Solarchem Enterprises Inc.

Keith G Bircher

Ronald C Hallett

R D Stevens

Stephen R Cater

Cuong V Luong

J Adele Buckley

A reactor assembly is provided for destroying contaminants in fluids by the application of UV radiation to promote the destruction of the contaminants. The reactor assembly has a vertically orientated reactor chamber with a centrally located lamp emitting UV radiation and operating at temperatures in excess of 700.degree. C. A protective sheath transparent to the UV radiation encloses the lamp and isolates the lamp from reactor interior to define thereby an annular reactor space through which fluids to be treated flow. The fluids flowing through the annular reactor space and along the sheath effect a cooling of the sheath due to lamp heating. The lamp has a terminal portion at each end thereof. Each terminal portion has a temperature sensitive component. The lamp is of a sufficient length to extend the terminals beyond the end portions of the reactor which has a length equal to or greater than the arc length of the lamp. Cooling air is directed on to each of the upper and lower terminals of the lamp to cool the temperature sensitive portions thereby preventing deterioration of each lamp end due to excessive heating. In directing cooling air onto the lower terminal a pressure is developed which is greater than the pressure at the upper end of the sheath so that a control constant flow of cooling air is assured upwardly of the sheath and over the lamp. This constant flow of cooling air is assured upwardly over the sheath and over the lamp. This constant flow of cooling air is controlled to permit the lamp to operate at optimum operating temperatures to provide the necessary output of UV radiation to promote the destruction of the contaminants in the fluids.

UV reactor assembly with improved lamp cooling means

A process is provided for treating aqueous waste or groundwater contaminated with nitro-containing organic chemicals to degrade the compound sufficiently to permit disposal of the waste or groundwater.

Growing community of inventors

Richmond Hill, Canada

Keith G Bircher