A Low Cost and High Efficiency Helium Recycling System for CO2 Laser

ABSTRACT A simple system for recovering the helium (He) gas from the gas mixtures used in the CO2 laser is discussed. Separation of the gases CO2, N2 and H2 from He gas is accomplished by various chemical and physical processes. An example, including the dimension of the system and the quantity of the chemicals needed, is given for a Molectron Corporation model T250 CO2 gas laser, based on an hour of operation. The cost and the efficiency of the system as well as the purity of the recovered He gas are analyzed.