Heat Transfer Correlations for a CVD Optical Fiber Coating Process

A numerical heat transfer study of the chemical vapor deposition coating process used in the manufacture of optical fibers is conducted. A finite volume model, developed to study gas flow and heat transfer in the reactor and heat transfer within the fiber itself, is used. A parametric correlation relating percent temperature drop to the Peclet number and dimensionless fiber radius is determined. This correlation is expanded upon to obtain a correlation for the amount of energy loss as the fiber travels through the reactor. These equations are valid for fiber radius values ranging from 62.5 to 200 μm, and for draw rates ranging from 0.25 to 2.0 m/s.