Efficient pulsed chemical oxygen-iodine laser with instantaneous generation of atomic iodine by volumetric discharge

A pulsed chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) using atomic iodine generated by volumetric discharge of CH 3 I is developed and tested. COIL with a gain length of 60 cm is energized by a square pipe-array jet singlet oxygen generator with basic hydrogen peroxide pumping circulations and operated at subsonic gas flow. Maximum output energy of 4.3 J, pulse duration of 50 μs, specific energy extraction from the active medium of 2.0 J/L, and the maximum chemical efficiency of 12.5% are achieved at a chlorine flow rate of 55 mmole/s.     

射流式单重态氧发生器理论模型

 射流式单重态氧发生器(JSOG)是化学氧碘激光器十分重要的能源部分,它主要是通过解气相、液相扩散方程来求解发生器出口的氯的利用率和单重态氧的产率。在实际工作中的射流发生器非常复杂,其扩散方程和边界条件为非线性,非齐次边界条件,非齐次泛定方程组,求解难度较大。通过边界条件,采用试探解的方法,解得氯、总氧、单重态氧的气相、液相扩散方程,得到了氯的利用率,及单重态氧产率的解析解,与实验结果基本相符。     

Supersonic diffuser for pressure recovery in SCOIL system

Classical supersonic chemical oxygen iodine laser (SCOIL) systems operate under a low total pressure of nearly 18 Torr (2400 Pa) with cavity pressure being in the range 3 Torr (400 Pa) and Mach number of 1.7. These systems handle high flow rates and hence an efficient supersonic diffuser (SD) is a critical first step towards an open-cycle operation, which may be followed by a multi-stage ejector system. The present study discusses the various aspects in the design of a supersonic diffuser for a twin 10 kW COIL module source which employs flow rates of 100 gs⁻¹ in each module. The results of computational studies based on 3-D, viscos compressible flow, k-ε turbulence formulation for the supersonic diffuser geometry have also been discussed. The experimental results from a single-module test of the supersonic diffuser show that a total recovered pressure of nearly 7 Torr is achieved at the diffuser exit.     

碘气流穿透深度和碘流量对COIL激光输出功率的影响

 通过采用Cl₂流量250mmol/s列管射流式氧发生器的COIL出光实验，得到了激光输出功率随碘副气流相对于氧主气流混合穿透深度的变化规律。实验结果表明，穿透深度对激光功率影响较大，存在最佳穿透深度，约为3.16mm,计算的最佳穿透深度与实验得到的最佳穿透深度基本一致。通过逐步改变供碘系统的碘气流流量，测量激光的输出功率，在实验上证实并找到了COIL的最佳碘流量值，约为4.5mmol/s，这一结果比以往文献所登载的最佳碘流量值要确切。     

以氮气为载气的千瓦级COIL的初步实验研究

 首次在氯气流量为110mmol/s、采用方列管型射流式O₂(¹Δ)发生器(SPJSOG)以及列阵式超音速氧碘混合喷管的COIL装置上，以氮气替代氦气作为载气进行出光实验研究。初步实验获得1.8kw的激光输出功率以及18%的化学效率。     

Novel concept of electric discharge oxygen-iodine laser

A novel concept of discharge oxygen-iodine laser (DOIL) is presented. The supersonic DOIL includes a discharge singlet oxygen generator (DSOG) and discharge atomic iodine generator (DAIG). The operation of DSOG is based on a fast mixing of hybrid argon plasma jet of DC electric arc and RF discharge with a neutral molecular oxygen stream. The goal of our effort is achievement of DOIL oscillations by this new discharge technique, which should provide the singlet oxygen yields exceeding 30% at the total pressures higher than 10 torr. The DAIG operation is based on a cw/pulse RF discharge dissociation of iodine donors directly inside a laser iodine injector. This method substitutes the classic dissociation of molecular iodine by energy of singlet oxygen, which saves its energy for laser generation and so can increase the laser efficiency. The laser power could be thus enhanced by up to 25% if this method is employed in a chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) operation, and even 3 times in DOIL without increase in the iodine laser pumping by singlet oxygen.     

Research on chemical and discharge oxygen-iodine lasers

Novel methods and device configurations for singlet oxygen and atomic iodine generation were proposed and investigated for operation of the chemical or discharge oxygen-iodine lasers (COIL/DOIL). A chemical centrifugal spray generator of singlet oxygen was developed, based on the conventional chlorine-basic hydrogen peroxide chemistry. Results of theoretical and experimental investigation of the generator parameters are presented and compared with parameters of other generator types. A design of experimental device for singlet oxygen generation by means of the hybrid DC arc and RF plasma jet is presented. An alternative method of atomic iodine generation by a radiofrequency discharge decomposition of iodine compounds like CH₃I or CF₃I is described employing advanced experimental configuration. Some representative experimental results of this investigation are presented.     

超音速氧碘化学激光实验研究

在一台５ｋＷ超音速氧碘化学激光器装置上采用转网式单重态氧发生器，在Ｃｌ２流量为１５０ｍｍｏｌ／ｓ时输出功率已超过１ｋＷ。     

在COIL中碘量变化与激光功率波形的关系

 针对碘量在一定范围内变化对激光功率影响不敏感,采用碘量变化的方法,通过对大量的250mmol/s列管式射流氧发生器的出光实验的分析,得到了激光功率波形随碘量变化的实验规律。这一实验结果可用于根据功率波形变化来调节最佳碘量。并对其机理进行了理论分析。     

Numerical analysis of spatial evolution of the small signal gain in a chemical oxygen–iodine laser operating without primary buffer gas

A chemical oxygen–iodine laser (COIL) that operates without primary buffer gas has become a new way of facilitating the compact integration of laser systems. To clarify the properties of spatial gain distribution, three-dimensional (3-D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology was used to study the mixing and reactive flow in a COIL nozzle with an interleaving jet configuration in the supersonic section. The results show that the molecular iodine fraction in the secondary flow has a notable effect on the spatial distribution of the small signal gain. The rich iodine condition produces some negative gain regions along the jet trajectory, while the lean iodine condition slows down the development of the gain in the streamwise direction. It is also found that the new configuration of an interleaving jet helps form a reasonable gain field under appropriate operation conditions.     

Computation of streamwise vorticity in a compressible flow of a winglet nozzle-based COIL device

Chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) is a high-power laser with potential applications in both military as well as in the industry. COIL is the only chemical laser based on electronic transition with a wavelength of 1.315 μm, which falls in the near-infrared (IR) range. Thus, COIL beam can also be transported via optical fibers for remote applications such as dismantling of nuclear reactors. The efficiency of a supersonic COIL is essentially a function of mixing specially in systems employing cross-stream injection of the secondary lasing (I₂) flow in supersonic regime into the primary pumping (O₂¹Δ_g) flow. Streamwise vorticity has been proven to be among the most effective manner of enhancing mixing and has been utilized in jet engines for thrust augmentation, noise reduction, supersonic combustion, etc. Therefore, a computational study of the generation of streamwise vorticity in the supersonic flow field of a COIL device employing a winglet nozzle with various delta wing angles of 5°, 10°, and 22.5° has been carried out. The study predicts a typical Mach number of approximately 1.75 for all the winglet geometries. The analysis also confirms that the winglet geometry doubles up both as a nozzle and as a vortex generator. The region of maximum turbulence and fully developed streamwise vortices is observed to occur close to the exit, at x/λ of 0.5, of the winglets making it the most suitable region for secondary flow injection for achieving efficient mixing. The predicted length scale of the scalloped mixer formed by the winglet nozzle is 4λ. Also, the winglet nozzle with 10° lobe angle is most suitable from the point of view of mixing developing cross-stream velocity of 120 m/s with acceptable pressure drop of 0.7 Torr. The winglet geometry with 5° lobe angle is associated with a low cross-stream velocity of 60 m/s, whereas the one with 22.5° lobe angle is associated with a large static and total pressure drop of 1.87 and 9.37 Torr, respectively, making both the geometries unsuitable for COIL systems. The experimental validation shows a close agreement with the computationally predicted values. The studies for the most suitable 10° lobe angle geometry show an observed Mach number of 1.72 with an improved mixing efficiency of 74% due to the occurrence of predicted streamwise vortices in the flow.     

无稀释气立式氧碘化学激光器的设计与实验

 分析了氧碘化学激光器（COIL）在无稀释气条件下工作所带来的一系列问题和对其性能的影响，并提出了相应的解决方法，进而对COIL结构和相关参数进行了有针对性的设计和实验研究。在氯气流量为117.6 mmol/s时,平均输出功率2.25 kW，化学效率达到21.1%，比功率0.22 J/g；分别以氦气和氮气为稀释气，对COIL进行了参数和实验数据比较。     

利用喇曼光谱测量氧碘化学激光器氯气利用率的实验研究

 介绍了利用自发喇曼散射光谱测量氧碘化学激光器单态氧发生器氯气利用率的原理及实验装置，并给出了在以氮气作为稀释气的0.1mol/s射流式氧发生器上测试的结果，测试相对误差小于12%。由于该方法只需要通过测量喇曼谱线相对强度之比，即可算出氯的利用率，因此不需要另外的标定实验，从而避免了因标定带来的影响。该方法减小了测试误差，简化了实验过程，提高了测试效率。     

喷射型单重态氧发生器性能研究

单重态氧发生器作为氧碘化学激光的核心部件,为化学激光器提供化学能。通过对工业喷射器及旋风分离器的研究,结合产生单重态氧的化学反应环境,进行了大量模拟及设计改进工作,研制了一种新型喷射型单重态氧发生器,并进行了相关实验研究。喷射型单重态氧发生器利用喷嘴能够产生比传统发生器类型更多的气液表面,获得足够的反应效率,可以大幅度降低发生器液体使用量,从而减小发生器辅助系统,提高体积效率。为满足O2（1）停留时间短及分离效率高的要求,利用气液两相喷射的高初速度以旋风分离器完成气液分离。新型发生器氯气利用率可达97%~99%,其O2（1）产率为40%~50%。     

High-pressure subsonic mode operation of chemical oxygen-iodine laser

A new regime of chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL), high-pressure subsonic mode operation, was demonstrated using a jet-type singlet oxygen generator (SOG). The laser output power of 342 W with chemical efficiency of 20.9% was obtained at the Cl₂ flow rate of 18 mmol/s and the operating pressure of 6.4 Torr in the laser cavity. The specific energy was 3.1 J/l which was four times higher than our supersonic device, and was comparable to the highest value for the supersonic regime. The experimental results were in good agreement with the numerical simulation results. Received: 26 February 1999 / Revised version: 13 July 1999 / Published online: 30 November 1999     

射流式氧发生器的三维模拟研究

实现了对射流式氧发生器的三维仿真模拟,给出了氧发生器内部流场结构、各组分的分布状态等信息。研究了射流孔结构对氧发生器性能的影响。指出即便是具有相同比表面积的不同射流孔排布方式,也会对发生器性能产生影响。此外,逆向射流式氧发生器反应器中气体从双侧进入对于减小发生器对气体的阻力具有重要作用。     

COIL中稀释气体对单态氧产率影响的实验研究

 利用自发Raman散射光谱对射流式氧发生器的单态氧产率进行了测试，研究了稀释气体对于发生器产率的影响，并分析了造成影响的原因     

方列管型射流式O2(1Δ)发生器的COIL出光研究

 方列管型射流式O₂(¹Δ)发生器是一种新型高效的氧碘化学激光器(COIL)化学能源供给装置。描述了采用该发生器在COIL上所做的一系列出光实验,这些实验着重于考察该发生器的性能参数及相应的COIL化学效率。结果在Cl₂流量为0.25mol/s、无冷阱、稳定腔条件下获得化学效率高达26% 。     

Performance comparison of supersonic ejectors with different motive gas injection schemes applicable for flowing medium gas laser

A class of flowing medium gas lasers with low generator pressures employ supersonic flows with low cavity pressure and are primarily categorized as high throughput systems capable of being scaled up to MW class. These include; Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) and Hydrogen (Deuterium) Fluoride (HF/DF). The practicability of such laser systems for various applications is enhanced by exhausting the effluents directly to ambient atmosphere. Consequently, ejector based pressure recovery forms a potent configuration for open cycle operation. Conventionally these gas laser systems require at least two ejector stages with low pressure stage being more critical, since it directly entrains the laser media, and the ensuing perturbation of cavity flow, if any, may affect laser operation. Hence, the choice of plausible motive gas injection schemes viz., peripheral or central is a fluid dynamic issue of interest, and a parametric experimental performance comparison would be beneficial. Thus, the focus is to experimentally characterize the effect of variation in motive gas supply pressure, entrainment ratio, back pressure conditions, nozzle injection position operated together with a COIL device and discern the reasons for the behavior.     

拉曼散射光谱在氧碘化学激光器参数测试上的应用

介绍了拉曼散射在氧碘化学激光器参数测试上的应用,给出了在流量为0 5mol/s的射流式氧发生器上的实验结果。采用一套测试装置可以同时进行O2(a1Δ)产率和氯气利用率测试,提高了测试效率;由于无需进行另外的标定实验,提高了测试精度,为此该方法可以极大地改善目前O2(a1Δ)产率和氯气利用率测试精度较低的现状。