Ultraviolet light has been known for over 100 years as an effective method for inactivating waterborne pathogens and viruses. Ultraviolet light disinfects when it is applied to the water at a specified intensity and length of time, rendering waterborne microorganisms "microbiologically dead" by penetrating the cell wall and affecting the microorganisms' DNA such that it is unable to reproduce.

As an alternative or supplement to traditional chemical disinfectants, such as chlorine, an ultraviolet disinfection system offers a municipality a number of operating advantages. An ultraviolet disinfection system is safe and easy to operate. Ultraviolet disinfection system design has a small footprint so it can readily be adapted to fit into an existing treatment facility. In addition, the use of ultraviolet does not inject any taste or odor into the processed water, nor does it produce any undesirable by-products.

Ryan Process provides a wide range of low and medium pressure Ultraviolet systems for each of the following industries.

Wastewater Industry / Drinking Water
Disinfection of municipal wastewater through the use of Ultraviolet (UV) light is rapidly becoming common place in modern treatment facilities. Faced with revised permits that regulate chlorine discharge, municipalities are opting for UV disinfection to avoid costly dechlorination systems and to eliminate the use of hazardous chlorine altogether.

UV disinfection is safe, cost effective and applicable to tertiary treated effluent as well as secondary, primary, and combined sewer overflows and stormwater. Ryan Process can provide complete range of systems to treat flows ranging from 10 to 100 MGD.

Aquaculture
Aquaculture is increasingly concerned with pathogen control. Hatchery and grow-out tanks can protect and reuse water that incorporates UV disinfection for pathogen control. High-Intensity lamps can provide a high germicidal dose with a minimum of lamps in a very compact space. Headloss is extremely minimal at full flow. The systems can be fully automated; self-cleaning and self-monitoring reduces the need for maintenance. Typically, used following filtration, our systems are especially effective in fluids with low UV transmission. A system four feet long can treat 10,000 gpm with little headloss.

Beverage Industry
Hot filled beverages, cold filled beer and other sensitive beverages are susceptible to contaminants introduced by the liners of closures. Mold is of particular concern since packaging headspace frequently contains low levels of oxygen. Medium pressure UV inactivates mold spores to prevent this problem.

Ryan Process can also provide UV systems for the disinfection of sugar syrup. Sugar syrup is easily contaminated during production and storage, causing food discoloration, inedible flavors and reduced shelf life. UV disinfection systems solve these issues by eliminating problem microorganisms without adding chemicals or heat.

Electronics
Ultraviolet \ technology is often used in the ultrapure water system for disinfection and organics removal. Bacterial control is critical after areas of microbial proliferation such as carbon filters, deionization resins and storage tanks. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) reduction is achieved with special UV lamps that break down low-level organics by dissociation of molecular bonds. Medium pressure UV systems reduce the number of conventional lamps by up to 95% while reducing operating and maintenance costs by 50% or more in high treatment schemes.

Food Processing
Ultraviolet light can help improve shelf life of products and allow processors to reduce chemical additives in wash water without sacrificing high levels of disinfection. UV provides non-chemical microbial control for captive water loops without altering the taste, color or odor of the food. Environmentally friendly, UV disinfection is one of the few water treatment methods unburdened by regulatory restrictions, consumer /environmental group concerns or high operation costs. Packaging surface UV systems also increase product quality and shelf life by reducing contamination. Applications include plastic containers, cups, caps, films, foils and extended shelf life filling machines.

Pharmaceutical
Increasingly stringent water standards for manufacturing processes encourage non-chemical water treatment. Aside from disinfection, UV is used to remove residual ozone to protect downstream process equipment. Deozonation is accomplished by cleaving triatomic oxygen molecules with UV light (which converts ozone to oxygen). Dechlorination is achieved with special medium pressure lamps to protect chlorine sensitive Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes. UV can replace chemical dechlorination or activated carbon filter removal steps upstream of the RO equipment.

Swimming Pools
High output UV technology provides multiple benefits for commercial pools. High-output UV will naturally, and continuously remove combined chlorine, or chloramines. It will also provide superior disinfection, destroying over 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, including Cryptosporidium, before the water is returned to the pool. Chloramine control removes the irritant and odor associated with chlorine in pool water. Removing chloramines will protect the bathers eyes, nose, and lungs as well as protecting the building from an overly corrosive element in the air.

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