Chemical oxygen-iodine laser (coil)/cryosorption vacuum pump system

摘要

A high-capacity cryosorption vacuum pump system for a light- weight and compact chemical oxygen-iodine laser. The cryosorption vacuum pump system included a gas chiller and a bed of zeolite or other suitable sorption material. Gas exhausted from the chemical oxygeniodine laser is first chilled to about 100 degrees Kelvin and the condensable gases are removed. Cold and dry gas is then adsorbed onto a bed zeolite cooled to a temperature of approximately 80 degrees Kelvin. The zeolite bed uses a suitable zeolite material preferably in a granulated form and configured in layers several millimeters to several centimeters thick to provide an exposed surface of suitable size. The zeolite is enclosed in a suitable vacuum vessel and thermally insulated. Chilling of the zeolite is accomplished by a contact with suitable cryocooled surfaces or by exposing the zeolite to a cold light noble gas. When the sorption capacity of the zeolite is exhausted, the cryosorption vacuum pump can be regenerated by allowing the zeolite and the gas chiller to warm up and liberate gas. Regeneration can be expedited by heating the zeolite and the gas chiller with electric heaters, by flowing warm dry gas through the zeolite bed or exposing the zeolite to electromagnetic radiation. Gas liberated in the regeneration process is removed from the vacuum vessel by a suitable vacuum pump. The cryosorption vacuum pump system is a compact light-weight system which provides effective vacuum pumping for the chemical laser. In addition, the cryosorption vacuum pump safely contains all of the laser exhaust gas, thereby eliminating concerns over thermal signature, visible clouds of steam, excessive noise level, or safety hazards associated with laser gas exhausted into atmosphere.