High-Efficiency Optical Fiber Production - Part I: Soot Deposition

摘要

In the first of a series of papers, the energy efficiencies of different chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes in optical fiber manufacture are determined, with recommendations for improved energy utilization and manufacturing economy. Any deviation from ideal energy transfer results in "lost work" for that process. The magnitude of the lost work is computed from an exergy analysis of the raw material and product streams from the manufacturing process, using raw materials figures for MCVD and VAD processes. The exergy analysis shows that as much as 50% of this lost work is potentially recoverable as heat flows from the MCVD combustion gases. This energy could be used to preheat the burner feed, allowing for a reduction in hydrogen and oxygen consumed. Redesign of the MCVD burners can be facilitated using computational fluid dynamic modeling.