Laser Cooling With Microbubble Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser devices face challenges in managing cooling water quality due to corrosion and algae growth in the circulation passage, leading to decreased operating efficiency and increased maintenance time, and thicker metal pipes to combat corrosion can reduce cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A laser device utilizing microbubble-containing water with microbubbles of 100 μm or less in diameter is employed, which includes a microbubble generator to generate and circulate microbubble-containing water through the cooling system, reducing corrosion and algae issues while maintaining effective cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If purified water or ion exchange water is used as cooling water to prevent corrosion, then electrical conductivity is reduced and corrosion is prevented, but water quality management becomes laborious and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling water system uses microbubble-containing water that automatically prevents corrosion and algae growth through the microbubbles' inherent properties, eliminating the need for manual water quality management and chemical additives. The system self-maintains by continuously generating microbubbles that rise and prevent harmful processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the cooling water by introducing microbubbles (gas phase) into the liquid cooling water, creating a two-phase flow system. This parameter change (adding gas phase) fundamentally alters the water's properties to prevent corrosion and algae growth without requiring chemical additives or strict purity control.
2Reliability
If metal pipe thickness is increased to counteract corrosion, then corrosion resistance is improved, but cooling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the structural parameter (pipe thickness), the invention changes the fluid parameter by introducing microbubbles into the cooling water. This allows thin-walled pipes to be used while maintaining both corrosion resistance and cooling efficiency, as the microbubbles provide the protective function previously requiring thicker walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The microbubbles act as an intermediary substance between the cooling water and the metal pipe surface, providing a protective barrier that prevents corrosion without requiring increased pipe thickness. The microbubbles mediate the interaction between the cooling system and the pipe, enabling thin-walled construction.
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
The use of microbubble-containing water reduces maintenance tasks, enhances laser cavity cooling efficiency, and extends the life of the laser device by minimizing corrosion and improving the conversion of electricity to laser output.
Implementation Method 1
microbubble-containing water that comprises microbubbles having a peak diameter of 100 μm or less
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a laser device that is able to reduce management tasks by employing microbubble-containing water in which cooling water contains microbubbles. A semiconductor laser device includes a laser oscillation device that includes the one or more laser cavities and a housing that houses the one or more laser cavities; a cooling unit that is arranged outside the laser oscillation device, and can cool circulated cooling water that is used to cool the laser oscillation device; and a cooling water circulation passage that links the laser oscillation device and the cooling unit to allow the circulated cooling water to circulate therethrough, the circulated cooling water being microbubble-containing water that contains microbubbles having a peak diameter of 100 μm or less.