Light Sources and LightTech offer high-quality standard germicidal 254 nm UV lamps in both ozone-free and ozone-generating solutions. UV lamps are low-pressure mercury light sources that emit wavelengths at 254 nanometers (nm), with some lamps optionally designed to emit 185nm for ozone production. The type of fused quartz used to make the body of the germicidal lamp determines the emission of the wavelength in UV 254 nm energy.

254 nm UV Lamps Emit UVC Radiation254 nm uv lamps

254 nm UV lamps emit Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the UVC range. Light is broken into colors and measured by wavelength in nanometers with UV light in the range of 254nm proven to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and harmful contaminants. UV light can be divided into three main types of UV emissions:

  • UVA: between 315 to 400 nm
  • UVB: between 280 to 315 nm
  • UVC: between 100 to 280 nm

254nm UV light is highly effective in sterilization and purification applications used to disinfect the air, water, and surfaces.

How 254 nm UV Germicidal Lamps Work

LightSources low-pressure, mercury germicidal 254 nm UV lamps are specially engineered to produce the maximum amount of UV radiation, with 90% of the energy typically generated at 254nm. This radiation wavelength is very close to the peak of the germicidal effectiveness curve of 265nm, the most lethal wavelength to microorganisms. UV 254 nm light is proven to destroy bacteria and viruses by altering the DNA of the cells of harmful contaminants, even microorganisms naked to the human eye.

The UV radiation penetrates through the cell to be absorbed by the nucleic acid which rearranges the genetic information and interferes with the cell’s ability to reproduce. A cell that cannot reproduce is unable to multiply to infectious numbers and is considered dead and harmless.

UV disinfection technology is not new although UVC germicidal lamps have become increasingly popular in the last couple of years due to the novel Coronavirus pandemic. According to an article at UVReporter.com, LightSources is quoted as saying that UVC light is “known to be highly effective against all known harmful pathogens”, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and can be a cost-effective solution to help prevent infection in many applications.

Germicidal 254 nm UV lamps should be viewed as an effective tool for infection prevention although they do not replace traditional cleaning methods and personal hygiene recommendations such as covering your mouth when coughing and handwashing.

254 nm UV Lamp Glass Types

Germicidal 254 nm UV lamps are produced in three main types of glass:

  • Fused Quartz, L & VH Types
    • “L” type of fused quartz lamps are doped with titanium which blocks the transmission of 185nm radiation for low-ozone applications. “L” or low ozone lamps transmit up to 90% of their energy at the 254nm wavelength.
    • “VH” types are produced using clear fused quartz and are not doped to allow transmission of both 185nm and 254nm for “very high” ozone-producing applications.
  • Synthetic Fused Quartz
    • Superior transmission of 185nm for very high ozone-producing applications.
  • Soft Glass
    • Lower cost, soda-lime glass is designed to transmit UV radiation in the 254 nm region only.

In applications that require moderate amounts of ozone, the high-tech engineers at LightSources custom splice the two types of quartz together to form a custom “L” to “VH” ratio according to the customer’s specific requirements.

Standard quartz germicidal lamps are the oldest and most established type of 254 nm UV lamps with the best electrical efficiency, although are limited in UVC output when the ambient temperature exceeds 40° C.

High output germicidal quartz lamps emit approximately two times the UV output of standard germicidal lamps with the same limitations in regard to ambient temperature. They typically operate between 600 mA and 800 mA in T5 (15mm) and T6 (19mm) OD.

Low-pressure amalgam lamps are designed for stable operation over wide ambient temperature ranges and offer 3 to 4 times higher power density than standard 254nm UV lamps.

185 nm Ozone Generating Lamps254 nm UV Lamps 1

  • “VH” (or Very High ozone producing lamps) generate energy at 185nm in addition to the 254nm wavelength.
  • UV emission at 185nm produces abundant amounts of ozone in the air. Ozone is an extremely active and effective oxidizer, destroying microorganisms as well as acting as a deodorizer.
  • A primary advantage of the ozone generated by our UV germicidal lamps is that it can be carried through the air into places not easily reachable by direct UV exposure.

Germicidal UV Lamp Applications

Germicidal 254 nm UV lamps and 185nm ozone lamps are used extensively in many applications and environments such as:

UV germicidal lamps by LightSources are critical components providing sterilization to these industries and many others.

Interested to learn more? Check our education section and find out the many advantages of UVC radiation.

Preheat Start Lamps
Low Ozone		 TubeDiameter BF – BF ArcLength Power¹ Current Voltage¹ UV output¹@ 254nm
mm mm mm W mA V µW/cm² W
GPH212T5L 15 212 132 10 425 25 27 2.7
GPH287T5L 15 287 207 14 425 34 40 4
GPH303T5L 15 303 223 15 425 35 43 4.3
GPH357T5L 15 357 277 17 425 42 57 5.7
GPH436T5L 15 436 356 21 425 51 72 7.3
GPH793T5L 15 793 713 38 425 92 125 13.5
GPH843T5L 15 843 762 41 425 98 150 16
GPH1148T5L 15 1148 1067 55 425 135 180 22
GPH1554T5L 15 1554 1474 75 425 179 240 33
GPH1630T5L 15 1630 1550 79 425 189 252 34.5
Preheat Start Lamps
Ozone Generating		 TubeDiameter BF – BF ArcLength Power¹ Current Voltage¹ UV output¹@ 254nm
mm mm mm W mA V µW/cm² W
GPH212T5VH 15 212 132 10 425 25 27 2.7
GPH287T5VH 15 287 207 14 425 34 40 4
GPH303T5VH 15 303 223 15 425 35 43 4.3
GPH357T5VH 15 357 277 17 425 42 57 5.7
GPH436T5VH 15 436 356 21 425 51 72 7.3
GPH793T5VH 15 793 713 38 425 92 125 13.5
GPH843T5VH 15 843 762 41 425 98 150 16
GPH1148T5VH 15 1148 1067 55 425 135 180 22
GPH1554T5VH 15 1554 1474 75 425 179 240 33
GPH1630T5VH 15 1630 1550 79 425 189 252 34.5
Instant Start Lamps
Low Ozone		 TubeDiameter BF – BF ArcLength Power¹ Current Voltage¹ UV output¹@ 254nm
mm mm mm W mA V µW/cm² W
G10T5L 15 357 277 17 425 42 57 5.7
G24T5L 15 692 612 32 425 77 95 11
G36T5L 15 843 762 41 425 98 150 16
G48T5L 15 1148 1067 55 425 135 180 22
G64T5L 15 1554 1474 75 425 179 240 33
G67T5L 15 1630 1550 79 425 189 252 34.5
Instant Start Lamps
Ozone Generating		 TubeDiameter BF – BF ArcLength Power¹ Current Voltage¹ UV output¹@ 254nm
mm mm mm W mA V µW/cm² W
G10T5VH 15 357 277 17 425 42 57 5.7
G24T5VH 15 692 612 32 425 77 95 11
G36T5VH 15 843 762 41 425 98 150 16
G48T5VH 15 1148 1067 55 425 135 180 22
G64T5VH 15 1554 1474 75 425 179 240 33
G67T5VH 15 1630 1550 79 425 189 252 34.5

Note 1: Lamp data is based on measurements performed under laboratory conditions in air at room ambient temperature. Measurements were performed on a high-frequency, current limited electronic ballast and represent average values at 1 meter.

This post is also available in: Chinese (Simplified)

 

LAMP PRODUCT DATA:
UV Germicidal Lamps
LAMP APPLICATIONS:
UV Germicidal Applications

LightSources and LightTech offer effective germicidal solutions with a wide selection of UVC lamps combined with custom design and engineering to meet your specific requirements. We offer UV lamp proprietary technologies to extend operating life and enhance lamp effectiveness. Contact us to learn more about UV sterilization with ozone-producing and ozone-free 254 nm UV lamps.

 

 

 

This post is also available in: Chinese (Simplified)