Broadband 20 kW Water-Cooled Ø55 mm Thermopile Sensor Deflecting Cone and Annular Absorber

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Overview

The 20K-W-BB-55 is a water-cooled thermal power sensor is designed for very high powers with a 55 mm aperture. It can measure power from 100 W to 20,000 W. It has a deflecting cone and annular absorber that withstands high power densities to 10kW/cm². It covers the spectral range from 800 to 2000 nm and 10.6 µm. Calibrated at 1070 nm. Applications include industrial processes. high-power fiber laser development and testing, directed energy systems, cutting and drilling in industrial production.

Broadband 800-2000 nm and 10.6 µm absorber with beam deflector
Water-cooled for 0.1 to 20 kW average power measurement
Deflecting cone and annular absorber for power densities to 10 kW/cm²
55 mm diameter aperture
Over temperature alarm and interlock

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Products

		Compare	Model	Compatibility	sortOrder	rankScore	ranking	Drawings, CAD & Specs		Absorber Type	Aperture Size	Minimum Power	Maximum Average Power	Availability	Featured Item	Price		Brand
		7Z07149 20K-W-BB-55 Thermal Laser Power Sensor, BB Type, 0.1-20 kW, Ø55 mm, 800-2000 nm and 10.6 µm, Water-Cooled Contact Us	7Z07149 20K-W-BB-55 Thermal Laser Power Sensor, BB Type, 0.1-20 kW, Ø55 mm, 800-2000 nm and 10.6 µm, Water-Cooled	UNIVERSAL	0.0	1.0	0.0		0.0	BB - Broadband general purpose	Ø55 mm	100 W	20000 W	Contact Us				Ophir

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Specifications

Product Name

20K-W-BB-55
Absorber Type

BB - Broadband general purpose
Aperture Size

Ø55 mm
Spectral Range

800 to 2000 nm and 10.6 µm
Minimum Power

100 W
Maximum Average Power

20 kW
Backscattered Power

~3.5% without Scatter Shield
~1% with Scatter Shield
Response Time

3.5 s

Maximum Average Power Density

10 kW/cm²
Cooling

Water
Dimensions

Ø170 x 82 mm
Cable Length

5 m
CE Compliance

Yes
UKCA Compliance

Yes
China RoHS Compliance

Yes

Features

Scatter Shields: Reducing Back-Reflected Power from High Power Sensors

When measuring very high power laser beams, even the few percent of the beam normally back-scattered from the sensor can be a problem. Ophir now offers Scatter Shields as accessories for our high power laser sensors. These can be mounted on the front flange of the sensors to reduce the backscatter by about 70%.

Measuring Very High Power Laser Beams

Laser beams with powers of many tens of Kilowatts are becoming more and more common in today's applications, industrial as well as research. This video will discuss the technical challenges in measuring such lasers, and will show you a range of solutions now available from Ophir for measuring up to 100KW -- safely, and accurately.

Water Cooled Sensors: Things to Look Out For

Water cooled sensors are commonly used when measuring laser beams of more than a few hundred watts. In this video, you will learn about some critical issues you need to consider when using water cooling, such as water temperature, water flow rate, and corrosion prevention.

Thermal Sensor Calibration

As the spectral sensitivity of the absorber used for the power and energy measurement is not fully linear, Ophir sensors get a high precision calibration by default with more than one wavelength.

Each thermal sensor is calibrated independently of a particular Ophir power meter with its calibration information contained in the DB15 plug. When the sensor is connected to the meter, the meter reads and interprets this information to display a calibrated reading. Each power meter is calibrated independently and has the same sensitivity as an other meter within about 2 tenths of a percent.

Unless otherwise indicated, Ophir sensors and meters should be recalibrated within 18 months after initial purchase, and then once a year after that.

Absorption of different thermal sensor absorber types

Frequently Asked Questions

Must I use a particular sensor only with the meter it was ordered with?
Answer
Ophir meters and sensors are calibrated independently. Each meter has the same sensitivity as the other within about 2 tenths of a percent. Each sensor is calibrated independently of a particular meter with its calibration information contained in the DB15 plug. When the sensor is connected to the meter, the meter reads and interprets this information. Since the accuracy of our sensors is typically +/-3%, the extra 0.2% error that could come from plugging into a different meter is negligible and therefore it does not matter which calibrated meter we use with a particular calibrated sensor.

When an accuracy spec is given, what exactly is meant?
Answer
The Ophir specification on accuracy is in general 2 sigma standard deviation. This means, for instance, that if we list the accuracy as +/-3%, this means that 95% of the sensors will be within this accuracy and 99% will be within +/-4%. For further information on accuracy see calibration procedure tutorial.

How do you calculate the power and energy density of a laser beam?
Answer
If the power is P and the diameter of the beam is D then the power density is P /(.785 * D²) . If it is a pulsed laser and the energy is E, the repetition rate is R and the diameter is D then the power density is E*R/(.785 * D²), The energy density is E/(.785 * D²). The sensor finder will automatically calculate the power and energy density.

Does the damage threshold depend on power level?
Answer
The damage threshold of thermal sensors does depend on the power level and not only the power density because the sensor disc itself gets hotter at high powers. For instance, the damage threshold of the Ophir broadband coating may be 50KW/cm2 at 10 Watts but only 10KW/cm2 at 300W. The Ophir specifications for damage threshold are always given for the highest power of use of a particular sensor, something which is not done by most other manufacturers. This should be taken into account when comparing specifications. The Sensor Finder takes the power level into consideration when calculating damage threshold.

How can I clean the 10K-W, 15K-W, 16K-W or 30K-W sensor?
Answer
These sensors have a gold-coated reflecting cone, which can be easily scratched. If one of these sensors needs to be cleaned, we recommend blowing with clean air or nitrogen. If, however, the cone gets soiled (for example with something spilled on it), such that blowing is not enough to clean it, then there is a risk of the contaminant material getting “burned in” by laser radiation. In such a case, to avoid that risk, one should use a suitably soft tissue with solvent, and wipe as gently as possible.

Is there a coolant pressure specification for Ophir water-cooled sensors?

Answer

Yes. Please reference the chart below:

Minimum Flow Rates for Water-Cooled Sensors

Sensor	Recommended flow rate at full power¹	Minimum flow rate at full power¹	Absolute minimum flow rate	pressure drop across sensor (at maximum flow rate)		pressure drop across 8 meter of tubing (at maximum flow rate)
Sensor	liters/min)	(liters/min)	(liters/min)	Bar	MPa	Bar	MPa
L250W	3	3	3	0.3	0.03
L300W	3	3	3	0.3	0.03
1000W	6	3	3	0.3	0.03	0.5	0.05
L1500W	6	3.5	3	0.3	0.03	0.5	0.05
L2000W	6	3.5	3	0.6	0.06	0.5	0.05
5000W	8	5	3	0.6	0.06	0.5	0.05
6K-W-200x200	6	6	5	0.5	0.05	0.3	0.03
10K-W	8	8	3	1	0.1	0.5	0.05
15K-W	12	12	3	2	0.2	1	0.1
16K-W	12	12	3	1	0.1	0.8	0.08
30K-W	25	25	6	2	0.2	3	0.3
120K-W	60	60	30	4	0.4	3.5	0.035

You can find a lot more information about the correct use of water-cooled sensors in the article "How to use water cooled Ophir sensors", here.

What is the best water to use in the Water Cooled Sensors?
Answer
Corrosion is caused by interactions between the metallic components of the sensor and the cooling water, which may contain a variety of dissolved ions. Many factors affect the risk of corrosion forming, but the most important are the pH and the mixture of ions in the water. For this reason, we recommend using neutral deionized water in a closed circulating system (pH between 6 and 8). Please note that deionized water is usually slightly acidic (pH 5.65) due to absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere. The cooling water can be neutralized by adding 5 ml of a 10 mM solution of NaOH for each liter of water in the cooling system. Commercial additives such as Optishield Plus are also recommended for systems such as ours that have copper and aluminum in them. Optishield has the additional benefit of having biocide to prevent buildup of organic contamination.

To prevent corrosion it is also crucial to not allow standing water to evaporate inside the sensor when it is not in use. When disconnecting a sensor from the cooling system, the water channel should be cleared by blowing compressed air through it.

For those customers still experiencing problems with corrosion, we recommend the new thermal sensor 1000WP-BB-34 which has a special design in which all materials that come into contact with the cooling water are either copper or nonmetallic.

You can find a lot more information about the correct use of water-cooled sensors in the article "How to use water cooled Ophir sensors", here.

Do I need to recalibrate my instrument? How often must it be recalibrated?
Answer
Unless otherwise indicated, Ophir sensors and meters should be recalibrated within 18 months after initial purchase, and then once a year after that.

How should I clean my sensor?
Answer
First, clean the absorber surface with a tissue, using Umicore #2 Substrate Cleaner, acetone or methanol. Then dry the surface with another tissue. Please note that a few absorbers (Pyro-BB, 10K-W, 15K-W, 16K-W and 30K-W) cannot be cleaned with this method. Instead, simply blow off the dust with clean air or nitrogen. Don't touch these absorbers. Also, HE sensors (such as the 30(150)A-HE-17) should not be cleaned with acetone.

Note: These suggestions are made without guarantee. The cleaning process may result in scratching or staining of the surface in some cases and may also change the calibration.

Once and for all: Is DI (deionized) water good or bad for water-cooled sensors? Does it help prevent corrosion, or does it actually increase the risk?
Answer
Many factors affect the risk of corrosion forming, but the two most important are:
- the mixture of ions in the water
- the water’s pH
Our current recommendation is to use DI water – but of a neutral pH. DI water is usually slightly acidic; it can be titrated to a neutral pH, using a bit of sodium hydroxide for example. There are also commercial additives that can help prevent corrosion, for instance Optishield Plus. For a more detailed discussion, see the FAQ at https://www.ophiropt.com/laser--measurement/knowledge-center/faq/7805

You can find a lot more information about the correct use of water-cooled sensors in the article "How to use water cooled Ophir sensors", here.

The sensor I need uses water cooling. Can you recommend a water cooling system?
Answer

We don’t supply chillers, nor insist on specific models; the only important thing from our point of view is to simply keep to the requirements specified for the cooling water of the specific model of sensor, such as minimum flow rate at full power, water temperature range, and - more important than the actual water temperature - water temperature stability. The temperature of the water should not be changing by more than 1 deg/min (because changes in water temperature could cause heat flow in the sensor which would be detected as if it were laser power, and cause errors in the reading).

Our blog has a video on this subject: Water Cooled Sensors: Things to Look Out For, which discusses various issues and tips about water cooling.

Can a laser measurement depend on the distance from the laser to the sensor?
Answer
In theory, if a beam is completely parallel and fits within the aperture of a sensor, then it should make no difference at all what the distance is. It will be the same number of photons (ignoring absorption by the air, which is negligible except in the UV below 250nm). If, nevertheless, you do see such a distance dependence, there could be one of the following effects happening:
- If you are using a thermal type power sensor, you might actually be measuring heat from the laser itself. When very close to the laser, the thermal sensor might be “feeling” the laser’s own heat. That would not, however, continue to have an effect at more than a few cm distance unless the light source is weak and the heat source is strong.
- Beam geometry – The beam may not be parallel and may be diverging. Often, the lower intensity wings of the beam have greater divergence rate than the main portion of the beam. These may be missing the sensor's aperture as the distance increases. To check that you'd need to use a profiler, or perhaps a BeamTrack PPS (Power/Position/Size) sensor.
- If you are measuring pulse energies with a diffuser-based pyroelectric sensor: Some users find that when they start with the sensor right up close to the laser and move it away, the readings drop sharply (typically by some 6%) over the first few cm. This is likely caused by multiple reflections between the diffuser and the laser device, which at the closest distance might be causing an incorrectly high reading. You should back off from the source by at least some 5cm, more if the beam is not too divergent.
Needless to say, it’s also important to be sure to have a steady setup. A sensor held by hand could easily be moved around involuntarily, which could cause partial or complete missing of the sensor’s aperture at increasing distance, particularly for an invisible beam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must I use a particular sensor only with the meter it was ordered with?
Answer
Ophir meters and sensors are calibrated independently. Each meter has the same sensitivity as the other within about 2 tenths of a percent. Each sensor is calibrated independently of a particular meter with its calibration information contained in the DB15 plug. When the sensor is connected to the meter, the meter reads and interprets this information. Since the accuracy of our sensors is typically +/-3%, the extra 0.2% error that could come from plugging into a different meter is negligible and therefore it does not matter which calibrated meter we use with a particular calibrated sensor.

When an accuracy spec is given, what exactly is meant?
Answer
The Ophir specification on accuracy is in general 2 sigma standard deviation. This means, for instance, that if we list the accuracy as +/-3%, this means that 95% of the sensors will be within this accuracy and 99% will be within +/-4%. For further information on accuracy see calibration procedure tutorial.

How do you calculate the power and energy density of a laser beam?
Answer
If the power is P and the diameter of the beam is D then the power density is P /(.785 * D²) . If it is a pulsed laser and the energy is E, the repetition rate is R and the diameter is D then the power density is E*R/(.785 * D²), The energy density is E/(.785 * D²). The sensor finder will automatically calculate the power and energy density.

Does the damage threshold depend on power level?
Answer
The damage threshold of thermal sensors does depend on the power level and not only the power density because the sensor disc itself gets hotter at high powers. For instance, the damage threshold of the Ophir broadband coating may be 50KW/cm2 at 10 Watts but only 10KW/cm2 at 300W. The Ophir specifications for damage threshold are always given for the highest power of use of a particular sensor, something which is not done by most other manufacturers. This should be taken into account when comparing specifications. The Sensor Finder takes the power level into consideration when calculating damage threshold.

How can I clean the 10K-W, 15K-W, 16K-W or 30K-W sensor?
Answer
These sensors have a gold-coated reflecting cone, which can be easily scratched. If one of these sensors needs to be cleaned, we recommend blowing with clean air or nitrogen. If, however, the cone gets soiled (for example with something spilled on it), such that blowing is not enough to clean it, then there is a risk of the contaminant material getting “burned in” by laser radiation. In such a case, to avoid that risk, one should use a suitably soft tissue with solvent, and wipe as gently as possible.

Is there a coolant pressure specification for Ophir water-cooled sensors?

Answer

Yes. Please reference the chart below:

Minimum Flow Rates for Water-Cooled Sensors

Sensor	Recommended flow rate at full power¹	Minimum flow rate at full power¹	Absolute minimum flow rate	pressure drop across sensor (at maximum flow rate)		pressure drop across 8 meter of tubing (at maximum flow rate)
Sensor	liters/min)	(liters/min)	(liters/min)	Bar	MPa	Bar	MPa
L250W	3	3	3	0.3	0.03
L300W	3	3	3	0.3	0.03
1000W	6	3	3	0.3	0.03	0.5	0.05
L1500W	6	3.5	3	0.3	0.03	0.5	0.05
L2000W	6	3.5	3	0.6	0.06	0.5	0.05
5000W	8	5	3	0.6	0.06	0.5	0.05
6K-W-200x200	6	6	5	0.5	0.05	0.3	0.03
10K-W	8	8	3	1	0.1	0.5	0.05
15K-W	12	12	3	2	0.2	1	0.1
16K-W	12	12	3	1	0.1	0.8	0.08
30K-W	25	25	6	2	0.2	3	0.3
120K-W	60	60	30	4	0.4	3.5	0.035

You can find a lot more information about the correct use of water-cooled sensors in the article "How to use water cooled Ophir sensors", here.

What is the best water to use in the Water Cooled Sensors?
Answer
Corrosion is caused by interactions between the metallic components of the sensor and the cooling water, which may contain a variety of dissolved ions. Many factors affect the risk of corrosion forming, but the most important are the pH and the mixture of ions in the water. For this reason, we recommend using neutral deionized water in a closed circulating system (pH between 6 and 8). Please note that deionized water is usually slightly acidic (pH 5.65) due to absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere. The cooling water can be neutralized by adding 5 ml of a 10 mM solution of NaOH for each liter of water in the cooling system. Commercial additives such as Optishield Plus are also recommended for systems such as ours that have copper and aluminum in them. Optishield has the additional benefit of having biocide to prevent buildup of organic contamination.

To prevent corrosion it is also crucial to not allow standing water to evaporate inside the sensor when it is not in use. When disconnecting a sensor from the cooling system, the water channel should be cleared by blowing compressed air through it.

For those customers still experiencing problems with corrosion, we recommend the new thermal sensor 1000WP-BB-34 which has a special design in which all materials that come into contact with the cooling water are either copper or nonmetallic.

You can find a lot more information about the correct use of water-cooled sensors in the article "How to use water cooled Ophir sensors", here.

Do I need to recalibrate my instrument? How often must it be recalibrated?
Answer
Unless otherwise indicated, Ophir sensors and meters should be recalibrated within 18 months after initial purchase, and then once a year after that.

How should I clean my sensor?
Answer
First, clean the absorber surface with a tissue, using Umicore #2 Substrate Cleaner, acetone or methanol. Then dry the surface with another tissue. Please note that a few absorbers (Pyro-BB, 10K-W, 15K-W, 16K-W and 30K-W) cannot be cleaned with this method. Instead, simply blow off the dust with clean air or nitrogen. Don't touch these absorbers. Also, HE sensors (such as the 30(150)A-HE-17) should not be cleaned with acetone.

Note: These suggestions are made without guarantee. The cleaning process may result in scratching or staining of the surface in some cases and may also change the calibration.

Once and for all: Is DI (deionized) water good or bad for water-cooled sensors? Does it help prevent corrosion, or does it actually increase the risk?
Answer
Many factors affect the risk of corrosion forming, but the two most important are:
- the mixture of ions in the water
- the water’s pH
Our current recommendation is to use DI water – but of a neutral pH. DI water is usually slightly acidic; it can be titrated to a neutral pH, using a bit of sodium hydroxide for example. There are also commercial additives that can help prevent corrosion, for instance Optishield Plus. For a more detailed discussion, see the FAQ at https://www.ophiropt.com/laser--measurement/knowledge-center/faq/7805

You can find a lot more information about the correct use of water-cooled sensors in the article "How to use water cooled Ophir sensors", here.

The sensor I need uses water cooling. Can you recommend a water cooling system?
Answer

We don’t supply chillers, nor insist on specific models; the only important thing from our point of view is to simply keep to the requirements specified for the cooling water of the specific model of sensor, such as minimum flow rate at full power, water temperature range, and - more important than the actual water temperature - water temperature stability. The temperature of the water should not be changing by more than 1 deg/min (because changes in water temperature could cause heat flow in the sensor which would be detected as if it were laser power, and cause errors in the reading).

Our blog has a video on this subject: Water Cooled Sensors: Things to Look Out For, which discusses various issues and tips about water cooling.

Can a laser measurement depend on the distance from the laser to the sensor?
Answer
In theory, if a beam is completely parallel and fits within the aperture of a sensor, then it should make no difference at all what the distance is. It will be the same number of photons (ignoring absorption by the air, which is negligible except in the UV below 250nm). If, nevertheless, you do see such a distance dependence, there could be one of the following effects happening:
- If you are using a thermal type power sensor, you might actually be measuring heat from the laser itself. When very close to the laser, the thermal sensor might be “feeling” the laser’s own heat. That would not, however, continue to have an effect at more than a few cm distance unless the light source is weak and the heat source is strong.
- Beam geometry – The beam may not be parallel and may be diverging. Often, the lower intensity wings of the beam have greater divergence rate than the main portion of the beam. These may be missing the sensor's aperture as the distance increases. To check that you'd need to use a profiler, or perhaps a BeamTrack PPS (Power/Position/Size) sensor.
- If you are measuring pulse energies with a diffuser-based pyroelectric sensor: Some users find that when they start with the sensor right up close to the laser and move it away, the readings drop sharply (typically by some 6%) over the first few cm. This is likely caused by multiple reflections between the diffuser and the laser device, which at the closest distance might be causing an incorrectly high reading. You should back off from the source by at least some 5cm, more if the beam is not too divergent.
Needless to say, it’s also important to be sure to have a steady setup. A sensor held by hand could easily be moved around involuntarily, which could cause partial or complete missing of the sensor’s aperture at increasing distance, particularly for an invisible beam.

Accessories

20K-W Scatter Shield Assy

Scatter Shield for mounting on front flange of 20K-W sensors to reduce backscattered power.
Note: the scatter shield is compatible also with the 16K-W-BB-55 sensor P/N 7Z07131

	Compare	Description	Compatibility	Drawings, CAD & Specs	Avail.	Price
		7Z08355 Scatter Shield, 20K-W Sensors	UNIVERSAL		6 Weeks	$491

20K-W Protective Cover

Protective Cover with Target Pattern for 20K-W sensors (1 unit supplied with 20K-W sensors).
Note: the protective cover is compatible also with the 16K-W-BB-55 sensor P/N 7Z07131

	Compare	Description	Compatibility	Drawings, CAD & Specs	Avail.	Price
		1G02813 Protective Cover, 20K-W Sensors	UNIVERSAL		Contact Us

Metric water fittings for 20K-W & 30K-W

Metric water fittings for 20K-W & 30K-W for quick connection to 12mm plastic tubing. Replaces standard fitting connecting to 1/2" tubing (set of 2 each).
Note: the water connector is compatible also with the 16K-W-BB-55 sensor P/N 7Z07131

	Compare	Description	Compatibility	Drawings, CAD & Specs	Avail.	Price
		7Z08352 Metric Water Connector, 12 mm, 20K-W / 30K-W Water Cooled Sensors	UNIVERSAL		In Stock	$48

Extended Warranty for Sensor

Customers that purchase the above items also consider the following items. Ophir-Spiricon meters and sensors include a standard manufacturers warranty for one year. Add a one year Extended Warranty to your meter or sensor, which includes one recalibration.