L-800 – Apparatus for high-pressure & high-temperature experiments
Investigate samples precisely, under realistic conditions and without contamination: the L-800 levitates fluids without wall contact in a standing acoustic wave field.
This enables phase transitions, particle and crystal formation and mass transport to be studied without wall effects – at 0.10–20 MPa and 253–453 K for research setups where container interaction would distort the result.
Levitated droplet in the L-800 for wall-free investigation of phase transitions and mass transport under pressure and temperature.
Design & view cell
Wall-free analytics in the levitator cell
Levitated droplet inside the levitator cell under pressure and temperature.View cell made of titanium-stabilised stainless steel with sapphire/borosilicate windows.Front view – compact powder-coated aluminium housing.
Working principle & measurement workflow
The L-800 combines an acoustic levitator with a high-pressure view cell. Samples are kept stably levitated in a standing sound wave using
a sonotrode/reflector – even at high pressures and temperatures.
The supplied software automatically detects the droplet contour, determines the volume as a function of time
and stores all relevant process data (pressure, temperature, time) synchronously together with the video recording. This makes the system especially useful for comparative campaigns on evaporation, crystallisation and other wall-sensitive phenomena.
“Measuring without wall contact means no artefacts from wetting, contact angle or heat transfer at the wall.”
Operating range & key functions
Function / module
Description
Operating range
Pressure: 0.10–20 MPa · Temperature: 253–453 K
Levitator & sonotrode
High-power system (up to 50 Vpp); stable droplet position, smooth transition from ~90% spherical to disc-shaped; no whistling or parasitic noise; continuous operation without overheating.
High-pressure view cell
Titanium-stabilised stainless steel; 3× sapphire or borosilicate windows; manual spindle press; rupture disk for safety.
Measurement & control chain
Frequency generator & amplifier; zoom camera on XYZ stage; LED backlight; 27″ touch monitor; PC; BNC connector; easily replaceable O-ring via docking station.
Software
Levitation and measurement software: droplet contour/volume, log including p/T/volume/time; video export. Can be combined with spectroscopy (e.g. concentration in the droplet and surroundings).
Housing
Compact powder-coated aluminium; two sliding doors; upgradeable for special applications.
Application fields of the L-800 acoustic levitator
The L-800 acoustic levitator is used in research and development to study material processes under controlled pressure and temperature conditions
without wall contact. The contact-free handling of the sample allows an undisturbed observation of physical and chemical phenomena –
ideal for phase transitions, particle formation and analytical measurements.
Crystallisation – study of crystal growth and morphology without wall influence.
Curing of adhesives – characterisation of curing and polymerisation behaviour.
Melting and freezing processes – observation of phase transitions at defined p/T conditions.
Mass transport & chemical reactions – analysis of reaction kinetics, diffusion and polymerisations.
Gas hydrate formation – formation and stability of hydrates at variable pressures and temperatures.
Evaporation & condensation – controlled processes to investigate mass transfer.
Phase equilibria & solubilities – combined optical and chemical analytics.
Chemical analysis – in-situ determination of concentrations, reaction progress and product formation.
The software automatically detects the droplet contour and calculates the volume over time.
At the same time, pressure, temperature and time are logged and the measurement is saved as a
video. In combination with transparent window materials (e.g. sapphire),
spectroscopy can be integrated – enabling concentrations in the droplet and its surroundings
to be determined in parallel with volume changes.
There is no wall contact. Artefacts from wetting, contact angle and heat conduction at the wall are eliminated.
Phase transitions, evaporation/condensation and mass transport can therefore be captured much more realistically.
Is long-term operation possible?
Yes. The sonotrode is designed for continuous operation without overheating; experiments can run for several hours
up to an entire day – without whistling or disturbing noise.
Which components are included in the scope of delivery?
Levitator including reflector, high-pressure view cell, manual spindle press, 3× sapphire/borosilicate windows,
digital & analogue pressure indication, 2× temperature indicators, rupture disk, generator & amplifier,
zoom camera on XYZ stage, LED backlight, 27″ touch monitor, PC as well as the LMS software.
The housing is powder-coated and equipped with two sliding doors.
