High Specific Energy Pulsed Electric Discharge Laser Research.
Abstract
Theoretical and experimental investigations are presented of laser kinetics related to the use of combustion product gases in CO2 laser systems. Several processes for producing the laser gas are also considered. The sensitivity of laser performance to gas composition and to level of impurities is considered theoretically. The role of CO and the appropriate fractions of H2 and H2O are examined. Maximum allowable amounts of impurities (O2, hydrocarbons, water vapor and particulates) are determined. The laser output was measured for a variety of gases related to possible combustion product gas mixtures. Some actual combustion product mixtures were tested as well. The measured laser performance generally agreed well with prediction, with the exception of CO-containing gases where a 15 - 25 percent discrepancy for 12 percent CO was found. No unexpected problems due to impurities were found when using the actual combustion product gas. The generation method and gas properties of the combustion product gas generated at Avco-Lycoming are presented. Various gas turbine cycles for generating the laser gas were studied. Three gas production systems are considered, open- and closed-cycle operation using stored gas (the gas being generated prior to a laser run) and open-cycle operation using on-line gas generation (the laser gas being generated during the laser run). The gas storage, open-cycle system has the disadvantage of a limited duty cycle (here taken to be 50:1), but is otherwise found to be far superior in terms of weight and volume, as well as cost. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA039812
Entities
People
- D. H. Douglas-hamilton
- J. P. Roos
- O. L. Zappa
- R. M. Feinberg
- R. S. Lowder