Mathematical Model of the Evaporation of Amalgam Components in Discharge Radiation Sources

Abstract

The urgency of creating a mathematical model of the evaporation of amalgam components in discharge radiation sources (lamps) is due to the dependence of the parameters of the infrared (IR) radiation of special discharge sources on the vapor pressure of an emitting additive. The pressure in turn depends on the sizes and temperature of the discharge, cathode, and anode volumes. In connection with the diverse range of designs of gas-discharge lamps, a set of equations is proposed, which makes it possible to determine the vapor pressure of amalgam components taking into account the specific design of the discharge tube (the burner) and its temperature profile. The design of a discharge source of IR radiation for safety systems of aircraft, for which the calculation of cesium and mercury vapors is presented, is described. As a result of calculations, the dependences of the vapor pressure of cesium and mercury on the temperature of the discharge-tube cold point at various amalgam weights are obtained. The features of the increase in the cesium pressure on the transition from saturated vapors into unsaturated are revealed.