Predicting the ultraviolet radiation distribution in a room with multilouvered germicidal fixtures

Abstract

Irradiating the upper part of a room with 254-nm ultraviolet (UV) radiation from a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp has the potential to be a relatively inexpensive method to reduce transmission of airborne infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. To protect occupants in the lower part of a room from radiation, multilouvered UV germicidal fixtures producing a horizontal, collimated beam are often used, particularly in rooms having a normal ceiling height. Knowledge of the fixture's emission characteristics and the airflow field are needed to estimate the UV dose to airborne microorganisms and assess the fixture's overall effectiveness in controlling disease transmission. In this article, a model is developed to predict the UV fluence rate at any location in the upper room for ceiling-mounted, multilouvered, pendant-type fixtures, which provide 360-degree emission in the horizontal plane. The model also predicts total UV power emitted by the fixture, which is the best single-number effectiveness index for comparing multilouvered UV germicidal fixtures. Model predictions compared favorably with laboratory and field measurements.