Performance Study of UV-C LED Water Disinfection Modules

Abstract

This study systematically investigates the performance optimization of UV-C LED water disinfection modules, focusing on the effects of heat dissipation materials, driving current, and optical structure design on sterilization efficiency. The results demonstrate that copper substrates significantly reduce the light power attenuation rate of UV-C LEDs compared to aluminum substrates (41.90% vs. 53.94%), thereby extending the operational lifespan of the device. In flow-through water disinfection experiments, increasing the driving current (from 100 mA to 200 mA) markedly enhances inactivation efficiency, achieving an Escherichia coli inactivation rate of >99.999% at 200 mA, which meets drinking water disinfection standards. Furthermore, by optimizing the optical design, the number of UV-C LED beads was reduced from six to four, and individual perforations for each bead were employed to enhance ultraviolet reflection. This approach maintained a high sterilization rate of 99.999% while reducing costs by 33%. This study provides critical theoretical foundations and engineering references for the design of efficient, cost-effective, and long-lasting UV-C LED water disinfection systems.