Use of laser diodes for control of uranium vaporization rates

Karla G. Hagans; Joseph J. Galkowski

doi:10.1117/12.170660

10 March 1994 Use of laser diodes for control of uranium vaporization rates

Karla G. Hagans, Joseph J. Galkowski

Proceedings Volume 2068, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Fiber Sensors V; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.170660
Event: Optical Tools for Manufacturing and Advanced Automation, 1993, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Within the atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS) program we have successfully used the laser absorption spectroscopy technique (LAS) to diagnose process physics performance and control vaporization rate. In the LAS technique, a narrow-line-width laser is tuned to an absorption line of the species to be measured. The laser light that is propagated through the sample is measured, and from this data the density of the species can be calculated. These laser systems have almost exclusively consisted of expensive, cumbersome, and difficult-to- maintain argon-ion-pumped ring dye lasers. While the wavelength flexibility of dye lasers is very useful in a laboratory environment, these laser systems are not well suited for the industrial process control system under development for an AVLIS plant. Diode lasers offer lower system costs, reduced manpower requirements, reduced space requirements, higher system availability, and improved operator safety. We report the successful deployment and test of a prototype laser-diode-based uranium vapor rate control system. Diode-laser-generated LAS data was used to control the uranium vaporization rate in a hands-off mode for greater than 50 hours. With one minor adjustment, the system successfully controlled the vaporization rate for greater than 147 hours. We report excellent agreement with ring dye laser diagnostics and uranium weigh-back measurements.

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Karla G. Hagans and Joseph J. Galkowski "Use of laser diodes for control of uranium vaporization rates", Proc. SPIE 2068, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Fiber Sensors V, (10 March 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.170660

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KEYWORDS

Semiconductor lasers

Uranium

Diagnostics

Dye lasers

Absorption

Control systems

Laser systems engineering

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