On-line cooling method using hydrogen in optical fiber drawing process

Abstract

An on-line cooling method using hydrogen in an optical fiber drawing process is disclosed by the invention, and comprises the following steps: an optical fiber coming out from a graphite furnace successively passes through a diameter gauge and a defect detector, and gets to a cooling pipe of a cooling device, and the drawing speed gradually rises; when the drawing speed reaches 300-500 mpm, a hydrogen recovery and purification device begins to work; when the drawing speed reaches 800 mpm, a hydrogen supplying device begins to work, hydrogen is filled into a gas cooling pipeline, and the optical fiber moves downward and drives the hydrogen to move downward, and the heat of the optical fiber surface is adsorbed by the hydrogen in the movement process; the hydrogen fully contacts the inner surface of the cooling pipe, and the heat is transferred to the cooling pipe; the heat adsorbed by the cooling pipe is taken away by a cooling water circulation device, and thus the whole optical fiber cooling process is achieved. The specific heat capacity of hydrogen employed by the on-line cooling method is higher than that of helium, and the cooling effect is better; and furtherly, hydrogen is a conventional gas and is convenient to supply, and thus the cost of manufactures is reduced.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a cooling method, in particular to an on-line cooling method for optical fiber drawing by using hydrogen. Background technique [0002] With the continuous development of optical fiber technology, the drawing speed of optical fiber is getting faster and faster. The temperature of the optical fiber when it comes out of the drawing furnace reaches 1500 ° C. It generally does not exceed 1 second from the drawing furnace to the coating system. It is also as high as several hundred degrees, and the optical fiber cannot be effectively coated and protected. At the same time, the stress of the optical fiber during the cooling process cannot be released, and direct coating will seriously affect the performance of the optical fiber. In order to ensure a good coating effect and excellent performance of the optical fiber, it is necessary to perform forced cooling on the optical fiber. Usually, a gas with a large specific heat capacity is s...

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Problems solved by technology

The above patents all use helium cooling, which has relatively low cooling efficiency and high cost.

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