HELIUM RECOVERY FOR OPTICAL FIBER MANUFACTURING

摘要

A method for recovering helium from an optical fiber manufacturing process which allows recovery from most steps in the manufacturing process, including deposition and consolidation steps. The helium recovered may be refined to an intermediate level and then further refined to high purity and recycled to most steps in the manufacturing process. All recovered helium may be purified only to an intermediate level for supply to the fiber drawing step. Alternatively, recovered helium may be purified to an intermediate level and recycled to the fiber drawing step while the remainder is further refined to high purity and recycled to most other steps in the manufacturing process.