by zone, duty cycle and dwell |
| Compressed-air conditioning | Filter, dry and regulate plant air |
| Sound-attenuation enclosure | Reduce external SPL at the work area |
| Engineering, commissioning and tuning | Match firing pattern to fouling behaviour |
System-level versus single-horn purchasing
Plant operators often start by buying a single sonic horn to address one acute fouling location, then expand to a multi-horn system once the proof of concept is established. System procurement shifts the conversation from product specification to outcome — opacity compliance, differential-pressure reduction, kiln availability, catalyst life extension — and usually involves a sizing study, fouling-zone mapping, and integration with the existing DCS or PLC.
Why the distinction matters in procurement
Specifiers writing an RFQ should distinguish "acoustic cleaning system" — which covers cycle logic, air supply and integration — from "acoustic cleaner" or "sonic horn" — which covers the device alone. A horn supplied without a controller, without sized air supply or without a sequencing strategy will under-perform regardless of its individual specification.
Related terms
Related terms
- Acoustic cleanerAn acoustic cleaner is any device that uses high-intensity sound waves to dislodge particulate fouling from inside industrial process equipment such as boilers, ESPs, baghouses and silos.
- Sonic hornA sonic horn is a pneumatically-driven low-frequency sound emitter (typically 60–400 Hz at 140–180 dB SPL) used to dislodge particulate fouling from boilers, ESPs, baghouses and process vessels.
- Pneumatic acoustic cleanerA pneumatic acoustic cleaner is a sonic horn driven by compressed plant air. The pneumatic design dominates industrial acoustic cleaning because it has no electrical parts in the gas path.
- Compressed air (industrial)Compressed air at 4–7 bar from plant or instrument-air systems drives industrial sonic horns. Consumption typically 8–14 Nm³/min during a firing burst.