How Water Chillers Can Improve Laser Systems

Water chillers are a critical laser system component. However, laser systems can be hampered by components that overheat and even damage the system. One solution is to employ a laser cooling system using a water chiller to cool down laser diode temperature.

A water chiller’s function is to cool down the laser diode and other system components that generate heat, such as transistors and resistors, allowing them to operate reliably. This means the cooled laser diode works optimally without overstimulation, while also lowering optical source noise.

How Water Chillers Work

Laser cooling equipment uses a laser water chiller to cool diode temperature.

A chiller for a laser machine consists of an external laser cooling system that uses a cooling pump, laser cooling tank, and tubing to circulate chilled water through the laser system. This is done by connecting the cooling equipment to a laser system using tubing with quick-connect conveying laser water chiller laser cooling fluid.

The laser water cooler is responsible for laser diode temperature reduction by circulating cooling water through the laser diode heat sink. The cooling pump of a water chiller circulates laser cooling fluid via tubing to remove laser diode heat. A closed-loop, recirculating system is used for cooling and water chillers. The water being cooled circulates through the laser system’s laser diode heat sink.

The cooling process reduces temperature, allowing components to operate safely and reliably at low temperatures.

Water chillers use a hermetic compressor-type chiller to cool the closed-loop fluid until it reaches the desired temperature near room level. Then, the water is circulated throughout the laser system’s heat sink. The cooling process reduces the temperature and allows components to operate safely and reliably at low temperatures, resulting in a stable, high-quality performance from the entire laser system.

Depending on laser system requirements, cooling fluid may be chilled using a laser chiller or an external source such as a standard refrigerator.

Which Lasers Work with Water Chillers?

Laser chiller systems can be used in systems that produce laser light in the ultraviolet or infrared range. As such, laser systems that produce laser light in these ranges include:

• CO2 Lasers
• Excimer Lasers
• Nd: YAG Lasers

The laser cooling water system removes heat from a laser diode by circulating laser cooling fluid through the laser diode heat sink to keep the temperature under control and prevent damage.

The water chiller achieves this using a closed-loop recirculating system to remove excess heat from the laser diode which is then replaced with cooler fluid (usually deionized water) before returning to its point of origin within the laser cooling tank.

The performance of lasers generally depends on laser diode cooling equipment to the cooling system. The laser diode laser cooling equipment determines the laser’s beam quality, power output, and other laser system capabilities. As such, it is important to choose a laser water chiller that can handle the heat removal needs of laser systems to achieve maximum performance, efficiency, and lifespan.

Do I Need a Chiller for My Laser System?

If your laser system specs say that the laser is cooled by water, then yes, you definitely need a chiller. The laser tube generates high-temperature endothermic light. If it’s not removed from the air quickly, then the laser will fail prematurely. Laser cooling systems can either be connected to your laser unit directly or integrated into the laser system as a whole.

Laser water chillers control high-heat build-up in laser systems caused by the use of laser diodes which are semiconductor light sources that produce light via stimulated emission of radiation. Laser diodes require high power levels to run at maximum performance levels but also produce excess heat as part of this process.

A high-temperature environment can cause components and materials to degrade and fail. Laser systems require cooling to keep the laser diode within a specific temperature range that allows it to operate at maximum performance levels over an extended period of time without damage or failure.

Water chillers for laser cutters are designed to handle high-temperature waste heat through the use of a closed-loop, recirculating system that constantly removes excess heat from targeting optics and conducts this heat into an external source such as a standard refrigerator or another chiller device.

Laser cutter cooling systems keep your laser cutters effective. The right laser cooling system will improve your laser’s overall performance over time.

How Can a Water Chiller Improve My Laser System?

By chilling laser tubes, laser cooling systems can prolong their lifetime. The laser tube is cooled with a continuous flow of water to remove the heat generated by laser beam irradiation. Your laser system performs better because laser tubes are cooled more efficiently and have longer lifetimes.

Additionally, laser cooling units are compatible with most laser types. This means they can be used with laser engravers, water-cooled laser cutters, laser marking systems, or even laser welding cameras. Laser cutting machine chillers are common devices. There are even versatile laser cooling units that can be used in conjunction with fiber lasers and CO2 laser tubes.

Where Can I Buy a Laser Chiller System?

KKT Chillers is a laser chiller supplier that can provide chillers for laser systems of all types, including laser water chillers. Check out our lineup of laser chiller products.

If you’d like to learn more about which laser cooling system is best for you, contact us today.