UVC - Disinfection

An analysis of the disinfection level of UVC between the wavelengths of 200 and 300 nm (yellow line) shows the highest efficiency between 240-280 nm with a maximum at 260 nm. If you compare the absorption spectrum of the genetic material (DNA, blue line), you see an almost identical course. The more UVC is absorbed by the DNA, the more it is destroyed - the disinfection level increases. UVC disinfection tubes give off most of their radiation precisely at 253.7 nm (purple bar), the maximum amount of DNA destruction. About 30% of the electrical energy is delivered at low-pressure radiators at this wavelength, that is why this technique is so efficient. There are hardly any ancillary spectra that would be critical to material compatibility.

The UV radiation from the sun passes through the earth’s atmosphere depending on the wavelength. The longer-wave UVA radiation reaches us for the most part and is responsible for the tanning of the skin. UVB radiation partly reaches the ground and penetrates relatively deeply into our skin and eyes. UVC radiation, on the other hand, is filtered out by the ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere. This high-energy radiation would otherwise cause burns on our skin and eyes. Since the penetration depth in human skin only ranges to its outermost layer, the skin cancer risk is considered very low, unlike UVB.

The skin and eyes must be absolutely protected from artificial UVC sources. Clothing covering the body, gloves, and goggles serve that purpose. In practice, you avoid the effect of UVC on humans or animals with protective devices such as plates, glass, and electrical safety devices. The professional installation of UVC in production areas is part of our consultation as well as a free measurement with measuring log for larger installations. Our UVC LOG meter enables you to do your own workplace inspections with a sensitivity of 0.01 µW/cm².

UVC emitters generally consist of quartz glass. Thus glass is brought into the production area, contrary to the general tendency. The positioning of UVC emitters above packing materials requires safety from mechanical influences and glass breakage. All UVCemitters from UVpro can, therefore, be provided with Teflon splinter protection (Fig: lower tube). The Teflon protection reduces the UVC output by approximately 10%.

Monitoring of the tube function is another safety feature. Once a UVC-tube is damaged and fails, a warning can be issued by the CU-1 modules or UVCline function monitoring.IFS and HACCP standards are met with splinter protection, enclosure in stainless steel housing against mechanical effects, and electrical monitoring.

It is actually quite simple and yet highly complex!

You need tubes for each UVC application and ballasts to operate them. All UVpro tubes are made of synthetic quartz glass, treated in order to suppress the formation of ozone (ozone-free) or made deliberately as ozone-forming emitters for oxidative treatment. Tubes for different temperature ranges can be manufactured with parameters such as gas pressure, spiral type, and shape. A thermocouple sheath optimises the operation even at low temperatures in the air stream or water. The matching electronic ballast ensures fast startups, stable operation, and long tube life. By adjusting the electronic ballast, additional parameters can be set via the operating current. We are happy to explain to you what technology is most useful for which application. Thus there are optimised solutions for your specific application, always following the aim to achieve long stable tube function at maximum performance with the lowest possible energy consumption.

UVC disinfection chambers offer the possibility to effectively reduce the bacterial content of fresh air or circulating air in ventilation and air conditioning systems. Temperatures, volume, and air velocity must be taken into account. The uniform positioning of the tubes and the reflectors on the channel walls ensures homogeneous irradiation of passing air, without affecting the channel characteristics. Unlike filters, UVC systems generate no air resistance and are therefore very useful in terms of energy. The design of our projects is based on the channel size, temperature, humidity, volume flow rates, and the germ species. That is how the optimum UVC equipment is calculated.

The required UVC performance is determined, the positioning of the tubes in the channel is simulated, and the disinfection rate is calculated. You will receive documented forecasts and a matching detailed offer for the recommended UVpromodules and tubes.