Mass Transfer Mechanism and Process Parameters in Glycerol Using Resonant Acoustic Mixing Technology

Resonant acoustic technology utilizes low-frequency vertical harmonic vibrations to induce full-field mixing effects in processed materials, and it is regarded as a “disruptive technology in the field of energetic materials”. Although numerous scholars have investigated the mechanisms of resonant acoustic mixing, there remains a lack of parameter selection methods for improving product quality and production efficiency in engineering practice. To address this issue, this study employs phase-field modeling and fluid–structure coupling methods to numerically simulate the transport process of glycerol during resonant acoustic mixing. The research reveals the mass transfer mechanism within the flow field, establishes a liquid-phase distribution index for quantitatively characterizing mixing effectiveness, and clarifies the enhancement effect of fluid transport on solid particle mixing through particle tracking methods. Furthermore, parameter studies on vibration frequency and amplitude were conducted, yielding a critical curve for guiding parameter selection in engineering applications. The results demonstrate that Faraday instability first occurs at the fluid surface, generating Faraday waves that drive large-scale vortices for global mass transfer, followed by localized mixing through small-scale vortices. The transport process of glycerol during resonant acoustic mixing comprises three distinct stages: stable Faraday wave oscillation, rapid mass transfer during flow field destabilization, and localized mixing upon stabilization. Additionally, increasing either vibration frequency or amplitude effectively enhances both the rate and effectiveness of mass transfer. These findings offer theoretical guidance for optimizing process parameters in resonant acoustic mixing applications.