Title: Laser welding: the first and second law analysis

Authors: Ahmet Z. Sahin, Tahir Ayar, Bekir S. Yilbas

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. ' Systems Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Thermal efficiency analysis can be used to minimise the energy losses in laser welding. In the present study, laser welding and efficiency analysis are considered. The first and second law efficiencies for the welding process are formulated and quantified for new parameters associated with the welding geometry. These parameters include excess mass ratio, loss mass ratio, and heat loss ratio. It is found that the first and second law efficiencies improve gradually with increasing excess mass ratio. However, the first and second law efficiencies reduce with increasing loss mass ratio and heat loss ratio, provided the decrease in efficiencies with increasing heat loss ratio is gradual.

Keywords: laser welding; first law; second law; thermodynamics; thermal efficiency analysis; exergy; energy loss; excess mass ratio; loss mass ratio; heat loss ratio.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2010.034927

International Journal of Exergy, 2010 Vol.7 No.5, pp.535 - 546

Received: 08 Feb 2009
Accepted: 20 Sep 2009
Published online: 31 Aug 2010 *

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