Onderzoek naar hogedrukkwiklampen bij Philips

Research into high pressure mercury discharge lamps at Philips In this study the work of C. Bol and the physicist dr. W. Elenbaas in the Physical Laboratory of Philips in the period 1930-1940 is described. The paper treats their contributions to high pressure mercury discharge lamps, especially the water cooled super high pressure mercury discharge lamps with a pressure of a few hundreds of atmosphere. Because of their rather white colour and high efficiency, high pressure mercury lamps were, from 1906 on, a potential rival of the incandescent lamps, especially for street and square lighting. However, severe problems with the ignition of the gas discharge and the lead-in wires prevented the introduction of these lamps at that time. In the early thirties Bol contributed to a great extend to the solution of the problem of the lead-in wires, after which super high pressure mercury discharge lamps were technically feasible. Elenbaas theoretically derived mathematical relations between technically important variables, such as efficiency, candlepower and luminence, which were instrumental in the invention and development of super high pressure mercury lamps. Some remarks are made on the differences between scientifically and technically oriented theories. It is concluded that in an industrial context a special kind of theories is developed which could be denominated 'technological theories'.