Dielectric Barrier Discharge Lamp With Integrated Multifunction Means

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD-) lamp (1) for generating and emitting an ultraviolet radiation with ignition aid comprising: a discharge gap (2) being at least partly formed and/or surrounded by at least an inner wall (5) and an outer wall (4), whereby at least one of the walls (4, 5) is a dielectric wall and at least one of the walls (4, 5) has an at least partly transparent part, a filling located inside the discharge gap (2), at least two electrical contacting means, a first mean for electrical contacting associated with the outer wall (4) and a second mean for electrical contacting associated with the inner wall (5), whereby at least one multifunctional means (3) is arranged adjacent to the discharge gap (2) functioning as guiding aid and as ignition aid.

Description

FIG. 1 shows in a longitudinal sectional view a coaxial DBD-lamp including a discharge gap formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means arranged as annular dent protruding from the outer wall to the discharge gap.

FIG. 2 a shows in a longitudinal sectional view a discharge gap formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means arranged as thickening protruding from the outer wall to the inner wall.

FIG. 2 b shows in a longitudinal sectional view a discharge gap formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means arranged as thickening protruding from the inner wall to the outer wall.

FIG. 3 a shows in a longitudinal sectional view a discharge gap formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means arranged as dent protruding from the outer wall to the inner wall.

FIG. 3 b shows in a longitudinal sectional view the discharge gap formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means arranged as dent protruding from the inner wall to the outer wall.

FIG. 4 a shows in a longitudinal sectional view a discharge gap formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means arranged as area of a different material in the outer wall.

FIG. 4 b shows in a longitudinal sectional view a discharge gap formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means arranged as area of a different material in the inner wall.

FIG. 5 shows schematic in a cross sectional view the structure of two cylinders forming a discharge gap.

FIG. 6 shows schematic in a cross sectional view a section of coaxial constructed DBD-lamp having multifunctional means arranged as dent at the outer wall protruding to the discharge gap.

FIG. 7 shows in a schematic way a multifunctional means forming a direct contact in detail.

FIGS. 8 a and 8b show in a schematic way the circumferential distribution of a multifunctional means of the DBD lamp.

FIG. 1 shows a part of a DBD-lamp 1 including a discharge gap 2 formed by two coaxial cylinders with one integrated circumferential multifunctional means 3 arranged as an annular dent 3a protruding from the outer wall 4 to the discharge gap 2. The outer wall 4 and an inner wall 5, both form the discharge gap 2, are arranged toward each other with a constant distance d. In the area of the multifunctional means 3 the distance d of the discharge gap 2 is locally reduced by the dent 3a, having a distance t. This reduced distance d is the relevant distance determining the needed voltage for an ignition of the DBD-lamp. The wall thickness of the walls 4, 5 is about the wall thickness of the multifunctional means 3.

FIG. 2 a-4b are showing embodiments of a coaxial DBD-lamp with differently arranged multifunctional means 3.

FIG. 2 a shows in a longitudinal sectional view a discharge gap 2 formed by two coaxial cylinders, with one circumferential multifunctional means 3 arranged as thickening 3a protruding from the outer wall 4 to the inner wall 5. In this case the distance t of the multifunction means 3 equals d, which means that a direct contact between the inner and the outer wall is realized.

FIG. 2 b shows in a longitudinal sectional view a discharge gap 2 formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means 3 arranged as thickening 3a protruding from the inner wall 5 to the outer wall 4. Again, the distance t equals d, which means that a direct contact between the inner wall 5 and the outer wall 4 is realized

FIG. 3 a shows in a longitudinal sectional view a discharge gap 2 formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means 3 arranged as dent 3b protruding from the outer wall 4 to the inner wall 5. As in FIGS. 2a and 2b the distance t equals d, which means that a direct contact between the inner and the outer wall is realized. The wall thickness of that multifunctional means 3 is less or equals the wall thickness of the outer wall 4.

FIG. 3 b shows in a longitudinal sectional view the discharge gap 2 of FIG. 1 formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means 3 arranged as dent 3b protruding from the inner wall 5 to the outer wall 4. The wall thickness of that multifunctional means 3 is less or equals the wall thickness of the inner wall 5

FIG. 4 a shows in a longitudinal sectional view a discharge gap 2 formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means 3 arranged as area of a different material 3c in the outer wall 4, compared to the material of the outer wall 4.

FIG. 4 b shows in a longitudinal sectional view a discharge gap 2 formed by two coaxial cylinders with one circumferential multifunctional means 3 arranged as area of a different material 3c in the inner wall 5, compared to the material of the inner wall 5.

FIG. 5 shows schematic in a cross sectional view the structure of two cylinders forming a discharge gap 2. The two cylinders are connected together, so that the outer cylinder forms the outer wall 4 and the inner cylinder forms the inner wall 5.

FIG. 6 shows schematic in a cross sectional view a section of coaxial constructed DBD-lamp with a discharge gap 2 and having multifunctional means 3 arranged as dents 3b at the outer wall 4 protruding towards the inner wall 5. The distance t equals the gap width d, so that the inner wall 5 contacts the outer wall 4 or rather the dents 3b.

FIG. 7 shows schematic in a cross sectional view a section of coaxial constructed DBD-lamp having multifunctional means 3 arranged as dent 3b at the outer wall 4 protruding to and contacting the inner wall 5, so that d is about or equal t. The discharge happens along the inner surface of the outer wall 4, shown as arrow.

FIGS. 8 a and 8b show the circumferential distribution of the multifunctional means (3, 3a). In FIG. 8a the multifunction means is distributed along a circumference line of the lamp. Instead of localized contact point(s) between inner and outer tube or inner and outer wall (4, 5), a (several) contact line(s) is (are) generated.

The contact line(s) may have any arbitrary shape along the inner and/or outer tube. Contact lines in parallel with the length axis of the lamp may have special advantages to provide a guidance aid, an ignition aid, and no modification of the cross sectional shape (vertical to the length axis of the lamp) is needed. The latter, is useful to provide a lamp without distortions for improved wiping.

In FIG. 8b the multifunction means (3, 3a) is distributed along a circumference area of the lamp. Instead of localized point(s) or line(s), a (several) contact area(s) is (are) generated.

The contact area(s) may have any arbitrary shape along the inner and/or outer tube or inner and/or outer wall (4, 5). Contact areas in parallel with the length axis of the lamp may have special advantages to provide a guidance aid, an ignition aid, and no modification of the cross sectional shape (vertical to the length axis of the lamp) is needed. The latter, is useful to provide a lamp without distortions for improved wiping.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1   dielectric barrier discharge lamp (DBD lamp)
2   discharge gap
3   multifunctional means
3 a thickening
3 b dent
3 c area of different material
4   outer wall
5   inner wall
d   discharge gap width
t   distance (of the multifunctional means)

Claims

1. Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD-) lamp (1) for generating and emitting an ultraviolet radiation with ignition aid comprising: a discharge gap (2) being at least partly formed and/or surrounded byat least an inner wall (5) and an outer wall (4), whereby at least one of the walls (4, 5) is a dielectric wall and at least one of the walls (4, 5) has an at least partly transparent part,a filling located inside the discharge gap (2),at least two electrical contacting means,a first means for electrical contacting associated with the outer wall (4) anda second means for electrical contacting associated with the inner wall (5),

2. DBD lamp (1) according to claim 1, whereby at least one multifunctional means (3) protrudes from one wall (4, 5) in direction to the other wall (4, 5) with a distance t from bottom to top, whereby that distance t can vary in the whole range of the discharge gap width d except a value about d/2.

3. DBD lamp (1) according to claim 1, whereby the multifunctional means (3) extends from one wall (4, 5) to the other wall (4, 5) forming a direct contact between both walls (4, 5).

4. DBD lamp (1) according to claim 1, whereby the multifunctional means (3) is an integral part of at least one of the walls (4, 5).

5. DBD lamp (1) according to claim 1, whereby the integral multifunctional means (3) has about the same or a thinner wall-thickness as the corresponding wall (4, 5), whereby the changeover from wall to multifunctional means (3) is smooth and/or graduated.

6. DBD lamp (1) according to claim 1, whereby at least two multifunctional means (3) are protruding into the discharge gap (2) spaced perpendicular and/or axially to a longitudinal axis of the lamp (1).

7. DBD lamp (1) according to claim 1, whereby the walls (4, 5) are formed by two coaxial cylinder quartz tubes including an annular discharge gap (2) between them.

8. DBD lamp (1) according to claim 1, whereby the multifunctional means (3) are arranged of a material different to the material of the walls (4, 5), preferably of a material having a different electrical characteristic.

9. Method for producing a DBD lamp according to claim 1, whereby steps for manufacturing multifunctional means are included, and steps for an optimized arranging of the two walls with regards to each other are included.

10. A system incorporating a lamp according to claim 1 and being used in one or more of the following applications: fluid and/or surface treatment of hard and/or soft surfaces, preferably cleaning, disinfection and/or purification;liquid disinfection and/or purification,beverage disinfection and/or purification,water disinfection and/or purification,wastewater disinfection and/or purification,drinking water disinfection and/or purification,tap water disinfection and/or purification,production of ultra pure water,gas disinfection and/or purification,air disinfection and/or purification,exhaust gases disinfection and/or purification,cracking and/or removing of components, preferably anorganic and/or organic compoundscleaning of semiconductor surfaces,cracking and/or removing of components from semiconductor surfaces,cleaning and/or disinfection of food,cleaning and/or disinfection of food supplements,cleaning and/or disinfection of pharmaceuticals.