Calibration of an ultraviolet distribution model by precise measurement of underwater ultraviolet intensities

In Korea, disinfection of effluent from a wastewater treatment plant is now essential, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is known as one of the useful disinfection alternatives. The non-contact type UV disinfection method, which is distinguished by a fouling-free process, was developed, and a mathematical model for the photoreactor was developed. For the purpose of the model calibration, the study had manufactured a non-contact type UV photoreactor and measured UV intensities within the photoreactor. The two major parameters of the model were evaluated by comparing the UV intensity of the photoreactor and the model’s simulation results. As the result of this study, the developed model for a non-contact type UV photoreactor could predict UV intensity within the photoreactor well. Optima parameter values came out as measuring 576 points for the calibration test and 504 points for the verification test. The coincidence index proved useful in calibrating the parameters, with the index values over 0.9 at the optimum values. This study produced optimum values for the two parameters. The UV conversion efficiency and the transmittance of UV in pure water came out to be 0.56 and 100%, respectively.