Emperor Aquatics, Inc.

  2229 Sanatoga Station Road
  Pottstown, PA 19464
  Phone: 610-970-0440
  Fax: 610-970-0443
  Your One Source for Aquatic Life Support Equipment
          

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Emperor Aquatics Info
The SMART UV Difference is…
Science & Engineering!
 The SMART UV Detective

A Message from:
    the SMART UV Detective
Not all UV’s perform equally! The design and operation of the equipment has a tremendous influence on its level of performance.

Welcome to the SMART UV Detective’s UV Comparison page of the Emperor Aquatics, Inc. website. Our comparison highlights the strong variances of performance recommendations by competing UV brands. This lack of consistency creates confusion among the retail public.

 

The SMART UV Detective - Fighting Hype with Science!

Our comparison uses the standard set by
EPA Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidance Manual
(EPA 815-D-03-007). We encourage you to compare
our information with that of any UV Competitor.
Our information makes sense because it’s based
on science and fact. This information is intended to
help you, not confuse you!

UV Detective Links

• UV Comparison

• Emperor Aquatics, Inc.
 vs. Aqua UltravioletTM

• UV Lamp Specs & Info

• Water Flow Rates

• UV Sterilizer Design

www.uvcomparison.com


Flow Rate Comparison
Red and Green Chart Keys - UV Flow Rates Green = UV Water Flow Rate based On 90% UV Transmissibility, UV Lamp Specifications, and Exposure Area

Red = The Manufacturer's Suggested UV Water Flow Recommendations
Our comparison, using the standard set by EPA Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidance Manual (EPA 815-D-03-007), highlights the strong variances of performance recommendations, including Water Flow Rates, by competing UV brands-Emperor Aquatics, Inc., Aqua Ultraviolet, and Tetra.
Emperor Aquatics, Inc.'s 25 Watt UV Sterilizer, Aqua Ultraviolet's 25 Watt UV Clarifier, and Tetra's 18 Watt UV Clarifier respectively.

Specifications Used in Our Comparison
All equipment specifications were measured/documented using “off the shelf” merchandise

 

UV Comparison Equipment Specifications

When comparing specifications of the three UV models you should notice that each model uses a similar UV lamp. Even though the UV lamp is the foundation in establishing a UV’s performance, it’s how the lamp is used that distinguishes the overall equipment efficiency.

The comparison below displays the UV lamp positing within Emperor Aquatics, Inc.’s 25 Watt UV Sterilizer, Aqua Ultraviolet’s 25 Watt UV Clarifier, and Tetra’s 18 Watt UV Clarifier.

It is crucial for the UV lamp to be positioned between the water inlet and outlet ports (as indicated by the red lines) of the UV body to achieve maximum efficiency. Any portion of the UV lamp not between these ports is wasted. See the chart below for exact measurements of the UV lamp’s usable portion residing between the unit’s water ports.
This comparison displays the UV lamp positing within Emperor Aquatics, Inc.’s 25 Watt UV Sterilizer, Aqua Ultraviolet’s 25 Watt UV Clarifier, and Tetra’s 18 Watt UV Clarifier.
        The SMART UV Detective - Emperor Aquatics, Inc. Fighting Hype with Science!
UV Brand
Name Model		 UV Exposure Chamber usable Inside Cross Section Area Usable portion of lamp between water ports UV Lamp Model UV Lamp Arc Length UV Lamp Input
Watts		 UV Output
Watts (250-280nm)		 Useful UV
Lamp Life
Emperor Aquatics
25 Watt		 15.93 cm2 395 mm GPH463T5 387 mm 25 Watts 8 Watts 9,000 hrs.
Aqua Ultraviolet
25 Watt		 6.45 cm2 140 mm GPH463T5 375 mm 25 Watts 8 Watts 9,000 hrs.
Tetra
GreenFree #2
 6.63 cm2 160 mm TUVPLL18W 195 mm 18 Watts 5.5 Watts 8,000 hrs.

UV Performance Standards
• 30,000 µWs/cm2
• UV-C Transmissibility
• UV Water Flow Rate

 • UV Lamp Length
• UV-C Output
• UV Exposure Chamber Dimensions

• 30,000 µWs/cm2 is the targeted UV exposure used in our UV
performance comparison. 22,000 uWs/cm2 is the industry standard
UV exposure rate required to irradiate waterborne algae.

• UV-C Transmissibility is the rate at which UV-C light transmits
through water. The UV-C light transmission rate is strongly influenced
by the clarity of the water to be treated by the UV


• UV Water Flow Rate determines the length of time the targeted
waterborne microorganism, flowing through the UV body, is in direct
contact with the UV-C light generated by the UV lamp.

• UV lamp length heavily influences the size of the UV exposure area, the longer the
UV lamp, the greater the exposure area.

• UV-C light Output is approximately 38% of the UV lamp’s initial “Input Watts”
All Low-Pressure UV lamps produce approximately 38% of their Input Watts into
UV-C Output Watts, which are used for germicidal disinfection.

•UV Exposure Chamber Dimensions establish the efficiency of the UV equipment. Positioning the UV lamp between the inlet/outlet ports is crucial to obtain maximum lamp efficiency. The diameter of the UV housing in proportion to the UV-C output of the lamp is also essential to any UV’s performance.


EPA UV Standard
Performance Factors

UV Lamp "Arch" Length
This is the area between a UV lamp's internal filaments. This is the usable area of the lamp that emits the UV radiation.

UV Lamp "UV Output Watts"
All UV lamps convert input watts (power required to run the lamp) into usable UV output watts. Low-pressure UV lamps are the preferred type of UV lamp, they offer the highest conversion of input power to usable UV watts out. (approximate 40% conversion between input watts and UV outputs within the 250-280nm wavelength - see germicidal action spectrum curve)

UV Exposure Chamber Design Criteria for Proper Water Flow Ratings
Optimal UV lamp utilization requires three factors to be considered.

1. The UV lamp must be positioned between the Sterilizer's water inlet & outlet ports. To produce "Plug Flow" in the lamp chamber.

2. The area that the water occupies inside of the Sterilizer's water containment vessel. (This is the difference between the unit's outer most inside diameter & the outside diameter of the unit's Quartz Sleeve = usable cross sectional area).

3. The UV lamp's UV output watts are within 250-280nm in UVC watts.

Water Clarity (UV Transmittance)
Dirty or green water diminishes UV transmittance considerably, lowering the effectiveness of the Sterilizer's capability during these conditions. It is imperative that an absorption coefficient factor or UV transmittance percentage be used to compensate for poor water clarity.

Emperor Aquatics, Inc. has established a Standard "Green Water" Flow Rate based on a UV exposure rate of 30,000 µWs/cm2 and applies an 90% UV Transmissibility factor that considers diminished UV radiation transmittance through green water.
SMART UV Sterilizer cutaway





The Germicidal Action Spectrum




UV exposure chamber cutaway
Inside the UV Sterilizer Exposure Chamber - water from green to clear.
Tetra, Aqua Ultraviolet, and their products and product names therein are registered or unregistered trademarks.