Engineers at a Kentucky healthcare facility used a UV-C system to remove organic growth on the outer and inner surfaces of a heating coil, restoring heat transfer efficiency, according to an article on the ACHR News website.
The facility struggled to keep the hospital’s cafeteria cool in the humid climate. Condensate in the air-handling unit serving the food service area was leaving a residue in the coil — a buildup that reduced airflow through the unit nearly 30 percent.
Eventually UV-C technology was used to eliminate microbial and organic material buildup on cooling coils, air filters, duct surfaces, and drain pans.
The UV lamps were installed on the downstream, air-exiting side of the coil, where they are most productive killing mold and bacteria and degrading all other organic materials.