Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness

Compiled by:
Ir. Tan Yoke Lee
MIEM, MIFIREE
yokeleetan71@gmail.com

Ref: Using UV-C Light to Disinfect Room Air and Surfaces by Laura Cowley and Pieter de Bod
Comments in red are illustrations by compiler.
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness

Ultraviolet light (UV) technology is a non-chemical approach to disinfection and has been used and researched for
decades.

UV radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation, present in the range between visible light and X-rays and is
divided into UV-A (315 nm to 400 nm), UV-B (280 nm to 315 nm), and UV-C (200 nm to 280 nm). UV radiation is
undetectable by the human eye but when it falls on certain materials it may cause them to fluoresce. UV radiation is
artificially created using UV lamps. Only UV-C is known to be effective in inactivating viruses and disinfecting surfaces,
water, and air by killing bacteria, mold spores and fungi. When UV-C is used for disinfection, it is called Germicidal UV
(GUV).

On a microscopic level, UV-C photons

photochemically interact with the RNA and
DNA molecules in a virus or bacterium, causing
mutations that prevent replication. This leads to
the death of almost all bacteria and renders
these microbes non-infectious.
Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness
IN-AHU UVGI (COIL, FILTER AND DRAIN IRRADIATION)

The principal design objectives for installing UV-C lighting systems in air handling units (AHUs) are to prevent the
growth of bacteria and mold on system components like coils, filters and drain pans.

A large dose of UV-C light can be delivered with a low UV-C irradiance because of the constant exposure time to the
mentioned AHU components. Coil surface irradiance levels in the order of 1 μW/cm2 are effective, though 50 to 100
μW/cm2 is more typical.

Cooling coil treatment systems have the two-fold objectives of maintaining coil performance and minimizing energy
use by reducing air-side flow resistance and increasing the overall heat transfer coefficient relative to a
conventionally maintained, mechanically and chemically cleaned coil.

A field study in a hot environment, experienced a 22% reduction in pressure drop and 15% increase in air-side heat
transfer coefficient after less than two months of surface treatment system operation.
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness
IN-AHU UVGI (COIL, FILTER AND DRAIN IRRADIATION)

In most cases, the lowest maximum velocity in a system occurs inside an AHU, increasing the effectiveness of in-AHU
UV-C lights due to increased exposure time. In-AHU UV-C lights also treat air from many spaces and simultaneously
irradiate cooling coils and condensate pans, increasing overall benefits of the system.

At an air velocity of 500 fpm (2.54 m/s), a typical irradiance zone of 7.8 ft (2.4 m) in length achieves a 1 second
exposure. Generally, in-duct or in-AHU systems should be installed in a location that can provide a minimum of 0.25
second of UV exposure; otherwise, system cost and power consumption will be excessive.
Thus it is important, that UV-C lamp is installed at location of low velocity. Typical AHU limits the air velocity at coil to
500fpm. To get minimum 0.25sec exposure, one would need length of about 2.4m /4= 0.6m. Wrong installation will
result in reduced effectiveness of the UV-C installation.

Proposed ASHRAE Standard 185.1 provides a testing method for UV-C lights in-AHU and in-duct applications to
inactivate airborne microorganisms.
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness
IN-AHU UVGI (COIL, FILTER AND DRAIN IRRADIATION)
Advantages
•Suitable for all climates;
•Enclosed system (exposure to humans reduced);
•Treats recirculated air from a centralized location;
•Prevents mold and biofilm on cooling coils.

Disadvantages
•Potential occupational exposure when safety procedures are
not followed;
•Expensive to install;
•Possible material degradation (i.e. filters).

Actual location of installation would be dependent on the purpose of the installation of the lamp whether it is for
protection of filter, protection of coil or in duct air disinfection.
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness Against Covid-19 Virus

Covid 19 Virus Facts

• Coronaviruses are large, roughly spherical particles with unique surface projections. Their size is highly variable
with average diameters of 80 to 120 nm. (0.080 to 0.12microns) Extreme sizes are known from 50 to 200 nm in
diameter. (0.050 to 0.2 microns)

• They are carried in aerosols dispersed in the air, size varies from 0.35 to 9 microns. When aerosol size is 5-
10microns, they are respiratory droplets. When they are smaller than 5 microns, they are considered nuclei
droplets.

• It is important to note that aerosol can dry up eventually leaving the virus in the air. Once the aerosols dry up, the
remaining virus would be in size of 0.05 to 0.2 microns

Bacteria Facts
• They are composed of a single cell and are called as unicellular. Bacteria's size is approximately 0.5 to
3µm (1micron = 0.001 mm) and can just be seen with an optical microscope.
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness Against Covid-19 Virus

Covid 19 Virus Facts

• Droplet transmission occurs when a person is in in close contact (within 1 m) with someone who has respiratory
symptoms (e.g., coughing or sneezing) and is therefore at risk of having his/her mucosae (mouth and nose) or
conjunctiva (eyes) exposed to potentially infective respiratory droplets. Transmission may also occur through
fomites in the immediate environment around the infected person.8 Therefore, transmission of the COVID-19 virus
can occur by direct contact with infected people and indirect contact with surfaces in the immediate environment
or with objects used on the infected person (e.g., stethoscope or thermometer).

• Airborne transmission is different from droplet transmission as it refers to the presence of microbes within droplet
nuclei, which are generally considered to be particles <5μm in diameter, can remain in the air for long periods of
time and be transmitted to others over distances greater than 1 m.

• In the context of COVID-19, airborne transmission may be possible in specific circumstances and settings in which
procedures or support treatments that generate aerosols are performed; i.e., endotracheal intubation,
bronchoscopy, open suctioning, administration of nebulized treatment, manual ventilation before intubation,
turning the patient to the prone position, disconnecting the patient from the ventilator, non-invasive positive-
pressure ventilation, tracheostomy, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness Against Covid-19 Virus

To use filtration system alone, we need to filter out most particles of size 0.35 to 9 microns which is the extreme
size range of the aerosol particle carrying the virus. Using UV-C lamp by itself will not protect against air borne
virus and bacterias as they are shielded by larger particles in the air.

However, the lamp can be used

to disinfect the filters such that
safe removal of filters can be
carried out.

As can be seen from the graph above, for MERV16 filter, the weakest filtration efficiency is at 0.2 microns with
efficiency about 75%. After 2 passes, % of air which may contain the virus is then 25% x 25%= 6.25%
For Hepa 99.97% which is equivalent to MERV17, at 0.2 microns, the efficiency is about 99.93%. After 2 passes, % of
air which may contain the virus is then 0.07% x 0.07% = 0.000049%
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness Against Covid-19 Virus

Centre of Disease Control and

Prevention highlighted the risk of being
infected if exposed to virus deposited in
aerosols for more than 15mins.

This means for

MERV 16- say if we want to have 2
passes within 15mins, that is 8 passes in
one hour ie 8 air changes per hour will
result in remaining 6.25% of particles of
size 0.2 micron.

MERV17 or Hepa 99.97%- if we just go

for one pass within 15mins, that is 4 air
changes per hour will result in
remaining 0.07% of particles of size 0.2 Thus for most buildings if installed with hepa, the threat of covid could
micron. be contained since air changes >=4.
However, it will also depend on effectiveness of the air recirculation
Thus, MERV 16 alone air filter may be whether there is any stagnant air that cannot be returned to the AHU.
insufficient.
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness

IN-DUCT AND IN-AHU UVGI (AIRSTREAM DISINFECTION)

The principal design objective for UV-C in duct or AHU is to distribute UV energy uniformly in all directions throughout
the length of the duct or AHU, and to deliver the appropriate UV-C dose to air moving through the irradiated zone with
minimum system power.

It should be noted that it is not very effective to prevent transmission of an airborne virus from an infected person to a
non-infected person in the same room.
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness

IN-DUCT AND IN-AHU UVGI (AIRSTREAM DISINFECTION)

To determine the dose value requires analysis of the entire system.

Typically, single-pass, ducted systems are used. In-duct air disinfection systems should be designed to have the
desired single-pass inactivation level under worst-case conditions of air temperature (minimum worst-case conditions
of air temperature (minimum and maximum temperatures in duct) and velocity (maximum allowable duct velocity) in
the irradiated zone.

The worst-case performance to reflect the combined effect of the:

(a) number/power of UV-C fixtures;
(b) air residence time (which is inversely proportional to air velocity);
(c) lamp/ballast characteristics (including the effect that the wind chill factor and lamp depreciation has on the
lamp).

Lamps may be located anywhere in an air duct system provided their position allows for good maintenance access.
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness

GERMICIDAL IRRADIATION DOSE

For any UVGI application, the ability of UV-C to inactivate micro-organisms is a function of the UV dose. A key
characteristic of germicidal lamps of any sort is the UV-C radiation dose.

The required dose depends on both the pathogen species to

be eliminated and the desired degree of reduction. For
example, eliminating 90% of Escherichia coli O157:H7, the
bacterium that can cause sometimes fatal food poisoning,
requires 1.5 mJ/cm2; doubling the dose eliminates 99%,
tripling eliminates 99.9%, and so forth. This is referred to as
log10 (“log-ten”), or more commonly as “log,” reduction
(Table 2).

The International Ultraviolet Association published a compilation of dose requirements for many different
pathogens, but viruses on average require a dose of about 20 mJ/cm2 for 90% reduction when directly exposed
to the UV-C radiation (IUVA undated).
 Filtration System and UVC Lighting Effectiveness
GERMICIDAL IRRADIATION DOSE

The basics of determining the radiant energy levels to a surface are as follows:
1.Length of exposure -- Increased source intensity can decrease necessary exposure time;

2.Intensity of source -- UV-C lamp and equipment manufacturers normally provide the intensity of a given source
(lamp or fixture) at a given distance. A distance correction factor may be needed when calculating a desired dose or
intensity for a surface. UV-C energy follows the same inverse square law for intensity as visible light and other
electromagnetic sources: the amount of energy at the surface is measured in proportion to the square of the distance
from the energy’s source (the UV-C lamp), assuming no loss through scattering or absorption. Temperature and
airflow corrections may also be necessary, depending on the location of the application. The intensity of a source is
given in power per unit area (i.e., μW/cm2);

3.Distance from source to surface -- In a point irradiation application, the distance is relatively easy to calculate.
Calculating time requirements and intensity levels for a three-dimensional object or space is more complex. The
varying distances from the source are the first challenge, because the object, itself, creates a shadowing effect, and
any shadows from the local environment must be taken into consideration (for example, the back surface of an object
that did not get direct light).