Setting the parameters of the laser radiation. Photo: Omsk State Technical University
Draining tanks for launch vehicles in the Russian space industry continues to be very costly and lengthy procedure. For example, the draining one tank at the enterprise "Flight" takes more than a dozen hours with non-stop flow of gas. At the same time costs directly associated with the opening of the leaks.
And since Russia has big plans to increase the number produced each year of missiles, the increasing need for new methods of dewatering tanks is becoming increasingly urgent. This task decided to do Polytech Omsk (Omsk state technical University) — its specialists have developed a promising technology for dehumidification, based on the application of vacuum, laser, and ultrasound.
The filling fluid of the cavity met.plate. Photo: Omsk State Technical University
As a result of University research, it was found that applying a pulsed laser beam can achieve a 28% reduction of energy costs in comparison with the ongoing work of the laser. In addition, the constant laser work seriously increases the pressure of the outgoing vapor and prevents evaporation, while periodical (pulse) operation of the laser, this effect is not observed.
The laser irradiation in liquid. Photo: Omsk State Technical University
As the experimental sample was taken with a metal plate, simulating a certain part of the tank booster class "Angara" and currently, tests are being carried out on plates with microchannels, and later it is planned to conduct research on models of tanks missiles.
