FAQ

Low-Pressure (LP) UV:

• Emits a single wavelength (253.7 nm).
• Produces less UV light overall, requiring more lamps in the system for effective coverage.
• LP Lamps operate at lower temperatures and therefore each LP lamp is more energy-efficient than an MP lamp.
• Limited versatility in handling a variety of contaminants, as it does not damage microorganisms’ recovery mechanisms.

Medium-Pressure (MP) UV:

• Emits a broad UV spectrum (200-415 nm), covering a wider germicidal range.
• Damages both the DNA and repair mechanisms of microorganisms, achieving superior disinfection.
• Effective across a wide range of contaminants and complex organisms, including viruses and biofilms, which LP UV struggles to inactivate.
• Unlike LP lamps, MP lamps operate also at higher temperatures with higher UV intensity per lamp, requiring fewer lamps in the system for equivalent coverage.

Key Differences:

• Research indicates that MP UV is often superior for applications needing comprehensive inactivation of complex organisms, including viruses and biofilms, due to its broader spectrum and higher intensity.
• MP UV is generally preferred for complex applications, such as Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP), where wavelengths beyond 254 nm are required for optimal disinfection.

Total Internal Reflection (TIR) is Atlantium’s patented technology that enhances UV disinfection by uniformly distributing light throughout the inactivation zone, effectively concentrating UV energy for optimal microorganism inactivation. At the core of this system is its uniquely designed chamber, made of high-quality quartz surrounded by an air block instead of traditional stainless steel. This innovative chamber traps Medium Pressure UV light photons, recycling their energy as they repeatedly bounce through the quartz surface back into the chamber. By eliminating escape routes and damaging microorganisms’ DNA, RNA, and repair mechanisms, the system maximizes disinfection efficiency. Additionally, its unique design helps reduce both CAPEX and OPEX, making it a cost-effective solution.

TIR significantly boosts UV chamber performance and power efficiency (kW) compared to traditional systems, potentially reducing power consumption by 2-4 times, requiring fewer lamps, and maintaining consistent performance. Efficiency depends on parameters like UVT%, flow rate, and chamber geometry.

When combined with Medium-Pressure (MP) UV, TIR offers extraordinary efficacy at a lower operational cost than traditional MP or LP UV systems. This combination provides strong reliability and affordable costs, enabling effective applications such as biofilm control, which might otherwise rely on chemicals due to high costs associated with conventional UV systems.

Unlike quartz chamber surrounded by an air block and stainless steel, traditional polished stainless steel chambers do not reflect UV light. Instead, it absorbs UV energy, reducing system efficiency.

The HOD MP UV system effectively removes Free Available Chlorine (FAC) by targeting both forms present in water—hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite ion (OCl⁻), each with unique absorption characteristics. At pH levels below 7, the process will require more UV energy for breakdown. As pH rises, the process will require less UV energy for breakdown.

The broad spectrum of wavelengths emitted by HOD medium-pressure UV lamps enables efficient removal of FAC by breaking chemical bonds in both HOCl and OCl⁻, regardless of the water’s pH level.

The result is identical to the GAC and SBS which is Cl-, achieved in a more reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly method.