UV reactor assembly with improved lamp cooling means

A reactor assembly for destroying contaminants in fluids solely by the application of UV radiation to promote such destruction, said reactor assembly comprising:

• i) a vertically oriented cylindrical reactor column with an inlet at one end to introduce fluids to said reactor and an outlet at another end to remove treated fluids from said reactor,
• ii) a vertically oriented UV radiation emitting lamp operating at temperatures in excess of 300.degree. C. and positioned centrally of said reactor column,
• iii) a cylindrical protective sheath transparent to UV radiation for said lamp, said sheath being concentric with said lamp and isolating said lamp from an interior surface of said reactor column, said reactor column in combination with said sheath defining an annular reactor space through which fluids to be treated flow from said reactor inlet through to said reactor outlet, whereby fluid flow along said sheath effects cooling of said sheath due to lamp heating,
• iv) an end cap for each end of said reactor column, said end caps having aligned centrally located openings to receive corresponding ends of said sheath, whereby each end of said sheath opens outwardly of said end cap,
• v) means for operatively circumferentially sealing respective end portions of said sheath to said end cap openings to retain thereby fluids being treated in said annular reactor space,
• vi) said lamp having an upper terminal and a lower terminal, each terminal having a corresponding temperature-responsive portion formed to break electrical connection with electrodes within the lamp when heated to a predetermined temperature exceeding 350.degree. C., said lamp being of a sufficient length to extend said terminals and position said temperature sensitive portions beyond corresponding open ends of said sheath, said lamp having an arc length and said reactor having a reactor length defined by said end caps, said reactor length being equal to or greater than said arc length,
• vii) means for supporting each said terminal at a corresponding reactor end, each of said support means having a lamp engaging portion which transverses said open ended sheath in a manner which provides air communication with sheath interior,
• viii) means for directing cooling air onto each of said upper and lower terminals to cool said temperature sensitive portions thereof and thereby prevent deterioration of said lamp terminals due to excessive heating, said sheath having an internal diameter greater than an external diameter for said lamp, said means for directing cooling air onto said lower terminal being adapted to develop an air pressure value at a lower end of said sheath greater than an air pressure value at an upper end of said sheath, whereby a controlled constant flow of cooling air is assured upwardly of said sheath and over said lamp by virtue of said sheath lower and upper ends being open outwardly of said lower and upper end caps, such constant flow of cooling air being controlled to permit said lamp to operate at optimum operating temperatures.