In order to adapt devices for UV-C disinfection specifically to these challenges, Heraeus Noblelight first tested its devices in a virtual simulation.
- Ray tracing analysis, the tracking of rays, shows how UV radiation spreads through the device and whether it enters the room
- Simulations recreate airflow and the distribution of droplets and aerosols in a room
"It is significantly easier to model a product in the virtual world first than to physically assemble it directly. Accurate simulation saved us many production steps and we knew right away what to look out for," explains Larisa von Riewel, the responsible Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) team leader.
The simulations were a prerequisite for the development of the Soluva product range from Heraeus: customized UV-C devices for air disinfection as in a wide variety of areas, such as in courthouses, canteens, retail, cultural institutions or schools.
Disinfection units optimized for air management have an integrated UV-C lamp. They draw in contaminated air and treat it so that it receives as much UV light as possible. The interaction of UV-C (UVGI) and air results in the destruction of viruses transported in aerosols. For optimal and efficient functionality, parameters such as circulation rate, air volume and pressure drop play a decisive role in the disinfection process.