JP2011513894A - Gas discharge lamp and method of operating a gas discharge lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

A gas discharge lamp 10 for emitting ultraviolet light, a discharge vessel 12 having a vessel volume V at least partially filled with a gas and / or salt for supplying an illumination atmosphere for a discharge arc, and the discharge A first electrode 14 ending in the container 12, a second electrode 16 ending in the discharge container 12, and electrically connectable to a power source, and electrically connected to the first electrode 14 and the second electrode 16. A control unit that is connectable, comprising a control unit 18 for supplying the discharge arc between the first electrode 14 and the second electrode 16 by an applied power P, the gas discharge lamp 10 comprising: the control unit 18 is, in the normal operation mode, a ratio r of the power P with respect to the vessel volume V, r is a ^{1176W / cm 3 ≦ r ≦ 2647W} / cm 3, especially 1618W / cm ³ r ≦ 2500W / cm ^3, and preferably ^{2059W / cm 3 ≦ r ≦ 2353W} / cm at ³ are ratios r, the first electrode 14 and the second is adapted to cause the electrode 16 to operate the gas discharge lamp 10 And a method of operation are provided. This results in a small gas discharge lamp 10 that supplies more ultraviolet light without significantly reducing the lifetime.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas discharge lamp, wherein said light discharge lamp emits ultraviolet light (UV), in particular ultraviolet A light (UVA), for treatment such as UVA treatment for curing skin diseases. It relates to the field of gas discharge lamps supplied. The present invention relates to high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, ultra high performance (UHP) lamps and / or micropower xenon light (MPXL) lamps, among others. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a gas discharge lamp.

From US Pat. No. 6,016,031, an electrodeless high intensity discharge (EHID) lamp is known. The electrodeless high intensity discharge (EHID) lamp, as it is possible to start the EHID in the absence of electrodes, the discharge vessel of the power density in the range of 1000W / cm ³ to 9000 W / cm ³ It can be operated with. The absence of electrodes, without the rear dissolution of the electrodes, it is possible to power density within the range of 1000W / cm ³ to 9000 W / cm ^3.

From a general high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp having a discharge vessel volume of the electrode and 0.034cm ^3, it is to be operated at a power of the HID 35W, can result in a power density of 1029W / cm ³ in the discharge vessel Are known. This power density prevents deformation of the HID and a decrease in life.

  There is an urgent need for a small gas discharge lamp that supplies a lot of ultraviolet light without significantly shortening its lifetime.

  It is an object of the present invention to operate a small gas discharge lamp that supplies more ultraviolet light without significantly reducing its lifetime and a method for operating a small gas discharge lamp that supplies more ultraviolet light without significantly reducing its lifetime. Is to provide.

The object is a gas discharge lamp for emitting ultraviolet light, a discharge vessel having a vessel volume V which is at least partially filled with gas and / or salt for supplying an illumination atmosphere for a discharge arc; A first electrode ending in the discharge vessel, a second electrode ending in the discharge vessel, electrically connectable to a power source, and electrically connectable to the first electrode and the second electrode A gas discharge lamp having a control unit for supplying the discharge arc between the first electrode and the second electrode by an applied power P, wherein the control unit is in a normal operation mode. in, a ratio r of the power P with respect to the vessel volume V, r is a ^{1176W / cm 3 ≦ r ≦ 2647W} / cm 3, and especially ^{1618W / cm 3 ≦ r ≦ 2500W} / cm 3, preferably 2059W / cm ³ ≦ In ≦ 2353W / cm ³ are ratios r, is achieved by said first electrode and said second electrode so as to operate adapted so are gas discharge lamps. This means that, for example, in a given discharge vessel volume V of 0.034 cm ³ of HID, a power P of 40 W ≦ P ≦ 90 W, in particular 55 W ≦ P ≦ 85 W, preferably 70 W ≦ P ≦ 80 W is supplied. means.

The gas discharge lamp according to the invention has a general HID suitable for 35 W with a discharge vessel volume of 0.034 cm ³ deliberately by the control unit in the normal operating mode, as intended by the manufacturer. Compared to, too high power is supplied. Measurements revealed that the amount of UV-A light increased and the amount of UV-B light did not increase significantly. Two small gas discharge lamps according to the invention operated at 80 W can replace a single large gas discharge lamp operated at 400 W. Therefore, it is possible to supply the same amount of UV-A light as that of a larger lamp even with a long time operation with less power, less assembly space and less cost. The gas discharge lamp can be used in treatments such as UVA treatment to treat human skin diseases such as sensitive skin diseases or skin cancer. The gas discharge lamp can also be used non-therapeutically like Sun Studio. The gas discharge lamp can be started and restarted faster and more frequently by the electrodes. In particular, the gas discharge lamp starts at a much lower voltage than an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp, and provides safer handling of the gas discharge lamp during operation. Furthermore, less electromagnetic shielding protection and less electrical insulation are required, resulting in reduced manufacturing costs. Depending on the specific application of the gas discharge lamp according to the invention, there is no significant reduction in lifetime. The amount of passive cooling, for example by natural convection, is sufficient to ensure a long life. In that case, additional active cooling may be provided, such as by a cooling fan.

Surprisingly, no significant backward dissolution of the electrode occurs. For example, the electrode has an almost circular cross section with a diameter d. Preferably, the diameter d of the electrode is such that P / d ² is 450 W / mm ² ≦ P / d ² ≦ 750 W / mm ² with respect to the applied power P, and preferably 500 W / mm ² ≦ P. / D ² ≦ 700 W / mm ² , most preferably 550 W / mm ² ≦ P / d ² ≦ 650 W / mm ² . With this design of the electrode, backward melting can be prevented.

In a preferred embodiment, a cooler is provided for supplying forced convection to the top of the discharge vessel. Preferably, the cooler is adapted to supply positive and / or negative pressure to the top of the discharge vessel. The cooler may include at least one fan for supplying positive pressure and / or negative pressure. Preferably, the cooler is adapted to protect the maximum temperature T _max of the discharge vessel of 700 ° C. ≦ T _max ≦ 1100 ° C., especially 800 ° C. ≦ T _max ≦ 1000 ° C., preferably 900 ° C. ≦ T _max ≦ 950 ° C. Be made. The cooling of the top of the discharge vessel protects the maximum temperature that prevents recrystallization or dissolution of the discharge vessel material. Deformation of the discharge vessel is prevented. It is not necessary to cool more than the top of the discharge vessel. The lower part of the discharge vessel that is not exposed to such high heat from the upper part of the discharge vessel can also be cooled by heat conduction. Measurements have shown that when the top of the discharge vessel is cooled, the electrode is also cooled, thus preventing backward melting of the electrode. Therefore, the use of an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp can be avoided.

  Preferably, the discharge vessel has an elliptical shape in the axial direction. The discharge vessel is elongated in the axial direction as compared with a spherical discharge vessel. This results in an increase in the surface of the discharge vessel that increases natural and forced convection, so that better cooling of the discharge vessel is possible. In addition, more vaporized salt is located in the region of the discharge arc, and thus a stronger illumination atmosphere containing more excited salt can be provided. The lighting atmosphere may include an inert gas such as xenon and a suitable salt such as FeI and / or Hg.

  The present invention further includes a gas discharge lamp assembly including a plurality of gas discharge lamps as described above, and having at least one cooler for supplying forced convection to an upper portion of the discharge vessel. The present invention relates to a gas discharge lamp assembly in which the number of gas discharge lamps is smaller than the number of the coolers provided. One cooler can cool two or more gas discharge lamps. In particular, only one cooler is provided. In a variant, there is only one cooler for supplying positive pressure and only one cooler for supplying negative pressure. It is possible to provide a cooling flow that flows along all the top of the gas discharge lamp of the gas discharge assembly. This provides easy and cost effective cooling of the plurality of gas discharge lamps.

  Preferably, several gas discharge lamps are arranged in a plane, in particular in parallel. With this arrangement, the cooling of the gas discharge lamp can be facilitated. Since two or more small gas discharge lamps according to the present invention can replace large gas discharge lamps according to the state of the art, a more homogeneous UV light source field is provided so that the intensity of the UV light is uniform. obtain. The uniform intensity of ultraviolet light is a very important property of a gas discharge lamp for UVA treatment for human skin. The risk of damaging human skin during the UVA treatment session is reduced, and at the same time, shortening of the UVA treatment session to prevent human skin damage is not necessary. Therefore, UVA treatment becomes faster and more efficient.

  In particular, at least one deflector element is provided for guiding the forced convection flow along the upper part of the discharge vessel, mainly in the horizontal direction. By means of the deflector element, the flow of the cooling flow can be adjusted as required. Preferably, a cooler for supplying positive pressure is provided at the start of the cooling flow, and a cooler for supplying negative pressure is provided at the end of the cooling flow. A large pressure difference can be supplied by the cooler, and the deflector element ensures a proper flow of the cooling flow.

  The invention further relates to a UV device comprising a gas discharge lamp assembly as described above, in particular a UV device for UVA treatment for human skin. The UV device may further be, for example, a pocket lamp for supplying ultraviolet light, for example to detect phosphors and / or substances that emit or see light mainly under ultraviolet light.

The present invention is further a method for operating a gas discharge lamp that emits ultraviolet light, wherein the gas discharge lamp provides a gas atmosphere for supplying an illumination atmosphere for a discharge arc. And / or said gas discharge lamp comprising a discharge vessel having a vessel volume V at least partially filled with salt, a first electrode ending in said discharge vessel, and a second electrode ending in said discharge vessel, A method comprising the steps of providing a gas discharge lamp as described above and supplying power P to the first electrode and the second electrode. a ratio r, r is a ^{1176W / cm 3 ≦ r ≦ 2647W} / cm 3, especially a ^{1618W / cm 3 ≦ r ≦ 2500W} / cm 3, preferably ^{2059W / cm 3 ≦ r ≦ 2353W} / cm ³ are ratios r is given On how to be. The ratio r is given for at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, most preferably at least 98% of the operating life of the gas discharge lamp. In this way, the small gas discharge lamp can be operated so that more UV light is supplied without significantly shortening its lifetime.

  These and other aspects of the invention are described and elucidated with reference to the following examples.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of a gas discharge lamp. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a medical UV apparatus.

In the illustrated embodiment, the gas discharge lamp 10 according to the present invention is illustratively designed as a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp. The gas discharge lamp has a burner 11 with an elliptical discharge vessel 12 having a volume V of, for example, 0.034 cm ³ . The gas discharge lamp 10 has a first electrode 14 and a second electrode 16 protruding into the discharge vessel 12. The discharge vessel may contain xenon and FeI and / or Hg salts to provide an illuminating atmosphere for the discharge arc generated by each high power or voltage between the electrodes 14,16.

  The electrodes are connected to the control unit 18. The control unit 18 may be a socket integrated circuit for the burner 11. The control unit 18 supplies a power density between the electrodes 14, 16 that is significantly higher than that required to only supply a discharge arc between the electrodes 14, 16.

  The upper part 20 of the discharge vessel 12 is cooled by a cooler 22. The cooler 22 may be a fan or the like. The cooler 22 may supply positive or negative pressure to the upper portion 20.

  The gas discharge lamp 10 may be used in a gas discharge assembly 24 having a plurality of gas discharge lamps 10 (FIG. 2). The gas discharge assembly may be part of a UV device 26 used for UVA treatment to treat sensitive skin diseases and the like. The UV device has a bed 28 for humans. A head 32 is disposed on the bed 18 via a distance piece 30. The bed 28 has a gas discharge lamp assembly 24 including a plurality of gas discharge lamps 10 arranged in parallel in a horizontal plane. The head 32 has a deflector element 34 for guiding the cooling flow 36 in the horizontal direction along the upper part 20 of the discharge vessel 12 of the gas discharge lamp 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooling flow 36 includes a first cooler 38 that supplies positive pressure and a second cooler that supplies negative pressure so that the cooling flow 36 is guided along the deflector element 34. 40.

  While the invention is illustrated in the drawings and has been described in detail in the foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative and exemplary and limited Should not be considered. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. For example, in an embodiment in which the UV device 26 includes only one cooler 38, 40, or in an embodiment in which the coolers 38, 40 are arranged almost horizontally with respect to the gas discharge lamp 10. Can be operated. Those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention may understand and achieve other variations to the disclosed embodiments from a study of the drawings, the specification, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the singular form does not exclude the presence of a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims (10)

A gas discharge lamp for emitting ultraviolet light,
A discharge vessel having a vessel volume V that is at least partially filled with gas and / or salt for providing an illumination atmosphere for the discharge arc;
A first electrode ending in the discharge vessel;
A second electrode ending in the discharge vessel;
A control unit electrically connectable to a power source and electrically connectable to the first electrode and the second electrode, and between the first electrode and the second electrode by an applied power P A gas discharge lamp having a control unit for supplying the discharge arc to
In the normal operation mode, the control unit has a ratio r of the power P to the container volume V, where r is 1176 W / cm ³ ≦ r ≦ 2647 W / cm ³ , particularly 1618 W / cm ³ ≦ r. ≦ 2500W / cm ^3, and preferably ^{2059W / cm 3 ≦ r ≦ 2353W} / in cm ³ are ratios r, the first electrode and a gas discharge lamp is adapted so as to operate said second electrode.   The gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a cooler for supplying forced convection to an upper portion of the discharge vessel. The electrode has a diameter d, said diameter d of said electrodes, with respect to the applied power P, P / d ² is a ^{450W / mm 2 ≦ P / d} 2 ≦ 750W / mm 2, preferably The gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein is selected such that 500 W / mm ² ≤ P / d ² ≤ 700 W / mm ² , most preferably 550 W / mm ² ≤ P / d ² ≤ 650 W / mm ^2. .   The gas discharge lamp according to claim 1, wherein the discharge vessel has an elliptical shape in the axial direction.   A gas discharge lamp assembly comprising a plurality of gas discharge lamps according to claim 1 and having at least one cooler for supplying forced convection to an upper part of the discharge vessel. A gas discharge lamp assembly, the number of which is less than the number of said coolers provided.   6. Only one cooler is provided, or only one cooler for supplying positive pressure is provided, and only one cooler for supplying negative pressure is provided. Gas discharge lamp assembly.   6. A gas discharge lamp assembly according to claim 5, wherein several gas discharge lamps are arranged in a plane, in particular in parallel.   6. The gas discharge lamp assembly according to claim 5, wherein at least one deflector element is provided for guiding a forced convection flow along the upper portion of the discharge vessel mainly in a horizontal direction. It is a method for operating a gas discharge lamp that emits ultraviolet light,
A discharge vessel having a vessel volume V, the gas discharge lamp being at least partially filled with a gas and / or salt for supplying an illumination atmosphere for a discharge arc; and the discharge Providing the gas discharge lamp having a first electrode ending in a vessel and a second electrode ending in the discharge vessel, in particular a gas discharge lamp according to claim 1;
Supplying power P to the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein in a normal operation mode, the ratio of the power P to the container volume V is r, where r is 1176 W / cm is ^{3 ≦ r ≦ 2647W / cm 3} , especially a ^{1618W / cm 3 ≦ r ≦ 2500W} / cm 3, the method preferably is given a ratio r is ^{2059W / cm 3 ≦ r ≦ 2353W} / cm 3.   10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the ratio r is provided for at least 90% of the operating life of the gas discharge lamp, in particular for at least 95%, preferably for at least 98%.

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