THE EFFECT OF REYNOLDS NUMBER OF AIR FLOW DURING THE AIR STERILIZATION PROCESS WITH ULTRAVIOLET GERMICIDAL IRRADIATION LAMP
This case study examines the effect that the Reynolds number of air flow has on the population oflive pathogenic microorganisms during the process of air sterilization using ultraviolet germicidalirradiation (UVGI) lamp in a closed air-duct. With this aim, the first discussion is the mathematicalmodel which regulates changes to the Reynolds number in terms of the percentage of populationfor the following live pathogenic microorganisms: Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosisand Streptococcus pneumoniae, under special condition of flow rate and intensity of UVirradiation. In conclusion, as the velocity and the Reynolds number of the air flow in the ductincreases, the exposure time of the pathogens to the field of UV-C irradiation decreases, theeffect of UV-C irradiation and the germicide capabilities of the UVGI lamp are reduced.Consequently, the population of live pathogenic microorganisms increases.