As every grower knows, algae, bacteria, and fungi thrive in silos and basins, where algae and biofilm like to attach themselves to the basin and silo lining. Algae are responsible for the often green color of the water, and this algae deposit has a negative impact on water quality and leads to additional disadvantages such as clogged filters, pipes, and drippers. The biofilm is the green slime layer on the sides of basins and silos in which harmful micro-organisms live and multiply for a long time.
With a USAF ultrasonic transmitter, it is possible to prevent this. The transmitter is hung in the silo or basin and produces ultrasound that causes cavitation, creating pressure waves that kill algae and other micro-organisms without posing a danger to animals and other aquatic life.
Fltr: Jeroen Baris from Bewijsrapportage.nl, Frank Dekker and Bas Vriend from Dekker Glascultures, Kees Luykx from Luykx Ultrasound and Robert de Hoo from Ultramins
According to Robert de Hoo from Ultramins, the exclusive distributor of USAF™ ultrasonic transmitters, growers are increasingly knocking on his door. Take for example Frank Dekker of Dekker Glascultures, a tomato grower in Wervershoof. He has been using Ultrasonic since March this year and Frank is extremely satisfied with it. "In 21 years, the basin has never been so clean," says Frank. "We hardly ever have to clean the filters. Previously, we did this once a week at this time of year, now there was only a slight loss of pressure after 7 weeks before we cleaned the filter."
Some six USAF transmitters in one of the silos
"And Frank is certainly not the only one," says Robert. "We are getting good results and our customer base at home and abroad is growing rapidly as a result. The transmitters can be tested for 30 days and, to date, none have been returned. Moreover, the effect has been proven by various test results based on water samples. Recent research showed that even after 22 days of microscopic plating at Eurofins, water samples did not show any harmful fungal spores."
Visualizing
Both Ultramins and the market expressed a desire to visualize the operation and the results of the transmitters. Robert de Hoo came into contact with Jeroen Baris, co-owner of Bewijsrapportage.nl, which specializes in architectural inspections, noise and vibration measurements, and odor detection. Jeroen has an advanced acoustic camera with which both sound and escaping energy can be made visible. For example, the location of a compressed air leak or static discharge can be precisely located. An example is the 'sound picture' below, which shows the sound of 'walking through the grass' as sound is converted into pixels.
"We wanted to investigate together whether we could also show the operation of the USAF transmitter with this camera," says Jeroen. "Sound, pressure waves, cavitation, they are abstract concepts, but if we can actually make visible how far the ultrasonic pressure waves travel, then we have concrete evidence of how well they work."
Jeroen takes a sound picture in one of the silos.
Robert and Jeroen put it to the test and used the acoustic camera to take pictures of a basin in which a USAF transmitter has been placed. The photo below shows that the ultrasonic transmitter constantly sends pressure waves that collide with any algae, bacteria, fungi, and viruses present, killing these microorganisms. Because sound and energy are created by collisions, it is possible to visualize this process by means of the acoustic camera. In the silo below, colored pixels are visible and they show the operation and effectiveness of the ultrasonic process.
Contrast
The result is clearly visible in practice, and can be seen below. Left the (21-year-old) basin of Dekker, right a (much newer) basin of a neighboring grower. In the basin of Dekker, one can see a USAF ultrasonic transmitter. The water in Dekker's basin is transparent and there is hardly any biofilm along the walls.
Click here for the same image but filmed from the air with a drone.
For more information:
Robert de Hoo
+31 (0) 620 536 536
Ultramins 
Jelle Zijlstraweg 45
1689 ZX Zwaag
+31(0) 85 023 10 97
info@ultramins.com
www.ultramins.com
Bewijsrapportage.nl 
Jeroen Baris
Schuijteskade 20
1621DE Hoorn
T: +31 (0) 229-210663
E: info@bewijsrapportage.nl
www.bewijsrapportage.nl