GAS FLOW SPLITTER, AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING POROUS GLASS PREFORM

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas flow splitter which is capable of splitting the flow of gas to partial gas flows having approximately a same flow rate and reducing an equipment cost. SOLUTION: The gas supplied from a gas supply section (not shown in figure) flows through a gas inflow pipe 3 into a chamber 2 for equally branching the gas. In the chamber 2 for equally branching the gas, at least a portion of the gas circulates and the pressure in the chamber 2 for equally branching the gas is made uniform. The partial gas flows having approximately the same flow rate therefore flow out to a gas outflow pipe 4. The flow rates of the partial gas flows are measured by a gas hydrometric instrument 4a disposed at one of the gas outflow pipes 4. If there is a fluctuation in the flow rates of the partial gas flows, the amount of the fluctuation thereof is compensated by a gas flow-controller 3a disposed at the gas inflow pipe 3 in accordance with the result in the measurement. The gas hydrometric instrument 4a and the gas flow-controller 3a suffice with one each and therefore the equipment cost is reduced.