Laser refrigeration device

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of refrigeration, and provides a laser refrigeration device which comprises a laser emitting device capable of generating and emitting laser when a driving power supply supplies power; the optical assembly is arranged between the laser emitting device and the refrigerating element and used for adjusting the laser emitted by the laser emitting device and guiding the laser to the refrigerating element, the refrigerating element can emit fluorescence after absorbing the laser, and the refrigerating element is used for cooling an object to be cooled; and the photoelectric converter is arranged towards the refrigeration element, is used for receiving the fluorescence emitted by the refrigeration element and generating power by using the fluorescence, and is connected with a load and is used for supplying power to the load. The photoelectric converter is used for receiving the fluorescence emitted by the refrigerating element in the refrigerating process, the fluorescence is used for generating electricity, the electric energy generated by the photoelectric converter can supply power to the load, and therefore the effect of recycling energy carried by the fluorescence is achieved, and the energy utilization rate is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of refrigeration technology, and in particular to a laser refrigeration device. Background Art

[0002] Anti-Stokes fluorescence cooling is also called laser cooling. It emits laser to the cooling medium. After the cooling medium absorbs the laser photons, it emits higher energy fluorescence photons. The energy difference between the two photons comes from the thermal excitation of the cooling medium. This energy difference will take away the energy from the cooling medium with the anti-Stokes emission of the fluorescence, thus achieving the cooling of the cooling medium. Laser cooling technology has the advantages of small size, light weight, no vibration and no noise, and has broad application prospects.

[0003] The fluorescence energy of the laser cooling device in the prior art is directly emitted to the outside or absorbed by the coating and dissipated, the fluorescence energy is not utilized, and the efficiency of the overall system is low. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention provides a laser refrigeration device, which is used to solve the problem of low overall system efficiency of the laser refrigeration device in the prior art and achieve the effect of recycling the energy carried by fluorescence.

[0005] The present invention provides a laser refrigeration device, comprising:

[0006] A laser emitting device, the laser emitting device being capable of generating and emitting laser light when powered by a driving power source;

[0007] An optical component and a cooling element, wherein the optical component is disposed between the laser emitting device and the cooling element to adjust the laser emitted by the laser emitting device and guide the laser to the cooling element, the cooling element can emit fluorescence after absorbing the laser, and the cooling element is used to cool the object to be cooled;

[0008] A photoelectric converter is disposed toward the cooling element to receive the fluorescence emitted by the cooling element and generate electricity using the fluorescence. The photoelectric converter is connected to a load and is used to supply power to the load.

[0009] According to a laser refrigeration device provided by the present invention, the load includes a battery for storing electrical energy generated by the photoelectric converter, and the battery is connected to the laser emitting device and used to supply power to the laser emitting device.

[0010] A laser refrigeration device provided according to the present invention also includes a power switching device, through which the laser emitting device is respectively connected to the driving power supply and the battery, and the power switching device is used to select either the driving power supply or the battery to power the laser emitting device.

[0011] A laser refrigeration device provided according to the present invention also includes a power detection device and a control unit, the power detection device and the power switching device are both connected to the control unit, the power detection device is used to detect the power of the battery, and the control unit controls the switching state of the power switching device based on the power.

[0012] A laser refrigeration device provided according to the present invention further includes a cover body, wherein the cover body is arranged outside the refrigeration element, and the photoelectric converter is arranged in the cover body.

[0013] A laser refrigeration device provided according to the present invention further includes a vacuum pumping device, which is connected to the cover body and is used to vacuum the cover body.

[0014] A laser refrigeration device provided according to the present invention further includes a heat exchanger, which is arranged on the outer wall of the cover body and is used to cool the cover body.

[0015] According to a laser refrigeration device provided by the present invention, the photoelectric converter is arranged on the inner wall of the cover body.

[0016] According to a laser refrigeration device provided by the present invention, the inner wall of the cover body is provided with a coating, and the coating is used to absorb the fluorescence emitted by the refrigeration element.

[0017] According to a laser refrigeration device provided by the present invention, the refrigeration element is glass doped with rare earth ions or a crystal doped with rare earth ions.

[0018] The laser refrigeration device provided by the present invention can emit laser when the driving power supply is powered by the laser emitting device. The laser emitted by the laser emitting device can be directed to the refrigeration element through the optical component, and the refrigeration element can emit fluorescence after absorbing the laser, so that the fluorescence takes away part of the heat of the refrigeration element, so that the temperature of the refrigeration element is reduced to obtain a refrigeration effect. The photoelectric converter can receive the fluorescence emitted by the refrigeration element. When the fluorescence irradiates the surface of the photoelectric converter, the fluorescence photons are absorbed, and the excited electrons jump from the valence band to the conduction band, releasing energy in the form of photoelectrons, thereby generating current, that is, the photoelectric converter generates a photovoltaic effect under the irradiation of the fluorescence, thereby converting light energy into electrical energy, and providing the electrical energy to the load to power the load.

[0019] With such an arrangement, the laser refrigeration device provided by the present invention can utilize a photoelectric converter to receive the fluorescence emitted by the refrigeration element during the refrigeration process, and utilize the fluorescence to generate electricity. The electric energy generated by the photoelectric converter can power the load, thereby achieving the effect of recycling the energy carried by the fluorescence, thereby improving energy utilization. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present invention or the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the laser refrigeration device provided in some embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] Reference numerals:

[0023] 1. Laser emitting device; 2. Driving power supply; 3. Optical component; 4. Refrigeration element; 5. Photoelectric converter; 6. Storage battery; 7. Power switching device; 8. Electric quantity detection device; 9. Control unit; 10. Cover; 11. Vacuum extraction device; 12. Heat exchanger. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] Combine the following Figure 1 A laser cooling device provided in an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0026] Specifically, the laser refrigeration device includes a laser emitting device 1 , an optical component 3 , a refrigeration element 4 and a photoelectric converter 5 .

[0027] The laser emitting device 1 can generate and emit laser light when the driving power supply 2 supplies power. Optionally, the laser cooling device is a laser. The laser described here is a pump laser, and the wavelength of the laser can be determined according to experiments. For example, the wavelength of the laser can be 1015 nanometers.

[0028] The optical component 3 is disposed between the laser emitting device 1 and the cooling element 4, and the cooling element 4 is used to adjust the laser emitted by the laser emitting device 1 and guide the laser to the cooling element 4. Optionally, the optical component 3 is used to converge or collimate the laser, or to adjust the path or power of the laser. Optionally, the optical component 3 includes an optical lens group.

[0029] The cooling element 4 can emit fluorescence after absorbing the laser, that is, the cooling element 4 can be excited by the laser to produce anti-Stokes fluorescence. Specifically, the cooling element 4 absorbs lower energy laser photons and emits higher energy fluorescent photons. The energy difference between the laser photons and the fluorescent photons is formed by the thermal excitation of the cooling element 4. Therefore, the thermal energy in the cooling element 4 is converted into light energy and emitted in the form of fluorescence, so that the temperature of the cooling element 4 will decrease. The cooling element 4 is used to cool the object to be cooled. For example, the cooling element 4 can be in contact with the object to be cooled to absorb the heat of the object to be cooled to cool the object to be cooled.

[0030] The photoelectric converter 5 is arranged toward the cooling element 4, and is used to receive the fluorescence emitted by the cooling element 4 and generate electricity using the fluorescence. The photoelectric converter 5 is connected to the load to supply power to the load. Optionally, the photoelectric converter 5 is a photovoltaic panel or a solar panel.

[0031] The laser refrigeration device provided in the embodiment of the present invention can emit laser when the driving power supply 2 supplies power by setting the laser emitting device 1. The laser emitted by the laser emitting device 1 can be adjusted and directed to the refrigeration element 4 through the optical component 3. The refrigeration element 4 can emit fluorescence after absorbing the laser, so that the fluorescence takes away part of the heat of the refrigeration element 4, so that the temperature of the refrigeration element 4 is reduced to obtain a refrigeration effect. The photoelectric converter 5 can receive the fluorescence emitted by the refrigeration element 4. When the fluorescence irradiates the surface of the photoelectric converter 5, the fluorescence photons are absorbed, and the excited electrons jump from the valence band to the conduction band, releasing energy in the form of photoelectrons, thereby generating current, that is, the photoelectric converter 5 generates a photovoltaic effect under the irradiation of the fluorescence, thereby converting light energy into electrical energy, and providing the electrical energy to the load to power the load.

[0032] With such an arrangement, the laser refrigeration device provided in the embodiment of the present invention receives the fluorescence emitted by the refrigeration element 4 during the refrigeration process through the photoelectric converter 5 and generates electricity using the fluorescence, and uses the electric energy generated by the photoelectric converter 5 to power the load, thereby achieving the effect of recycling the energy carried by the fluorescence, thereby improving energy utilization.

[0033] In some embodiments provided by the present invention, the load includes a battery 6, which is used to store the electric energy generated by the photoelectric converter 5. The battery 6 is connected to the laser emitting device 1 and is used to power the laser emitting device 1. That is, the photoelectric converter 5 is connected to the battery 6, the battery 6 is connected to the laser emitting device 1, the photoelectric converter 5 transmits the electric energy to the battery 6 for storage, and the battery 6 is used to power the laser emitting device 1.

[0034] With such an arrangement, the storage battery 6 can be used to store the electric energy generated by the photoelectric converter 5, and the storage battery 6 can be used to power the laser emitting device 1 at any time, making the laser refrigeration device more convenient to use.

[0035] In some embodiments provided by the present invention, the laser refrigeration device further includes a power switching device 7. The laser emitting device 1 is connected to the driving power supply 2 and the storage battery 6 respectively through the power switching device 7, that is, the driving power supply 2 and the storage battery 6 are both connected to the laser emitting device 1 through the power switching device 7. The power switching device 7 is used to select either the driving power supply 2 or the storage battery 6 to power the laser emitting device 1.

[0036] With such arrangement, when the power level of the battery 6 is reduced to the point where it is unable to supply power, the power switching device 7 can be used to select the driving power source 2 to supply power to the laser emitting device 1, while the photoelectric converter 5 charges the battery 6; when the power level of the battery 6 is increased to the point where it is able to supply power, the power switching device 7 can be used to select the battery 6 to supply power to the laser emitting device 1, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the laser refrigeration device.

[0037] Optionally, the power switching device 7 is configured as a power switch.

[0038] Optionally, the storage battery 6 is connected to the photoelectric converter 5 and the power switching device 7 respectively through corresponding switches, so that the storage battery 6 can be connected or disconnected with the photoelectric converter 5 or the power switching device 7.

[0039] In some embodiments provided by the present invention, the laser refrigeration device further includes a power detection device 8 and a control unit 9. The power detection device 8 and the power switching device 7 are both connected to the control unit 9. The power detection device 8 is connected to the battery 6 and is used to detect the power of the battery 6. For example, the power detection device 8 can be a coulomb meter. The control unit 9 controls the switching state of the power switching device 7 based on the power.

[0040] Specifically, when the control unit 9 determines that the power is less than the minimum power threshold, the control unit 9 controls the power switching device 7 to select the driving power supply 2 to power the laser emitting device 1. At this time, the photoelectric converter 5 is connected to the battery 6 and charges the battery 6. When the control unit 9 determines that the power is higher than the target power threshold, the control unit 9 controls the power switching device 7 to select the battery 6 to power the laser emitting device 1. At this time, the battery 6 is connected to the laser emitting device 1 through the power switching device 7 and powers the laser emitting device 1, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the laser refrigeration device.

[0041] Optionally, the number of the storage batteries 6 is set to two, and the two storage batteries 6 are connected in parallel between the photoelectric converter 5 and the power switching device 7, and each storage battery 6 is connected to the power switching device 7 and the photoelectric converter 5 through a corresponding switch, that is, the two storage batteries 6 can be selectively connected or disconnected with the power switching device 7 and the photoelectric converter 5, so that the two storage batteries 6 can be discharged or charged independently. In this way, the two storage batteries 6 can alternately power the laser emitting device 1, and when one of the storage batteries 6 is powering, the other storage battery 6 can recover the electric energy of the photoelectric converter 5, and when both storage batteries 6 are low in power, they can be powered by the driving power supply 2.

[0042] Further, when the control unit 9 determines that the power levels of the two batteries 6 are both lower than the minimum power threshold, the control unit 9 controls the power switching device 7 to select the driving power supply 2 to power the laser emitting device 1, and controls the photoelectric converter 5 to conduct with the one of the two batteries 6 with a higher power level and charge it. When the control unit 9 determines that the power level of at least one of the two batteries 6 is greater than the target power threshold, the control unit 9 controls the battery 6 with a higher power level among the two batteries 6 to conduct with the power switching device 1, controls the power switching device 7 to select the battery 6 to power the laser emitting device 1, and controls the photoelectric converter 5 to conduct with the battery 6 with a lower power level to charge the battery 6 with a lower power level.

[0043] Optionally, the driving power source 2 may be a DC power source or an AC power source. When the driving power source 2 is an AC power source, the battery 6 is connected to the power switching device 7 via an inverter, so that the DC power of the battery 6 is converted into AC power by the inverter and provided to the laser emitting device 1.

[0044] In some embodiments provided by the present invention, the laser refrigeration device further comprises a cover 10. The cover 10 is disposed outside the refrigeration element 4, and the photoelectric converter 5 is disposed inside the cover 10. The cover 10 can reduce the effect of convective heat transfer on the refrigeration performance of the laser refrigeration device.

[0045] In some embodiments provided by the present invention, the laser refrigeration device further includes a vacuum device 11. The vacuum device 11 is connected to the cover body 10, and the vacuum device 11 is used to evacuate the cover body 10. In this way, the cover body 10 can be evacuated by the vacuum device 11 before refrigeration, thereby further reducing the impact of convective heat transfer on the refrigeration performance of the laser refrigeration device.

[0046] Optionally, the vacuum extraction device 11 may be a vacuum pump.

[0047] In some embodiments provided by the present invention, the inner wall of the cover body 10 is provided with a coating, and the coating is used to absorb the fluorescence emitted by the cooling element 4. In this way, the fluorescence that cannot be absorbed by the photoelectric converter 5 can be absorbed by the coating on the inner wall of the cover body 10, so as to reduce the reflection of the fluorescence by the cover body 10, thereby reducing the radiation to the cooling element 4, and further reducing the problem of the cooling element 4 being heated up by radiation.

[0048] In some embodiments provided by the present invention, the laser refrigeration device further includes a heat exchanger 12. The heat exchanger 12 is disposed on the outer wall of the cover body 10 and is used to cool the cover body 10. After the cover body 10 absorbs the fluorescence that is not received by the photoelectric converter 5, the temperature rises, which can be cooled by the heat exchanger 12, thereby reducing the problem of heat radiation to the refrigeration element 4 after the cover body 10 is heated.

[0049] In some embodiments provided by the present invention, the photoelectric converter 5 is arranged on the inner wall of the cover body 10. In this way, the space of the inner wall of the cover body 10 can be fully utilized to install the photoelectric converter 5, and the photoelectric converter 5 can fully absorb the fluorescence, and reduce the problem of the heat rise of the cover body 10 caused by the direct irradiation of the fluorescence on the inner wall of the cover body 10.

[0050] In some embodiments provided by the present invention, the cooling element 4 is glass doped with rare earth ions. For example, Yb 3+ or Tm 3+ Heavy metal fluoride glass ZBLANP (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF-PbF2). Alternatively, the cooling element is a crystal doped with rare earth ions, such as Yb 3+ YLF crystal (LiYF4) and BaYF crystal (BaY2F8).

[0051] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laser refrigeration device, characterized in that: include: A laser emitting device (1), wherein the laser emitting device (1) is capable of generating and emitting laser light when powered by a driving power source (2); An optical component (3) and a cooling element (4), wherein the optical component (3) is arranged between the laser emitting device (1) and the cooling element (4) to adjust the laser emitted by the laser emitting device (1) and guide it to the cooling element (4), and the cooling element (4) can emit fluorescence after absorbing the laser, and the cooling element (4) is used to cool the object to be cooled; A photoelectric converter (5) is arranged toward the refrigeration element (4) to receive the fluorescence emitted by the refrigeration element (4) and generate electricity using the fluorescence. The photoelectric converter (5) is connected to a load and is used to supply power to the load.

2. The laser refrigeration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The load comprises a storage battery (6) for storing the electric energy generated by the photoelectric converter (5); the storage battery (6) is connected to the laser emitting device (1) and is used to supply power to the laser emitting device (1).

3. The laser refrigeration device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The invention also comprises a power switching device (7), wherein the laser emitting device (1) is respectively connected to the driving power source (2) and the storage battery (6) via the power switching device (7), and the power switching device (7) is used to select either the driving power source (2) or the storage battery (6) to supply power to the laser emitting device (1).

4. The laser refrigeration device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The invention also comprises a power detection device (8) and a control unit (9), wherein the power detection device (8) and the power switching device (7) are both connected to the control unit (9), the power detection device (8) is used to detect the power level of the storage battery (6), and the control unit (9) controls the switching state of the power switching device (7) based on the power level.

5. The laser refrigeration device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: It also comprises a cover body (10), wherein the cover body (10) is arranged outside the refrigeration element (4), and the photoelectric converter (5) is arranged inside the cover body (10).

6. The laser refrigeration device according to claim 5, characterized in that: It also comprises a vacuum extraction device (11), which is connected to the cover body (10) and is used to extract a vacuum for the cover body (10).

7. The laser refrigeration device according to claim 5, characterized in that: It also includes a heat exchanger (12), which is arranged on the outer wall of the cover body (10) and is used to cool the cover body (10).

8. The laser refrigeration device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The photoelectric converter (5) is arranged on the inner wall of the cover body (10).

9. The laser refrigeration device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The inner wall of the cover body (10) is provided with a coating, and the coating is used to absorb the fluorescence emitted by the refrigeration element (4).

10. The laser refrigeration device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The refrigeration element (4) is glass doped with rare earth ions or crystal doped with rare earth ions.

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