Orthogonal Gas Laser Cooling via Multi-Stage Blower and Heat Exchangers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas laser oscillation apparatuses face challenges in achieving high power output while maintaining a small size, as increased electricity leads to elevated laser gas temperatures, reducing efficiency, and longer electrodes and housings increase costs and compromise optical stability.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a multi-stage axial flow blower with a permanent magnet motor and strategically placed heat exchangers to enhance cooling capacity, ensuring a continuous supply of cold gas to the discharge region, thereby increasing power output without enlarging the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a large amount of electricity is provided to obtain higher laser output, then power output is improved, but temperature of laser gas rises and oscillation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas is cooled in advance by the heat exchanger before entering the electric discharge region. This preliminary cooling action ensures that even when large amounts of electricity are provided for high power output, the laser gas temperature remains controlled and oscillation efficiency is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary component between the gas source and the electric discharge region. It mediates the temperature of the laser gas, removing excess heat and delivering cooled gas to the discharge region, thereby enabling high power output without temperature-induced efficiency loss.
2Power
If the electric discharge region is made longer in length along optical axis direction aiming for higher power input, then power input is improved, but oscillator size increases and area for installing apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the electric discharge region along the optical axis (one dimension), the patent uses a side-branch connection structure that extends the gas circulation path in a perpendicular direction (another dimension). This allows the effective discharge region to be larger without increasing the footprint area of the oscillator.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas duct is nested within the oscillator housing structure, with the heat exchanger and blower integrated into the existing housing space. This nesting arrangement allows the gas circulation system to occupy minimal additional space while still providing extended effective discharge path length.
3Power
If electrodes and housing are made longer to increase power input, then power input is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillation region is segmented into a main oscillation region and a sub-oscillation region connected via a side branch. This segmentation allows the effective discharge volume to be increased without proportionally increasing the main housing size, thereby reducing material costs and manufacturing complexity.
4Power
If optical path is made longer to increase power input, then power input is improved, but stability of optical axis reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The gas circulation path extends in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, allowing the effective discharge region to be larger without increasing the optical path length. This maintains optical axis stability while still enabling higher power input through increased discharge volume.
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 configuration effectively maintains low laser gas temperatures, allowing for high power output and compact size, while reducing costs and improving optical stability.
Implementation Method 1
axial flow blower which has rotor vanes in multi-stages and adopts a permanent magnet motor
Implementation Method 2
first heat exchanger having a plurality of cooling fins, the cooling fins arranged on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis
Implementation Method 3
heat exchangers arranged behind the axial flow blower lower the rise in temperature of the laser gas
Implementation Method 4
axial flow blower having a plurality of rotor vanes and working by a permanent magnet motor
Data Source
AI summary
A gas laser oscillation apparatus of orthogonal excitation type includes an electric discharge region having a pair of electric discharge electrodes, an axial flow blower having a plurality of rotor vanes and working by a permanent magnet motor, a first heat exchanger having a plurality of cooling fins, the cooling fins arranged on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis, a second heat exchanger having a plurality of cooling fins, the cooling fins arranged on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, a gas duct having a gas passageway and arranged between the electric discharge region and the first heat exchanger, the axial flow blower being arranged on the gas passageway. The axial flow blower is arranged on a windward side of the first heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger is arranged on a windward side of the axial flow blower.