Method and device for operating a uv-radiation source

• US 20040113102A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xylem Ip Holdings LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wedeco AG (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wedekamp, Horst
• Granted Patent: US 6,906,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/504R
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a UV radiation source of the low-pressure gas discharge type. Said method comprises the following steps:—impingement of at least one heating coil with a heating voltage until the temperature of said coil has been increased;—impingement of the heating coil with a starting voltage in order to induce a gas discharge;—maintenance of the gas discharge by the application of a maintaining voltage and the disconnection of the heating voltage after the gas discharge has been started; in addition the following steps are preferably executed at any point in the method:—interrogation of an identification means that is connected to the UV radiation source and—if the response to the interrogation is negative, prevention or interruption of the operation,—if the response to the interrogation is positive, authorization of the operation. The invention also relates to a UV radiation source comprising a base body (20) and at least one connection zone which bears a number of electric connections (24, 25; 26, 27), whereby an identification means (28) that can be interrogated electrically is connected to the base body (20); and to a UV disinfection facility for fluids, in particular for water or waste water, said facility comprising at least one UV radiation source and an electric control and supply circuit that is located at a distance from the radiation source, whereby the control and supply circuit comprises an interrogation means which is suitable for verifying the presence of an identification means which is optionally assigned to the UV radiation source(s).

Claims

1. A method for operating a UV radiation source of the low-pressure gas discharge type, comprising the following steps:

impinging at least one heating coil with a heating voltage to effecting the heating thereof up to an increased heating coil temperature;

impinging the heating coil with a starting voltage to induce a gas discharge;

maintaining the discharging of gas by applying a maintenance voltage and de-activating the heating voltage after the step of impinging the heating coil with a starting voltage;

characterized in that the following steps are additionally performed at times as selected during the course of performing the method;

interrogating an identification means connected with a UV radiation source, and

in the event that a response to the interrogation of the identification means is negative, preventing or interrupting operation of the UV radiation source connected with the identification means,

in the event that a response to the interrogation of the identification means is positive, permitting the operation of the UV radiation source to proceed as an authorized operation.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of interrogating the identification means is performed before the step of impinging the heating coil with a starting voltage.

3. A method according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the identification means contains information about the manufacturer and/or the type of radiation source.

4. A method according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the identification means contains information uniquely individually associated with the radiation source in the form of a serial number.

5. A method according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the identification means includes a read/write memory which contains information about the accumulated operating life of the radiation source.

8. A UV radiation source according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the identification means (28) is an electronic circuit which is connected by the electrical connections (24, 25;

26, 27).

9. A UV radiation source according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the identification means (28) has two electrical connections (24, 25) and is electrically connected in parallel to a heating coil (22).

10. A UV radiation source according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the identification means (28) has three electrical connections and is electrically connected in parallel to a heating coil (22) and a third connection is provided for data transmission.

11. A UV radiation source according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the identification means (28) is a transponder.

14. A UV disinfecting facility according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the interrogation means is connected with the identification means via a two-wire lead.

15. A UV disinfecting facility according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the interrogation means and the identification means exchange unidirectional or bi-directional data in the form of signals, which are modulated to correlate with the voltage of a heating coil.

6. A UV radiation source with a base body (20) and at least one connection area, which supports a plurality of electrical connections (24, 25;

26, 27), characterized in that an identification means which can be electrically interrogated is connected to the base body (20).

7. A UV radiation source according to claim 6, characterized in that the identification means (28) is connected to the base body (20) in a manner such that the identification means is destroyed if it is removed from the base body.

13. A UV disinfecting facility according to claim 6, characterized in that an electronic start device is associated with the identification means.

12. A UV disinfection facility for fluid disinfecting handling of, in particular, water or effluent, with at least one UV radiation source and an electrical control and supply circuit spaced from the light source, characterized in that the electrical control and supply circuit comprises an interrogation means which is configured for verifying the presence of at least one identification means associated as desired with a UV radiation source.