Alkali metal steam generating device

Abstract

The invention provides an alkali metal vapor generating device. The alkali metal vapor generating device comprises a quartz glass plate, an evaporator and a temperature control furnace, a plurality of tiny holes are formed in the quartz glass plate in an array manner; the evaporator comprises a groove, the quartz glass plate is welded and fixed to an opening of the groove, and carrier gas flow guide plates are arranged on the two sides of the opening of the groove respectively. The interior of the groove and the quartz glass plate form a cavity; the two evaporators are arranged in the temperature control furnace, the two evaporators are arranged up and down, the sides, provided with the quartz glass plates, of the two evaporators are opposite, and the carrier gas flow guide plates of the two evaporators and the two quartz glass plates form a gas flow channel; the temperature control furnace is provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet, an outlet of the gas flow channel is connected with the gas outlet, and an inlet of the gas flow channel is spaced from the gas inlet by a certain distance. The problem that alkali metal is prone to splashing and unstable in flow in the existing steam generation technology is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of gas laser technology, and in particular to an alkali metal vapor generating device. Background Art

[0002] Alkali metal vapor lasers have the advantages of both gas and solid lasers and have been a research hotspot in the field of high-power laser technology in recent years. The laser gain medium of alkali metal vapor lasers is alkali metal vapor. How to generate alkali metal vapor more efficiently and stably is one of the key technologies that need to be solved. Usually, the method of generating alkali metal vapor is to use a certain flow of carrier gas, such as helium or methane, to blow the surface of liquid alkali metal heated to a certain temperature, mix it with the vapor generated by the evaporation of the alkali metal, and then take it out of the evaporation device together to achieve the purpose of generating alkali metal vapor. The biggest problem with this technology is that in order to obtain sufficient carrier gas flow and alkali metal vapor flow, it is necessary to increase the amount of alkali metal and the flow of carrier gas. Alkali metal is very easy to splash under the action of carrier gas, resulting in frequent changes in the distribution state of alkali metal in the alkali metal vapor generator, and the generated alkali metal vapor flow is unstable and cannot be accurately controlled. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to the above technical problem of unstable flow rate in the existing alkali metal vapor generation technology, an alkali metal vapor generation device based on capillary effect is provided.

[0004] The technical means adopted by the present invention are as follows:

[0005] An alkali metal vapor generating device comprises a quartz glass plate, an evaporator and a temperature-controlled furnace;

[0006] The quartz glass plate is provided with a plurality of micro holes in an array;

[0007] The evaporator comprises a groove, the quartz glass plate is welded and fixed at the opening of the groove, and carrier gas flow guide plates are respectively arranged on both sides of the opening of the groove; the groove is provided with an alkali metal addition hole connecting the inside and the outside of the groove; the inside of the groove and the quartz glass plate form a cavity for containing the alkali metal; the temperature control furnace is used to heat and melt the alkali metal into a liquid state;

[0008] Two evaporators are installed inside the temperature-controlled furnace, the two evaporators are placed up and down and the sides on which the quartz glass plate is installed are opposite to each other, and the two evaporators are installed up and down correspondingly through the carrier gas flow guide plates on both sides; the carrier gas flow guide plates of the two evaporators and the two quartz glass plates form a gas flow channel;

[0009] The temperature-controlled furnace is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are respectively opposite to the inlet and the outlet of the gas flow channel, the outlet of the gas flow channel is connected to the air outlet, and the inlet of the gas flow channel is spaced a distance from the air inlet.

[0010] Furthermore, when a carrier gas is introduced into the temperature-controlled furnace through the gas inlet, the internal pressure of the cavity is the same as the gas pressure of the gas inlet and is greater than the pressure of the carrier gas in the gas flow channel. The liquid alkali metal can flow out through the fine holes and form a layer of liquid alkali metal on the other side surface of the quartz glass plate. The liquid alkali metal in the gas flow channel can be evaporated by heating the temperature-controlled furnace and mixed with the carrier gas to generate alkali metal vapor.

[0011] Furthermore, the quartz glass plates installed on the two evaporators are parallel to each other.

[0012] Furthermore, the side wall of the groove serves as a welding platform for welding and fixing the quartz glass plate.

[0013] Furthermore, the alkali metal adding hole of the evaporator located at the top is arranged on the bottom surface of the groove, and the alkali metal adding hole of the evaporator located at the bottom is arranged on the side wall of the groove.

[0014] Furthermore, the thickness of the quartz glass plate is 5-10 mm, the micro holes are circular through holes with a diameter of 0.3 mm, and the spacing between the micro holes is 0.2 mm.

[0015] Furthermore, the carrier gas introduced into the temperature-controlled furnace is methane or helium.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0017] The alkali metal vapor generating device provided by the present invention processes a micropore structure on a quartz glass plate, and after a carrier gas is introduced, the alkali metal is evenly distributed in a thin layer on the surface of the quartz glass plate through a capillary effect. Since the alkali metal thin layer is in close contact with the glass surface, no splashing occurs even under a large flow rate of carrier gas, thereby improving the stability of the alkali metal vapor flow rate; in addition, a large evaporation specific surface area can be obtained, thereby improving the generation efficiency of the alkali metal vapor.

[0018] Based on the above reasons, the present invention can be widely promoted in the field of gas lasers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in 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 labor.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the alkali metal vapor generating device of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the alkali metal vapor generating device of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 (a) and (b) are schematic diagrams of the structures of the two evaporators of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the temperature control furnace described in the present invention.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the quartz glass plate of the present invention.

[0025] In the figure: 1. quartz glass plate; 2. evaporator; 3. temperature control furnace; 4. groove; 5. welding table; 6. carrier gas flow guide plate; 7. alkali metal addition hole; 8. air inlet; 9. air outlet; 10. gas flow channel; 11. tiny hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and is by no means intended to limit the present invention and its application or use. 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.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] like Figure 1-5 As shown, the present invention provides an alkali metal vapor generating device, comprising a quartz glass plate 1, an evaporator 2 and a temperature-controlled furnace 3;

[0029] The quartz glass plate 1 is provided with a plurality of microscopic holes 11 in an array; when no carrier gas is introduced into the temperature-controlled furnace 3, the liquid alkali metal cannot flow out through the microscopic holes 11;

[0030] The evaporator 2 includes a groove 4, the opening of the groove 4 is welded and fixed with the quartz glass plate 1 capable of covering the opening of the groove 4, and both sides of the opening of the groove 4 are respectively provided with carrier gas flow guide plates 6; the groove 4 is provided with an alkali metal addition hole 7 connecting the inside and the outside of the groove 4; the inside of the groove 4 and the quartz glass plate 1 form a cavity for containing the alkali metal; the temperature control furnace 3 is used to heat and melt the alkali metal into a liquid state;

[0031] Two evaporators 2 are installed inside the temperature-controlled furnace 3. The two evaporators 2 are placed up and down and face each other with the side on which the quartz glass plate 1 is installed. The two evaporators 2 are installed up and down correspondingly through the carrier gas flow guide plates 6 on both sides; the carrier gas flow guide plates 6 of the two evaporators 2 and the two quartz glass plates 1 form a gas flow channel 10;

[0032] The temperature-controlled furnace 3 is provided with an air inlet 8 and an air outlet 9, and the air inlet 8 and the air outlet 9 are respectively opposite to the inlet and outlet of the gas flow channel 10, and the outlet of the gas flow channel 10 is connected to the air outlet 9, and the inlet of the gas flow channel 10 is spaced a distance from the air inlet 8, so that not only can the carrier gas flowing in from the air inlet 8 flow out from the air outlet 9 through the gas flow channel 10, but also can pass through the alkali metal adding hole 7 on the groove 4, so that the pressure in the groove 4 is the same as the pressure of the air inlet 8 of the temperature-controlled furnace 3. At the same time, due to the Bernoulli principle, the pressure in the groove 4 is slightly greater than the pressure of the carrier gas in the gas flow channel 10, which is conducive to the liquid alkali metal passing through the fine hole 11 to reach the other surface of the quartz glass plate 1.

[0033] Furthermore, when a carrier gas is introduced into the temperature-controlled furnace 3 through the gas inlet 8, the internal pressure of the cavity is the same as the gas pressure of the gas inlet 8 and is greater than the pressure of the carrier gas in the gas flow channel 10. The liquid alkali metal can flow out through the fine holes 11 and form a layer of liquid alkali metal on the other side surface of the quartz glass plate 1. The heating of the temperature-controlled furnace 3 can evaporate the liquid alkali metal in the gas flow channel 10 and mix with the carrier gas to generate alkali metal vapor.

[0034] Furthermore, the gas inlet 9 , the gas flow channel 10 and the gas outlet 9 are coaxially arranged.

[0035] Furthermore, the quartz glass plates 1 installed on the two evaporators 2 are parallel to each other.

[0036] Furthermore, the side wall of the groove 4 serves as a welding platform 5 for welding and fixing the quartz glass plate 1 .

[0037] Further, as shown in Figure Figure 3As shown in (a) and (b), the alkali metal adding hole 7 of the evaporator 2 located at the top is arranged on the bottom surface of the groove 4, and the alkali metal adding hole 7 of the evaporator 2 located at the bottom is arranged on the side wall of the groove 4. The alkali metal adding holes 7 on the upper and lower evaporators 2 are at different positions, which can prevent the alkali metal from flowing out through the alkali metal adding hole 7.

[0038] Furthermore, the thickness of the quartz glass plate 1 is 5-10 mm, and the micro-holes 11 can be circular through holes, rectangular through holes or through holes of other shapes.

[0039] Preferably, the thickness of the quartz glass plate 1 in this embodiment is 5 mm, the micro-pores 11 are circular through holes with a diameter of 0.3 mm, the spacing between the micro-pores 11 is 0.2 mm, and the micro-pores 11 are densely distributed, so that the liquid alkali metal can cover the surface of the quartz glass plate 1.

[0040] Furthermore, the carrier gas introduced into the temperature-controlled furnace 3 is methane or helium.

[0041] When the alkali metal vapor generating device of the present invention is in operation, alkali metal is injected into the cavity formed by the groove 4 and the quartz glass plate 1, and the two evaporators 2 are heated to a certain temperature by the temperature-controlled furnace 3 to completely liquefy the alkali metal; after the carrier gas is introduced into the temperature-controlled furnace 3, the liquefied alkali metal can reach the side surface of the quartz glass plate 1 forming the gas flow channel 10 through the capillary effect of the fine holes 11 on the quartz glass plate 1 and evaporate, and in the gas flow channel 10, it is mixed with the inflowing carrier gas heated to a certain temperature, and finally flows out of the temperature-controlled furnace 3 from the gas outlet 9 together, thereby realizing the generation of alkali metal vapor.

[0042] 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 replace some or all of the technical features therein by equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An alkali metal vapor generating device, characterized in that: Includes quartz glass plate, evaporator and temperature controlled furnace; The quartz glass plate is provided with a plurality of micro holes in an array; The evaporator comprises a groove, the quartz glass plate is welded and fixed at the opening of the groove, and carrier gas flow guide plates are respectively arranged on both sides of the opening of the groove; the groove is provided with an alkali metal addition hole connecting the inside and the outside of the groove; the inside of the groove and the quartz glass plate form a cavity for containing the alkali metal; the temperature control furnace is used to heat and melt the alkali metal into a liquid state; Two evaporators are installed inside the temperature-controlled furnace, the two evaporators are placed up and down and the sides on which the quartz glass plate is installed are opposite to each other, and the two evaporators are installed up and down correspondingly through the carrier gas flow guide plates on both sides; the carrier gas flow guide plates of the two evaporators and the two quartz glass plates form a gas flow channel; The temperature-controlled furnace is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are respectively opposite to the inlet and the outlet of the gas flow channel, the outlet of the gas flow channel is connected to the air outlet, and the inlet of the gas flow channel is spaced a distance from the air inlet.

2. The alkali metal vapor generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When a carrier gas is introduced into the temperature-controlled furnace through the gas inlet, the internal pressure of the cavity is the same as the gas pressure of the gas inlet and is greater than the pressure of the carrier gas in the gas flow channel. The liquid alkali metal can flow out through the fine holes and form a layer of liquid alkali metal on the other side surface of the quartz glass plate. The liquid alkali metal in the gas flow channel can be evaporated by heating the temperature-controlled furnace and mixed with the carrier gas to generate alkali metal vapor.

3. The alkali metal vapor generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The quartz glass plates installed on the two evaporators are parallel to each other.

4. The alkali metal vapor generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side wall of the groove serves as a welding platform for welding and fixing the quartz glass plate.

5. The alkali metal vapor generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The alkali metal adding hole of the evaporator located at the top is arranged on the bottom surface of the groove, and the alkali metal adding hole of the evaporator located at the bottom is arranged on the side wall of the groove.

6. The alkali metal vapor generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thickness of the quartz glass plate is 5-10 mm, the micro holes are circular through holes with a diameter of 0.3 mm, and the spacing between the micro holes is 0.2 mm.

7. The alkali metal vapor generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The carrier gas introduced into the temperature-controlled furnace is methane or helium.

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