DUCTED UVGI AIR TREATMENT SYSTEMS

Function
Used for infection control in Medical, Commercial, Residential, and Industrial applications.

Models
Custom-made per application, to virtually any size (cfm) and configuration. All units are sized to create a high UV Dosage based on the air flow. Smaller units can be made as simple inserts installed into existing duct. Some larger units can be similarly designed to fit into air handlers if there is enough space available. Most systems come mounted in a galvanized steel enclosure.

Technology
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) : UVGI has been proven as a means of destroying airborne bacteria and disease, as airborne microorganisms have been shown to be destroyed when subjected to certain dosages of UV radiation. One important aspect of this is that viruses, which are very susceptible to UVGI, cannot be trapped by media filters because they are too small in size, so that one of the only ways of eliminating viruses is by UVGI. Please review the sheet showing dosage of UV-C necessary for complete destruction of various airborne pathogens.

Applications
Most systems are installed in or before air handling units (AHU), whether in commercial, industrial, or residential use, so that all of the air being sent throughout the system has been treated. Sometimes used in supply ducts to help keep air entering rooms free of bacteria and disease (clean rooms) or extend the life of the HEPA filters, and these systems can also be used in exhaust ducts to clean air as it leaves contaminated rooms (so it can be recirculated or exhausted outside). Typical customers include homes, commercial offices, government buildings, laboratories, hospitals, and manufacturing facilities.

Features/Benefits
Cleans air, not just filters/coils: Anyone can place a UV bulb in an air stream and claim that it will destroy bacteria and viruses. However, in order for them to truly work, what is important is the UV dosage that is created. (micro-watt seconds per cm2) UV dosage is a determined not only by the intensity of the UV lamps, but also by the residence (dwell) time that the bacteria is exposed to the light. Our units are therefore sized based on the air flow of the system and the intensity needed to create the desired UV dosage at that airflow, so that bacteria and viruses passing by the UV ducted system can be destroyed.

Most UV systems on the market today are just one or two lamps (of lower intensity) that you install either before filters or before the air conditioning coils. Their goal is to simply bathe the filter/coil in UV light, to prevent mold or bacteria from growing on them. While this may be of use in many applications, it is important to understand that the UV in these cases will only prevent bacteria growth on the area in direct contact with the light. So only the surface of the filter or beginning of the coil will remain clean, as the back side of the filter/coil will still be susceptible to bacteria growth. NQE can make inexpensive units to meet this goal upon request, but preventing growth on a portion of a filter/coil is of much less importance than having clean air to breathe. This is why our systems can be more expensive: our systems work to solve the problem (bacteria/virus contamination), not deal with the effects of the problem (dirty filters/coils).

Custom made
Can incorporate different technologies including high efficiency filtration, ozone, carbon, or other.

SIZING UV DUCTED SYSTEMS
Following is the minimum information needed to size UV Ducted units. All sizing must be done by NQE’s Engineering Staff, given that each unit is custom-made for the application:

1- Provide full information on the air handling system in the building: air flow, duct size, actual size of the Air Handling Unit (AHU), static pressure available, the amount of space in and around the AHU and/or where the unit is to be installed, etc..

2- Does the customer want to install one large system in one central area (like in the AHU), or smaller units throughout the building (in various supply ducts)?

3- Are any additional components/technologies desired? (i.e. carbon, ozone, HEPA or other filters, LED for the UV, timer, minihelic, etc..). A prefilter is typically included with the system.

4- Do we to supply a fan/blower? If HEPA filters or Carbon are desired and the customer does not have much external static pressure available, then we will need to supply a blower because the HEPA filter(s) and the carbon take up a lot of static pressure. In other words, it takes a lot of air force to travel through the HEPA and carbon, and the existing system’s blower may not be able to provide enough.

5- Provide a diagram of the layout of the HVAC system (assuming it is an existing system).