Seeing Is Believing, But You Can't See Micro-Organisms!
UV Light Air Purification
Research Studies and Facts:
No other air purification is more effective at neutralizing micro-organisms than ultraviolet light radiation.
How Ultraviolet Light Works:
Ultraviolet light possesses just the right amount of energy to break organic molecular bonds. As micro-organisms pass by the UV rays radiated from the ultraviolet lamp, this bond breakage translates into cellular or genetic damage for micro-organisms, such as germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi (like molds), etc. This resulted in the destruction of the micro-organisms. The same damage occurs to humans, but is limited to the skin and eyes.
UV Light Air Purifier Facts & Studies:
The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommends the use of ultraviolet light for air purification.
The U.S. government now specifies that UV light should be used in air handling units to improve indoor air quality in government buildings, by controlling airborne and surface microbial growth.
The Air Institute of Respiratory Education suggests UV lights be used in buildings for indoor air quality purposes, and states that may be the final line of defense against those diseases that have developed resistance to drugs, such as tuberculosis and others.
UV Light Air Purification Research Study:
UV Lamps Reduce Worker Sickness
This study tested 771 employees in three different office buildings. The UV lights, which were installed in the ventilation system, were operated in three cycles of four weeks on, twelve weeks off. Measurements showed a 99% reduction of germs on irradiated surfaces inside the ventilation system.
During some weeks, there was a 40% reduction in respiratory symptoms, and a 30% reduction in mucous problems in individuals examined. When the lights were activated, muscle complaints among nonsmokers were reduced by 50%, and work-related breathing problems decreased by 60%.
How It Works
UV Water Purification Applications
We offer UV water disinfection systems for a variety of water purification applications. Water is being used for practically everything therefore ultraviolet water purification can be applied to a vast number of diverse applications. Water treatment professionals have used ultraviolet water disinfection for over 60 years and the technology is steadily advancing.
UV offers a very economical and environmentally friendly water disinfection solutions for the following applications:
Installation of UV water purifiers reduces the use of chlorine as primary disinfectant for swimming pools and ensures hygienically pure water, free of chemical residue and by-products.
Water disinfection is one of the key treatment steps for all types of swimming pools, either public or private. Efficient pool water disinfection is essential for public pools. In order to ensure safe bathing water, most public facilities must follow strict water disinfection standards and practices.
Chlorine is still the water disinfectant of choice for most public pool operators. However, there is a growing awareness of the negative effects caused by chlorine and its by-products. Chlorine not only reacts with the microorganisms in the water, but also with any type of organic material, thus forming problem by-products like Trihalomethanes and chloramines.
The primary UV disinfection process destroys all bacteria passing through the water treatment plant. In particular, and unlike ozone systems, this protects bathers against bacteria in the water filter media re-entering the pool.
Ultraviolet Water Purification Versus Other Systems
UV destroys these pollutants releasing free chlorine back to pool.
UV acts instantly. Only low level chlorine residuals are necessary.
UV cuts costs by releasing the combined chlorine.
Chlorine produces toxic by-products, which build up in water and atmosphere.
Chlorine is a slow acting disinfectant, unless concentrations are high.
Excessive chlorine is needed to overcome high organic loadings.
UV plant is simple, and lower in capital cost. It performs the same oxidation & disinfection tasks at a fraction of ozone’s running cost.
Maintenance costs of UV equipment are lower, and do not increase significantly with age.
With UV plant simpler filter media can be used, saving carbon and chlorine costs.
It is impossible to overdose UV light.
UV treatment replaces ozone, and does not use or create any toxic chemicals whatsoever.
Ozone plant is relatively complex and costly and so is expensive to run, even when new.
Ozone plant becomes increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain.
To remove the toxic ozone before it enters the pool needs carbon filtration; this itself uses up free chlorine and increases the chemical costs.
Overdosing, and ozone entering the pool itself, is possible if ozone equipment malfunctions.
Ozone leak detection is difficult, giving rise to health & safety concerns (ozone is VERY toxic).
Ultraviolet Vs Combined Ozone / UV System
Full flow treatment treats all the pool water flow, at every pass.
No restriction to pool water flow.
These hybrid units only treat a small portion of the pool flow, not recommended by the Pool Water Treatment Guide.
Higher pump pressures required, possibly requiring an extra boost pump.
Additionally, the combination of chlorine, chloramines and ozone in the indoor air can be very corrosive to equipment and buildings. UV water treatment replaces ozone and controls chloramines levels, so building maintenance expenditure is reduced.
With these advantages there are no reasons for swimmers and staff to endure an unpleasant pool environment. UV water purification systems are successfully installed and are showing chlorine reduction rates of up to 90%, at the same time controlling free chlorine levels in water to less than 1.0 ppm.
Water quality and atmospheric conditions are considerably improved, operating costs are cut and pool attendance and revenue is increased.
UV water purification can reduce, and in some cases replace, chlorine as primary drinking water disinfectant. Water sterilized with UV meets microbiological requirements according to drinking water regulations. UV water purification applications range from municipal to domestic water supplies and Vending machines water. UV is also used for preventing bacterial growth in water collection systems applicable in domestic rainwater collection systems.
Process water for medical, pharmaceutical industries and electronics and semiconductors - process water disinfection and TOC (Total Organic Carbon) reduction is a quality control measure for ultrapure water applications in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and electronics industries and hospitals requiring exacting pure water standards for clinical applications and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
UV water purification systems are also used for sterilizing water in air-conditioning systems and preventing infection due to microorganisms in air humidifying systems. UV is used for control of Legionella with applications in hospitals, office buildings and large residential buildings.
5.Fish Farming and Aquaculture:
Aquariums, Zoos, Aquaculture and Fish farms, Ornamental Ponds and Koi Ponds to control algae - Fish Farming/Aquaculture industry, to protect fish larvae from disease in hatcheries, to disinfect incoming water to the site and effluent from the farms.
Ultraviolet equipment provides an economical means of water disinfection for beverage and bottled water manufacturing facilities.
UV is installed for disinfecting biologically treated wastewater in final effluent channels before discharge to the environment. The UV treatment of wastewater for re-use ensures that treated water meets the USEPA, EU or other wastewater disinfection standards.
Of all the markets for ultraviolet processes, municipal wastewater disinfection is the largest and fastest growing segment. In order to protect public health and the environment it is imperative to disinfect sewage effluent after traditional biological purification. Wastewater is treated at central treatment plants and discharged into rivers, lakes, streams or oceans at one or only a few discharge points. The result is a disproportionate burden on the receiving waters flora and fauna, especially fish and shellfish beds. Undisinfected effluent can result in reduced, eliminated or contaminated fauna populations. It can also endanger human health through direct contact activities such as swimming or water sports and indirectly through the disruption of the ecosystem.
Previously, chlorine disinfection was the preferred method for protecting the public health. Unfortunately, this does not protect the ecosystem due to the harmful addition of chlorine to the environment and the generation of byproducts as the chlorine reacts with wastewater constituents. UV, on the other hand, inactivates potentially harmful microorganisms without adding any chemicals to the wastewater (and therefore the environment). Driving the growth of this market is the addition of UV to previously undisinfected sewage effluents as well as the conversion of chlorine disinfection facilities to the safer and environmentally friendly UV alternative.
UV water purification advantages:
- More pleasant bathing in a very low chemical environment
- Dramatically reduced chemical dosing (50% or more) and chemical costs
- Possibility of zero-chlorine bathing, using peroxide disinfectants
- Safety-net protection against loss of chemical dosing - real life tests with no dosing for a month proved the pool water still stayed fresh
- Instantaneous water disinfection at every pass
- Very low power consumption
- Economical swimming pool treatment – low purchase and running costs
Surface sterilization geneally requires high intensity short-wave UV light. Mostly this means that TUV lamps are mounted close to the surface requiring to be kept free from infection or to be sterilized.
The success of the surface sterilization depends largely on the surface irregularity of the material to be sterilized, because UV light can only inactivate those micro-orgnisms that it hits with a sufficient dose. Thus sterilization can only be successful if the entire surface is exposed to UV light. Micro-Organisms sitting in "holes" in a surface are not likely be overcome by reflections from the hole walls, as can be deduced from the reflectants.
In practice, solid surfaces, granular material & packaging are sterilized by means of intensive, direct irradation. Additionally, sterilized material can be kept largely germ free throughout its further processing by irradating air along its path.
