Planar UV light source for the disinfection of water

Increasing population density promotes the spread of pathogens. Disinfection with UV light has established itself as a reliable and environmentally friendly process. However, the light sources currently available are tubular mercury vapour lamps and therefore emit linear radiation in a very limited wavelength range. However, different wavelengths are required for the damage of many microorganisms.

In cooperation with a European industrial partner, we have developed a novel high-power UV light source in which the UV light is emitted from a plasma that is excited by microwaves.

This offers the following advantages:

• Reliable and economical disinfection of high volume flows
  
• Reduced fouling and reduced cleaning effort due to homogeneous light output over the entire surface
  
• No wearing electrodes
  
• Easy maintenance, as the components are outside the wetted part of the apparatus
  
• Free constructive design of the shape of the light body