Core technology
High-frequency acoustic cleaner
Also known as high frequency sonic horn, HF acoustic cleaner, high-frequency horn.
A high-frequency acoustic cleaner is a sonic horn operating in the upper end of the audible industrial-cleaning band, typically 250 to 450 Hz. The shorter wavelength — 0.75 to 1.4 metres in air — couples more energy into smaller geometries and finer dust loads than long-wavelength low-frequency horns can deliver.
Where high-frequency horns earn their place
The cleaning target dictates the choice. Where deposits are fine and surfaces are densely packed — fabric-filter bag rows, honeycomb SCR catalyst cell faces, small cyclone separators, tight air-heater basket geometries — the higher energy density of a 250–450 Hz horn lifts particulate more reliably than a long wave that would diffract past it.
Selection guide
| Frequency | Best for |
|---|---|
| 250 Hz | Mid-size baghouse compartments, smaller boiler convective passes |
| 350 Hz | SCR catalyst layers, fine-particulate fabric filters |
| 400–450 Hz | Compact hoppers, fine-cell honeycomb catalysts, small ducting |
Construction differences from low-frequency horns
A higher fundamental frequency means a smaller bell horn cut-off and therefore a physically smaller, lighter unit — useful where mounting clearance is tight or where a large array of horns must be distributed across a baghouse roof. High-frequency designs are often piston-whistle rather than diaphragm-driven, with a different wear profile and shorter individual firing bursts.
When to step down to low frequency
For deep, open vessels and bulk-solids storage — ESPs, preheater cyclones, silos, recovery-boiler superheaters — a low-frequency horn projects further and is normally specified instead. Many real installations combine both bands: low-frequency horns clean the bulk volume; high-frequency horns clean the dense bag rows or catalyst faces nearby.
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.
- Low-frequency acoustic cleanerLow-frequency acoustic cleaners operate at 60–250 Hz. The long wavelength penetrates deep into large open vessels such as ESPs, recovery boilers and cement preheater cyclones.
- Piston-whistle hornA piston-whistle horn generates sound through a moving piston or rotating disc rather than a vibrating diaphragm. Best suited to high-frequency cleaning duty on fabric filters and catalyst layers.
- Fabric filterA fabric filter removes particulate from a gas stream by passing it through woven or felted bag media. Sonic horns supplement primary cleaning and reduce differential pressure.