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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Eco-UV (Low carbon footprint and eco-innovative UV water disinfection)

Teaser

The central objective for Eco-UV is the demonstration and characterisation of an innovative UV lamp and driving electronics technology for chemical-free water treatment and disinfection. The project is divided into six work packages which cover: • Development of the new lamp...

Summary

The central objective for Eco-UV is the demonstration and characterisation of an innovative UV lamp and driving electronics technology for chemical-free water treatment and disinfection. The project is divided into six work packages which cover:
• Development of the new lamp technology;
• Integration of lamp technology into water treatment systems for customer applications;
• Testing and validation of water treatment systems against reviewed UV validation methods optimised for the target applications;
• Environmental and economic impact assessment of the new technology;
• Dissemination of the results from the project;
• Management of the project consortium.
The project has achieved the demonstration of three novel ultraviolet lamp technologies, two of which are mercury-free, that offer the possibility of replacing conventional mercury vapour discharge lamps in ultraviolet water treatment systems. The demonstrators have allowed the LP lamp to be used in a system validation against industry standards. Two of the lamps have also been subjected to a life cycle cost and environmental effects analysis, and both these lamp and ballast systems have been filed as patents in the UK.

Work performed

Lamp and Ballast Development:
Lamp development work evolved into two distinct streams, delivering a high efficiency inductive low pressure lamp; an inductively driven medium pressure, mercury free lamp; and an electrode, mercury free, medium pressure lamp suitable for retrofitting into existing systems.
Highly efficient electronic ballasts adjusted to the breakthrough UV lamps have been developed and tested for powering both the lamp development workstreams. Matching networks for each lamp type have been developed and tested.
Procedures for the manufacturing of highly efficient UV lamps have been developed and used to produce lamps for testing.
Limited life testing of prototype lamps and ballasts has occurred with further testing scheduled.
Series production planning and implementation of adjusted electronic ballasts initial plans have been drafted.

Application product demonstrators:
A steering committee was formed to define the requirements of three target market applications and specify performance requirements for application demonstrators
The new lamps and systems were comprehensively modelled using CFD and systems were designed, built and tested.

Reactor test and evaluation:
New facilities for detailed dynamic and static characterisation of lamps were built and lamp scanning facilities improved; and were used for the characterisation of Eco-UV lamps.
Performance validation of conventional system testing to meet both DVGW and USEPA test standards (a first for a European test centre). Methodology for technical and biodosimetric testing which combines the requirements of the DVGW and USEPA standards were created, and used during the bioassay of Eco-UV units.
Medium pressure collimated beam apparatus constructed and characterised
Small reactor test rig constructed to increase testing capacity

Environmental and economic impact assessment:
LCA site location selected (Stockholm) and preparations for receiving and testing system commenced.
Safety and operation of new technology lamps report issued on strategy for developing safe handling and operation of new systems as they are developed
Environmental assessment for conventional vs. new high-efficiency lamp systems defined and delivered. Life-cycle assessment based on identified system boundaries, functional unit, impact categories and manufacturing processes defined and delivered.

Dissemination:
Project website for communication and dissemination activities completed and launched (www.eco-uvinnovation.eu), featuring articles and information to generate interest in the project
Conference and Dissemination schedules for dissemination of Project outcomes purposes defined, including details of a public engagement programme. General articles on UV water treatment published on project website and where applicable published in Industry publications.
Early stage market exploitation planning, examining routes to exploitation, identifying key market geographies, emergent technologies and competitor activities reviewed.

Consortium management:
The Consortium behind Eco-UV has established and ratified a Consortia Agreement plus a suite of project Governance documentation which is then delivered against and monitored by the Partners in quarterly review meetings. The project is managed on behalf of the Consortia by a qualified Project Manager.

Final results

The underlying principle of UV-C lamp design has not changed much in over 50 years. However, the current production of these lamps is unsustainable longer term and new generation products are required. The market looks to LEDs for innovation because few people in the industry believe that anything else is possible, let alone effective. LEDs, although exciting, have ~1% efficiency at milliwatts energy input. Industrial applications are not viable from LEDs for many years to come. For this reason, a mercury-free medium pressure lamp is the UV holy grail – everyone seeks it, many have tried and failed. Eco-UV has demonstrated two technologies that offer this possibility, one of which is ready for commercialisation and is retrofittable to existing UV chambers.

In addition, the low pressure MS1 lamp and driver is an excellent stand-alone output of the project in its own right. In the last ten years, electronically-driven high-power amalgam lamps have been developed which have reached a feasible maximum power limit load of 800 W. At almost twice the power density, half the length and 20-25% higher efficiency than other LP lamps in the same marketspace, the MS1 lamp will be an attractive solution to buyers in many markets. It also has the potential to displace medium pressure lamps in certain markets, such as open channel water and waste water applications, offering with it a jump in efficiency from 13-15% up to >42% – a 70% energy saving.

Other benefits such as improvements to lamp characterisation methods, the beginnings of a harmonised test standard for system validation, and the establishment of a benchmark for the life cycle analysis of UV water treatment systems, will ensure that the positive impact of Eco-UV continues to be felt across the industry far into the future.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.eco-uvinnovation.eu.