While UV technology has been in use since the early 1900's, it has fast become a widely accepted technology to disable hard to kill micro-organisms in water applications.
How UV Disinfection Works
The technology uses UV light to target and disable disease causing microorganisms (pathogens). Over 100 years ago, scientists discovered that if you exposed pathogens to UV light, their reproduction was limited. The UV light source that they used, resided in the UVC range of the light spectrum. Specifically, they discovered that light in the 254 nanometer (nm) range was the most effective wavelength.
When water pathogens are exposed to UV light, their cells become damaged and this damage inhibits reproduction. The UV light, produced by a special UV lamp, damages the cell's DNA and RNA and once damaged, they are unable to replicate. This physical process renders them harmless. The amount of damage is a result of the intensity of the UVC output multiplied by the time the water is exposed to the light. The applied dosage is commonly referred to as microwatts and is often expressed as mJ/cm2.
Ultraviolet Exposure
About 95% of the ultraviolet radiation from the UV lamp is emitted at the 253.7 nanometer wavelength, which is the region in the spectrum nearest the peak of germicidal effectiveness. The power of a UV lamp is usually described in two ways: that of intensity and that of output.
1. Intensity is the density, or strength, of the ultraviolet light rays at a point a specific distance from the lamp. Intensity is usually expressed in microwatts per square centimeter, which is a product of energy, time and area.
2. Output is the volume, or total amount, of ultraviolet light rays being emitted by the lamp in all directions. Output is usually expressed in watts of 253.7 radiation.
High intensities of UV for a short period of time, or low intensities for a long period of time, are fundamentally equal in lethal action on micro-organisms.
UV Transmission Characteristics
Successful treatment of water and other transparent liquids with UV depends on a number of factors, such as clarity, absorption of ultraviolet, amount of suspended matter, flow rates, temperature and, of course, the type or kind of microbial contamination.
The transmission characteristics of UV on liquids is dependent on the depth of the liquid, as well as the absorption coefficient of the liquid. It is interesting to note that the ultraviolet intensity through liquids decreases with the distance from the lamp. In addition, the absorption coefficient further relates itself to the presence of minute traces of iron compounds and organic matter.
As a matter of interest, for average tap water the absorption coefficient varies between .12 and .07. For highly polished D1 or distilled water, the absorption coefficient is 0.008. Cloudy water can be 0.50 or less. Obviously, the transmission capability of the liquid to be purified must be known for proper sizing.
Most significant, waterborne micro-organisms are destroyed by dosages of less than 10,000 microwatt seconds/cm² (mw²/sec/cm²), however...
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The U.S. Public Health Service has published criteria stating that acceptability of an
ultraviolet disinfecting unit is contingent on imparting a minimum dosage of 16,000 mw/sec/cm².
OUR SYSTEMS DOUBLE THIS DOSAGE.
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When used as directed, Fuller UV Liquid Purifiers will provide a minimum dosage of 40,000 mw/sec/cm². The Fuller product line is manufactured in various sizes to accommodate different flow rates for a "single pass through" or a recirculation system, as in industrial storage tanks, hot tubs, spas and swimming pools.
In order for the ultraviolet rays to kill bacteria, they must directly strike the micro-organism, and each micro-organism must absorb a specific amount of energy to be destroyed. The dosage necessary to inactivate a micro-organism is a product of time and intensity. The destruction is accomplished quickly and effectively in all Full-Pure Liquid Purifiers.
| Benefits of UV |
Applications |
Options |
| Instant Disinfection |
Homes |
UV Monitoring |
| Low Operational Cost |
Commercial Establishments |
Quartz Cleaning |
| Environmentally Friendly |
Light Industrial |
Shut Off Valves |
| Chemical Free |
Vacation Homes |
Flow Control Devices |
UV is effective on many Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Algae and Protozoa,
and is effective on the following micro-organisms:
- Cryptosporidium
- Giardia
- Cholera
- Salmonella
- e-Coli
- Coliform Bacteria
- Fecal Coliform
Factors Involving Water Purification
Lamp wall temperature can have a serious effect on the output of 253.7 nm energy. For instance, a wall temperature of the lamp of about 56° F will reduce the relative percentage output to about 22%.Full-Pure design dictates the use of a high transmission clear fused quartz jacket so there is no direct contact between the lamp and the water.This allows the optimum temperature of 104° F to achieve 100% ultraviolet output.
Another important factor to be considered is the useful life of the lamp.The rated life of the UV lamp deteriorates slowly with use since the lamp glass loses its ability to transmit the UV energy.This is called solarization, and although the lamp will continue to light, this creates a false impression that the germicidal UV rays are working.
Full-Pure lamps have a useful life of 9000 hours, which is about one year of continuous operation. A scheduled periodic lamp replacement program is essential to ensure correct and safe operation. A UV monitor is available on most models to determine the UV output of the lamp.
Procedures for Sizing UV Liquid Purifiers
Systems can be better defined when the following points are presented:
- Power Supply
- Peak Flow Rate of the Liquid
- Absorption Coefficient of the Liquid to be Treated
- Physical Characteristics of the Liquid
- Ultraviolet Energy Level Required for Micro-Organism Destruction
- Where in the Process the System will Install
General Product Specification Include:
| Chamber Design |
304L Stainless Steel |
| Surface Treatment |
Electro-Polished |
| Mounting Design |
Brackets Included |
| Power Requirement |
120 Volt Plug In |
| Performance Alarm |
Lamp Out |
| Pressure Drop |
<2 psig (<.14 bar) |
| Manufactured |
USA |
The Chart below defines equipment in the range of 7- 50 US gallons.
| Model No. |
Flow Rate |
Connection Size |
| FUV-7 |
7 GPM |
3/4" |
| FUV-10 |
10 GPM |
3/4" |
| FUV-15 |
15 GPM |
3/4" |
| FUV-20 |
20 GPM |
1" |
| FUV-30 |
30 GPM |
1.5" |
| FUV-50 |
50 GPM |
2" |
above listed equipment available with manual quartz cleaning
The Chart below defines Commercial Equipment. For more specific flow rates, as well as other specific parameters regarding your application, please consult Fuller.
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Model Number
|
Flow Rate (Clean Water)
|
Flow Rate (Waste Water)
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Standard Connection
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| FUV-300-2 (2M-HO) |
50 GPM (90%)
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25 GPM (65%)
|
2" NPT
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| FUV-300-4 (4M-HO) |
100 GPM (90%)
|
50 GPM (65%)
|
2" NPT
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| FUV-300-6 (6M-HO) |
150 GPM (90%)
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75 GPM (65%)
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3" NPT
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| FUV-5000-4 (4L-HO) |
200 GPM (90%)
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100 GPM (65%)
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3" NPT
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| FUV-5000-6 (6L-HO) |
300 GPM (90%)
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150 GPM (65%)
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4" Flange
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Liquid Sugar UV Treatment System
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Warranty for Liquid Systems:
Chamber: 7 Years
UV Lamp: 1 Year
Electronics: 1 Year
Please Consult Fuller for a Quote or if you Require:
| Systems that are under 50 GPM |
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| Liquid Sugar Product Treatment |
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| Cool Lube Systems |
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| Rain Water Systems |
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