Gas Laser Temperature Control with Split Cooling Water Loops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current temperature control systems for gas lasers are inefficient in managing temperature variations across different components, requiring high-precision control for some parts and low-precision control for others, leading to increased energy consumption and apparatus size.
Innovation Solution
A temperature controller for gas lasers that employs separate piping systems for high-precision and low-precision temperature control, utilizing chillers to generate cooling agents and reusing drain cooling water to reduce cooling capacities and energy consumption, while downsizing the apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single temperature control system is used for all components, then the system structure is simple, but temperature control precision cannot be optimized for different components
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control system is divided into separate control systems for different components. The discharge portion has its own temperature control system with dedicated piping, while other portions use a different control system. This segmentation allows each component to receive appropriate temperature control precision without requiring the entire system to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
Different components are assigned different temperature control qualities based on their specific requirements. The discharge portion, which requires high precision for laser output stability, receives high-precision temperature control. Other portions with less stringent requirements receive standard temperature control, optimizing overall system performance without unnecessary complexity.
2Reliability
If high cooling capacity is provided for all portions, then temperature control is effective, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into different pathways: a first cooling pathway for the discharge portion and a second cooling pathway for other portions. This allows high cooling capacity to be applied only where necessary (discharge portion) while using standard cooling for other components, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining temperature control effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
High cooling capacity is applied partially only to the discharge portion where it is critically needed for maintaining laser output precision. Other portions receive adequate but not excessive cooling, optimizing the balance between temperature control effectiveness and energy consumption.
3Measurement precision
If separate temperature control systems are used for different portions, then temperature control precision is optimized, but apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control systems are merged through a common cooling water supply and drainage infrastructure. While separate control mechanisms are used for different portions, they share common water sources and return lines, which reduces the overall apparatus size compared to completely independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling water system is designed with multi-functionality, where the same cooling water circulates through different portions serving different temperature control needs. The system universally handles both high-precision cooling for the discharge portion and standard cooling for other components, reducing the need for separate dedicated systems.
4Use of energy by moving object
If cooling water is not reused, then system operation is simple, but energy consumption and cooling capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling water system implements recovery by collecting drainage water from the discharge portion and reusing it for cooling other portions. This discarding and recovering approach reduces the overall cooling capacity requirement and energy consumption, as the reused water provides pre-cooled capacity for non-critical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling water system serves itself by using its own drainage water for further cooling purposes. The water that has cooled the discharge portion automatically becomes the cooling source for other portions, creating a self-sustaining cooling cycle that reduces external energy input requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient temperature control with reduced energy consumption and apparatus size by optimizing cooling capacities and reusing cooling water, enhancing energy saving and downsizing the system.
Implementation Method 1
a chiller 32 which cools cooling water to a predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
supplying the cooled cooling water to the discharge portion
Implementation Method 3
reusing drain cooling water
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature controller for a gas laser which controls temperatures of a plurality of temperature-controlled apparatuses including a first temperature-controlled portion requiring a high-precision temperature-control and a second temperature-controlled portion requiring a low-precision temperature-control as compared with the first temperature-controlled portion and allowing a temperature-control with a low or high temperature as compared with the first temperature-controlled portion, comprises a first temperature control portion generating a cooling agent or a heating agent for adjusting a temperature of each first temperature-controlled portion, a second temperature control portion generating a cooling agent or a heating agent for adjusting a temperature of each second temperature-controlled portion, a first piping system connecting the first temperature control portion and each first temperature-controlled portion in parallel, and a second piping system connecting the second temperature control portion and each second temperature-controlled portion in parallel.