UVL manufactures industrial ultraviolet equipment, including amalgam and mercury UV lamps, electronic ballasts, components, and complete systems for air disinfection in ventilation and recirculation lines.
The Facility
A food-processing company in Ramenskoye contacted us to select a UV disinfection system for installation downstream of an activated-carbon filter.
After filtration and UV treatment, the air would be returned to the production area. The customer therefore needed more than a standard UV module: the equipment had to operate safely in a recirculation system, use ozone-free lamps, fit the existing ductwork, and remain convenient to maintain.
Initial Parameters
Air source: downstream of an activated-carbon filter
Initial airflow: 4,800 m³/h
Revised design airflow: 6,000 m³/h
Air temperature: approximately 20°C
Existing duct cross-section: 1,000 × 400 mm
Final UV-section dimensions: 930 × 900 mm
Application: air recirculation in a food-production facility
Engineering Challenges
The project could not be solved by selecting lamps based only on their electrical power.
The airflow was eventually increased from 4,800 to 6,000 m³/h. This affected air velocity, exposure time and the UV dose delivered as the air passed through the chamber. The calculation and lamp configuration therefore had to be updated for the maximum design airflow.
Because the treated air would return to an occupied production area, the customer also requested detailed clarification on:
the suitability of UV treatment for air recirculation;
ozone generation during operation;
personnel safety;
lamp behaviour in a changing airflow;
actions required if a lamp was damaged;
maintenance and replacement procedures.
These requirements had to be included in the technical documentation rather than discussed only during calls and correspondence.
The chamber material, internal reflectivity, lamp arrangement and maintenance access were also reviewed. In an industrial ventilation system, these details directly affect irradiation uniformity, servicing and installation.
The selected solution was an assembled UVL-VENT 9-310 bactericidal section designed for installation in ventilation and air-recirculation systems.
The section was equipped with nine ozone-free amalgam UVL 19310-144 FLOW lamps. This lamp type is designed specifically for operation in an active airflow.
Compared with conventional mercury lamps, amalgam sources provide higher UV output and are well suited to industrial systems requiring substantial bactericidal capacity within a limited installation space.
Final Configuration
Model: UVL-VENT 9-310
Number of lamps: 9
Lamp model: UVL 19310-144 FLOW
Lamp type: ozone-free low-pressure amalgam
Design airflow: up to 6,000 m³/h
Operating air temperature: approximately 20°C
Section dimensions: 930 × 900 mm
Installation point: downstream of the activated-carbon filter
Equipment: service hatch, control cabinet, operating indication and hour meter
The number of lamps was increased to provide additional installed UV capacity. The enclosure dimensions were also adjusted to fit the ventilation line and distribute the sources across the working cross-section.
Ozone and Recirculation Safety
The selected lamps are manufactured from ozone-free quartz and are designed to emit germicidal UV radiation without the wavelength responsible for ozone formation. This makes them suitable for systems in which treated air is returned to occupied areas.
At the same time, UV treatment should be regarded as one stage of the overall air-handling process. It is intended to reduce microbiological contamination but does not remove dust, odours, volatile compounds or other chemical pollutants.
The activated-carbon filter and other ventilation components therefore retain their own functions. The suitability of air recirculation must be assessed for the contaminants generated by the specific production process.
Personnel are not exposed to UV radiation during normal operation because the lamps are enclosed inside the ventilation section. Service access should be interlocked so that the lamps cannot operate while the inspection hatch is open.
Integration into the Ventilation Line
The original duct measured 1,000 × 400 mm, while the final UV section measured 930 × 900 mm. Transition sections were therefore required to connect the equipment without rebuilding the entire filtration line.
The installation layout also had to provide:
adequate clearance for opening the service hatch;
access for lamp inspection and replacement;
external installation of the control cabinet;
convenient routing of power cables;
protection against accidental UVC exposure;
sufficient space for routine maintenance.
This allowed the customer to retain the existing operating principle of the air-filtration system without introducing an additional treatment stage or completely rearranging the ventilation line.
Production and Delivery
After the technical parameters, contract and specification had been approved, the project entered production following payment.
The order was released for manufacturing on January 24. The contract specified a production period of up to 30 working days, while the possibility of earlier completion was discussed separately because the customer had its own commissioning schedule.
Once manufacturing and final inspection were complete, the assembled UV section was prepared for shipment through a transport company.
Operational Considerations
The performance of an in-duct UV system depends on more than the number of installed lamps. Important factors include:
actual airflow;
air velocity through the chamber;
lamp output and operating time;
chamber geometry;
internal surface reflectivity;
lamp ageing and contamination;
maintenance intervals.
The system should therefore be commissioned at the actual operating airflow. All lamps, indicators, safety interlocks and control functions should be checked before the ventilation line is returned to service.
Although the lamps are ozone-free, they contain mercury in amalgam form. The operating documentation must consequently include procedures for handling, replacement, accidental breakage and disposal.
Benefits for the Customer
The completed system provided several practical advantages:
integration into the existing filtration and recirculation line;
selection based on the revised airflow of 6,000 m³/h;
nine ozone-free lamps designed for active airflow;
additional installed UV capacity;
no intentional ozone generation during normal operation;
convenient maintenance through a service hatch;
a separate control cabinet with indication and an hour meter;
documented operating and safety requirements.
Conclusion
This project required more than adding UV lamps to an existing duct. The final solution had to combine airflow calculations, chamber geometry, lamp arrangement, ozone-free operation, maintenance access and electrical control in one assembled unit.
The UVL-VENT 9-310 section allowed the food-production facility to introduce a microbiological air-treatment stage after its activated-carbon filter while retaining the existing logic of the ventilation and recirculation system.
For industrial air recirculation, this system-level approach is essential: UV equipment must be selected for the actual airflow and integrated with filtration, controls, maintenance procedures and workplace-safety measures.
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