Piezoelectric energy piezoceramics

The basic design in most ultrasonic nozzles comprises a liquid inlet and feeding tube, and a piezoceramic element that is used to create capillary waves. In many nozzles an additional component is added whose function is to amplify the waves created by the piezoelectric element. This greatly reduces the amount of energy... 

Electric energy is converted into mechanical vibrations in modem machinery using the piezoelectric effect. It concerivs the reversible property of special ceramic materials to deliver an electric voltage when affected by external forces. This characteristic is used for the generation of ultrasonic vibrations in such a way that the applied voltage is converted into mechanical vibrations. Modern sonic converters usually contain several piezoceramic disks of lead zirconate titanate restricted by two final masses that are mechanically prestressed by a centric screwing. 

Within a piezoelectric DoD printer, a piezoceramic plate alters its thickness if an electrical field is applied between its opposite surfaces. Subsequentiy, a pressure wave is induced into the fluid that causes a droplet to be emitted from the nozzle. Fluid is normally retained at the orifice due to surface tension at the fluid/air interface hence the action of the pressure wave is to overcome this surface tension and to expel a stream of liquid from the orifice. In order to minimize the internal energies in the liquid, again due to the surface tension of the liquid, droplets will be formed and are ejected from the nozzle. Typical repetition rates, that is, print frequencies, of DoD printers are in the range of 0.1-30 kHz, whereas continuous ink-jet printing print can reach frequencies of 500 kHz or even up to 1 MHz. ... 

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