Removal of water vapor in singlet oxygen flow using P₂O₅ and H₂SO₄ jets

To improve the performances of chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL), experiments were conducted for the removal of water vapor in singlet oxygen gas flows by using phosphorous pentoxide (P2O5) and sulphuric acid (H2SO4) jets. Experimental results show that P2O5 and H2SO4 jets reduce water vapor content to about 1/5 and 1/16 of its initial value respectively, for oleum even to about 1/90, in the gas flow state of the pressure of about 4 kPa, velocity of 20 m/s and resident time of 5 ms; moreover, their quenching effects on singlet oxygen are rather small. Both P2O5 and H2SO4are excellent ambient-temperature-jet dehydrating agents.