Design and Performance Validation of a High-Flow UVC LED Water Disinfection Module

Abstract: Water disinfection is critical for ensuring public health and water quality safety. Conventional approaches, including chlorination, ozonation, and mercury-vapor UV disinfection, are constrained by disinfection byproducts (DBPs), limited flow rates, low pressure tolerance, and mercury contamination, rendering them inadequate for high-flow, high-pressure applications. This study presents a UVC LED-based water disinfection module engineered for a rated flow rate of 48 L/min and a pressure rating of 1.0 MPa. The system utilizes an ozone-free deep UV light source emitting at 270–280 nm, integrated with computationally optimized hydraulic flow channels and a reinforced sealing architecture to ensure zero ozone generation and long-term operational reliability. Using Escherichia coli (E.coli) 8099 and E. coli ATCC 25922 as indicator microorganisms, performance evaluations under rated operating conditions demonstrated a ≥5-log (99.999%) inactivation efficiency, with effluent bacterial counts consistently falling below the detection limit. These results fully comply with national drinking water standards and WHO guidelines. During continuous 30-min operation, the module surface temperature stabilized below 45 °C, with no seal degradation or structural deformation observed. Effluent ozone concentration remained below 0.01 mg/L, satisfying stringent drinking water safety thresholds. The mercury-free, chemical-residue-free design, coupled with instant start-stop capability, ensures full compliance with the environmental mandates of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The module is highly suitable for centralized water supply networks, industrial circulating water systems, and pressurized water treatment applications. These findings demonstrate that the high-flow, high-pressure UVC LED disinfection module delivers exceptional microbial inactivation performance and robust engineering applicability, providing a novel, sustainable solution for advanced water treatment.

Keywords: UVC LED; high-flow; water disinfection; 5-log inactivation; high-pressure rating; ozone-free