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Foundation ::
Laser Applications ::
LASCAT
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LASCAT
Design of Catalytic Monoliths for Closed-Cycle Carbon Dioxide Lasers
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Moderators:
Adopt This Application!
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SOURCE CODE AVAILABLE
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Pulsed carbon dioxide lasers are useful in many areas, including
aeronautics, space research, and weather monitoring. Most applications
require a closed-cycle carbon dioxide laser, which is more portable and
selfsustaining than an open-cycle system. Without a fresh carbon dioxide
supply and provisions for byproduct disposal, the closed-cycle laser must
recycle the carbon monoxide and oxygen gas produced by the lasing of carbon
dioxide. The recombination of the carbon monoxide and oxygen gas byproducts
to form a constant supply of carbon dioxide requires an active catalyst,
which must be carefully designed to optimize laser performance in accordance
with design requirements specific to the laser's application.
LASCAT (Design
of Catalytic Monoliths for Closed-Cycle Carbon Dioxide Lasers) aids in the
design of the monolith catalyst by simulating the results of design
decisions on the performance of the laser.
In portable laser systems, considerations of size, weight, and cost are
critical. LASCAT provides the opportunity for the designer to explore
trade-offs between the catalyst activity, catalyst dimensions, monolith
dimensions, pressure drop (a result of gas flow through the monolith),
Oxygen gas conversion, and other variables.
The program uses a flexible,
simplified model of the monolith catalyst designed to determine the
bulkavarage gas temperature, composition, and pressure along its length. The
user specifies values for the several parameters which define the catalyst's
operating conditions, including monolith dimensions, gas inlet properties,
thermal operation properties, and catalyst properties. LASCAT provides
results which indicate whether the experimental design meets user-defined
constraints such as limits on conversion rate, maximum gas temperature, and
monolith weight.
LASCAT carries the NASA case number LAR-14190. It was originally released as part of the NASA COSMIC collection.
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