News and Information

Return to list

How to Choose a Flow-Through Ultraviolet Sterilizer?

2022-08-08

How to Choose a Flow-Through Ultraviolet Sterilizer?

　　Every customer when making a purchase Flow-through ultraviolet sterilizer Previously, one would always face the challenge of selecting the right model of flow-through UV sterilizer. Often, the choice of a flow-through UV sterilizer model isn't determined by any single factor alone; rather, it usually involves a comprehensive consideration of multiple factors.

　　How to Choose a Flow-Through UV Disinfection Unit? When selecting a flow-through UV disinfection unit for disinfection tasks, several key parameters need to be considered: 1. Water quality; 2. Water flow rate; 3. Pathogens that need to be inactivated; 4. Other factors.

　　1. Water quality

　　When selecting an appropriate flow-through UV sterilizer or determining whether UV disinfection is entirely feasible or suitable, the properties and quality of the water to be disinfected are important factors that must be taken into account.

　　Among all water quality parameters, ultraviolet transmittance (UVT) is an important one. This is because the UVT of water determines the extent to which short-wave ultraviolet light can penetrate the water, and pathogens in the water must be exposed to sufficient levels of short-wave ultraviolet light to be completely inactivated.

　　Among all water quality parameters, in addition to ultraviolet transmittance (UVT), total suspended solids (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS)/salinity are also very important.

　　Solid particles suspended in water act as a “shield” for pathogens, preventing short-wave ultraviolet light from reaching them. TDS/salinity is also an important parameter, because if the TDS/salinity level is very high, careful consideration must be given to selecting appropriate construction materials for the UV system to avoid the risk of corrosion.

　　2. Water flow rate

　　When determining the effectiveness of short-wave ultraviolet (UV-C) in inactivating specific pathogens, the duration of contact is a critical factor. Contact time refers to the period during which the pathogen is exposed to short-wave UV-C radiation at a specific intensity. The longer the contact time, the more short-wave UV-C radiation penetrates the pathogen’s cells, making the inactivation process more efficient. In flow-through UV sterilizers, the slower the water flow rate, the longer the UV exposure time—and vice versa. Therefore, it is important to consider both the maximum and minimum water flow rates. This is because many flow-through UV sterilizers can adjust the lamp’s power output based on changes in water flow rate; when the water flow falls below the peak flow rate, energy can be saved.

　　3. Pathogens that require inactivation

　　Different pathogens exhibit varying degrees of resistance to ultraviolet radiation; some pathogens are more susceptible to UV exposure than others. Therefore, different doses of short-wave ultraviolet radiation are required to inactivate these various pathogens.

　　To correctly select and manufacture an overflow-type ultraviolet disinfection unit tailored to actual conditions, it is first necessary to determine which pathogens need to be inactivated.

　　Up to now, the short-wave ultraviolet energy output for inactivating pathogens has been referred to as “ultraviolet exposure.” In fact, the correct term for this exposure is “ultraviolet dose,” and an even more precise term would be “ultraviolet actinic dose.”

　　Of course, there are also various other factors that influence the selection of a flow-through UV sterilizer—these include environmental factors related to the equipment’s use (such as temperature and humidity) and other special requirements from the user (such as the system installation method, etc.).


Previous:

Flow-through UV sterilizers are a great choice for household water purification.

Next:

How often should the quartz sleeve of a flow-through UV sterilizer be cleaned?