Effect of ultrasonic irradiation on nucleation phenomena in a Na2HPO4 · 12H2O melt being used as a heat storage material

The effect of ultrasound on nucleation phenomena in the heat storage material Na2HPO4 · 12H2O was investigated by determining the primary nucleation probability and induction time, and by looking at heat generation phenomena in the initial stage of nucleation. The experimental results show that the primary nucleation probability dramatically increased, and the induction time decreased under the ultrasound irradiation, and in addition, the rate of temperature rise was dependent upon the ultrasonic output. Based on these results and the theoretical relationship between the number of primary nuclei and the heat generation rate, it is proposed that the number of primary nuclei depends upon the ultrasonic output.