Interaction of spherical particles owing to steady streaming induced by ultrasound

Steady streaming is generated in a fluid when sound is applied. In this thesis, theoretical and computational methods were developed to study the role of steady streaming in attraction or repulsion between two spheres, once they come close to each other. The ultrasonic separation of cream from milk is among the many applications of this work. When ultrasound is applied, the micron-sized, spherical, Milk Fat Globules (MFGs) attract, touch and rapidly rise out of milk. This thesis explains why smaller MFGs remain behind after most of the cream separation, potentially re-creating traditional dairy products but much faster.