Comprehensive Experimentation, Simulation and Optimization of Optical Fiber Coating at High Draw Speeds

这项研究的重点是光纤的高速涂覆，这是拉拔过程中的一个步骤，对于电信和其他应用的光纤的质量和低成本制造至关重要。它涉及四个主要方面：(A)涂布机/模具系统内传输过程的建模和模拟；(B)利用先前开发的实验室离线系统进行实验，允许在不同的操作条件下进行测量；(C)在全尺寸拉伸塔上进行实验；以及(D)测量在受控条件下生产的涂层的特定特性(厚度、同心度、完整性、是否存在气泡等)。这些模型将通过在这两个设施上进行的实验来验证，特别是在大速度下。将建立涂层特性与操作条件的依赖关系。因此，这种方法将提供一种定量、系统和有效的手段来预测和控制纤维涂层特性。

The research is focused on high speed coating of optical fibers, a step in the draw process that is critical to the quality and low cost fabrication of optical fibers for telecommunications and other applications. It involves four main aspects (a) modeling and simulation of the transport processes within coating applicator/die systems, (b) experimentation with a laboratory off-line system developed previously, allowing measurements with different operating conditions, (c) experimentation on a full-scale draw tower, and (d) measurement of specific properties (thickness, concentricity, integrity, presence of bubbles, etc) of coatings produced under controlled conditions. The models will be validated by experiments on the two facilities, particularly at large speeds. The dependence of coating characteristics on the operating conditions will be established. This approach will therefore provide a quantitative, systematic, and validated means to predict and control fiber-coating characteristics.