USE OF EXPANSION TURBINES IN CO2-LASERS

In the resonator of laser devices, approx. 20% of the supplied energy is used for the laser beam, 80% of the total supplied energy is transferred from the resonator to the heat exchanger without being utilized. To improve the efficiency of lasers, the waste energy leaving the resonator shall be transformed into mechanical energy in a subsequent expansion turbine driving the laser gas compressor. As a result, the compressor can be driven by the available process energy so that the efficiency is increased from eta(A) = 0.18 to 0.20 to eta(A) = 0.30 to 0.34. By thermodynamic process analysis, the possible efficiency increase of lasers and the optimum parameter ranges for pressure and temperature are determined. The ratio of the gained turbine power to the required compressor power is indicated.