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Distinguishing a UV Lamp's value requires a comparison between
UV Output Watt Intensity, UV Lamp length, Useful UV Lamp Life and Cost!
UV Output Watt Intensity
UV Output Watts, UV radiation in the 250-280 nm
wavelength range that is produced by a UV lamp is used to destroy living
microorganisms. Typically, a low-pressure UV lamp will convert
approximately 40% of its initial Input Watts into useful UV Output
Watts in the 250-280 nm range.
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UV Lamp Model /
UV Lamp Description |
Input Watts |
UV Output Watts
250-280 nm Wavelength
(Germicidal Action Curve) |
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#GPH463T5 (25 Watt UV Lamp)
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25 Watts |
8 Watts |
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UV Lamp Length
The length of a UV lamp distinguishes exposure area (arc length). So, it
becomes obvious that a longer UV lamp will offer a greater UV exposure
area over a shorter lamp.
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UV Lamp Model
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Input Watts
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Output Watts
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Lamp Length
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GPH357T5 (14 Watt UV Lamp)
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14
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5
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357mm
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Superior
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TUVPLL18W (18 Watt UV Lamp)
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18
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5.5
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195mm
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Useful UV Lamp Life
The useful lamp life of a UV lamp is when it reaches its 60% efficiency
level after continuously operating for a specific amount of time. Not all
lamps perform equally. Some folks recommend in general that UV lamps be
replaced once every six months. This recommendation is incorrect for many
styles of UV lamps. UV lamp useful lamp life when comparing different
lamps can vary dramatically.
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Medium-Pressure
1,000 Hours
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Low-Pressure
9,000 Hours
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Low-Pressure verses Medium-Pressure UV Lamp
Performance
Input Watts to UV Output Watts
Judging the performance of any UV lamp based strictly on the lamp's Input
Watts is incorrect. While a medium-pressure 2,000 Watt UV lamp's Input
Watts may appear to be impressive at first glance, a second look at its UV
Output Watts in the 250-280 nm wavelength range reveals its low
UV Output conversion of only 9%. In contrast low-pressure UV lamps deliver
an impressive conversion of 40% from Input Watts to UV Output
Watts in the 250-280 nm range. That is about 4 times greater than
medium pressure lamps.
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Useful Lamp Life
Now compare the useful lamp life of medium-pressure lamps to low-pressure
lamps. Medium-pressure lamps typically offer a useful lamp life of only
1,000 hours while low-pressure GPH/T5 and T6 style lamps offer 9,000
hours.
Cost
To complete this comparison, we must consider the cost difference between
low pressure and medium pressure UV lamps. Lets compare the cost
difference between low pressure and medium pressure UV lamps with a
comparison objective of 170 UV Output Watts, operating
continuously for one year.
1 2,000 Watt Medium Pressure Lamp =
170 UV Output Watts / Useful Lamp Life of 1,000 hours /
Ave. Cost $1,200.00 each
4 150 Watt Low-Pressure Lamps =
188 UV Output Watts / Useful Lamp life of 9,000 hours /
Ave. Cost $130.00 each x 4 = $520.00
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Annual Replacement UV Lamp Cost Comparison
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Medium-Pressure
9 times annually X $1,200.00 = $10,800.00
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Low-Pressure
1 time annually X $520.00 = $520.00
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