Lamp cooling for a UV lamp reactor assembly

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

• i) a 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 UV radiation emitting lamp operating at temperatures in excess of 300.degree. C. and positioned in 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 said reactor interior, said reactor column having a wall defining a reactor space through which fluids to be treated flow from said reactor inlet through to said reactor outlet, whereby fluid flow over said sheath effects cooling of said sheath due to lamp heating,
• iv) each end of said sheath projecting through said reactor wall and means for sealing each end of said sheath to said reactor wall whereby each end of said sheath opens outwardly of said reactor, said sealing means retaining thereby fluids being treated in said reactor space,
• v) said lamp having a first terminal portion and second terminal portion, said lamp being of sufficient length to extend said terminal portions beyond corresponding open ends of said sheath,
• vi) means for supporting each said terminal at a corresponding portion of said reactor wall, 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,
• vii) means for directing cooling air onto each of said first and second terminal portions to cool said terminal portions and thereby prevent deterioration of said lamp terminal portions 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 terminals being adapted to develop an air pressure value at a corresponding first end of said sheath greater than an air pressure value at a corresponding second end of said sheath, whereby a constant flow of cooling air is assured through said sheath and over said lamp by virtue of said sheath first and second ends being open outwardly of said reactor wall, such constant flow of cooling air being controlled to permit said lamp to operate at optimum operating temperatures,
• viii)the improvement comprising:
• an exhaust system for said means for directing cooling air, said exhaust system comprising an exhaust fan and ductwork adapted to draw cooling air over said first terminal portion, through said sheath and over said lamp toward said second terminal portion and to draw cooling air over said second terminal portion, said exhaust fan exhausting the cooling air gathered from said sheath and from said second terminal portion, said ductwork providing an air inlet to supplement cooling air drawn over said second terminal portion.