Disinfection performance of an ultraviolet lamp: a CFD investigation

Cuong Mai Bui; Nguyen Duy Minh Phan; Ngo Quoc Huy  Tran; Le Anh  Doan; Quang Truong  Vo; Duy Chung  Tran; Thi Thanh Vi  Nguyen; Duc Long  Nguyen; Van Sanh  Huynh; Tran Anh Ngoc  Ho

doi:10.14311/AP.2022.62.0418

Authors

Cuong Mai Bui The University of Danang - University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Viet Nam
Nguyen Duy Minh Phan The University of Danang - University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1107-7604
Ngo Quoc Huy Tran The University of Danang - University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Viet Nam
Le Anh Doan The University of Danang - University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Viet Nam
Quang Truong Vo The University of Danang - University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Viet Nam
Duy Chung Tran The University of Danang - University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Viet Nam
Thi Thanh Vi Nguyen The University of Danang - University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Viet Nam
Duc Long Nguyen The University of Danang - University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Viet Nam
Van Sanh Huynh The University of Danang - University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Viet Nam
Tran Anh Ngoc Ho The University of Danang - University of Technology and Education, 48 Cao Thang, Danang 550000, Viet Nam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14311/AP.2022.62.0418

Keywords:

UV-C, disinfection, discrete ordinates, Corona-SARS, CFD

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV)-based devices have shown their effectiveness on various germicidal purposes. To serve their design optimisation, the disinfection effectiveness of a vertically cylindrical UV lamp, whose wattage ranges from P = 30 − 100 W, is numerically investigated in this work. The UV radiation is solved by the Finite Volume Method together with the Discrete Ordinates model. Various results for the UV intensity and its bactericidal effects against several popular virus types, i.e., Corona-SARS, Herpes (type 2), and HIV, are reported and analysed in detail. Results show that the UV irradiance is greatly dependent on the lamp power. Additionally, it is indicated that the higher the lamp wattage employed, the larger the bactericidal rate is observed, resulting in the greater effectiveness of the UV disinfection process. Nevertheless, the wattage of P ≤ 100W is determined to be insufficient for an effective disinfection performance in a whole room; higher values of power must hence be considered in case intensive sterilization is required. Furthermore, the germicidal effect gets reduced with the viruses less sensitive to UV rays, e.g, the bactericidal rate against the HIV virus is only ∼8.98% at the surrounding walls.

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