UVC Light + WaterCooling = Sterile Loop?

[apt403]

This seems too easy not to have been thought of before, but I couldnt find anything through the search thing.

Wastewater treatment plants, aquariums, hostpitals, all use UVC light for sterilization. UVC light is harmful to everything alive, and deadly to bacteria, I would imagine algea as well. Why havent UVC lights been used in water cooling loops? I mean, the low power ones made for aquariums are pretty cheap, and the bulbs are in an enclosed container, so you dont have to worry about skin cancer or the all the plastic parts on your pc turning brown. They would be insanly effective, since there isnt that much water in a loop, and it's already somewhat free of bacteria and algea, since distilled water is always used. The only negative thing about using UVC lights is that some idiot would probably just stick a bare light in his case, then wonder why the plastic on his pc is aging and why he suddenly has skin cancer.

Thoughts?

[MaxxxRacer]

IIRC the CCFL UV lights that we use are UV1 whereas the lights used in Water treatment plants are UV2 which is MUCH stronger.

[apt403]

Just an example. (http://www.fishsupply.com/suvco-77070.html)

$75, it supports 1/2" tubing, so it could be used in most systems, and it can sterilize up to 125 gallons of water, so the couple gallons in a loop would be a peice of cake for it.

I can't imagine a loop would need more then a 5 or 9 watt bulb.

This (http://americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumUVSterilization.html) is a decent informational link.

[Xeon th MG Pony]

Not to mention the UV is at a different wave length that is deadly to cells. UV-C. it just kills cells flowing through it with no lasting effect on the water its self. Ozonating system might offer more effective sterilization, but not sure how'd you pull it off.

[SiGfever]

http://www.iaqenergy.com/uvc.html

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

wait, why not just put a few drops of pt NUKE ??? $75>$4 IMO

[Solarfall]

wait, why not just put a few drops of pt NUKE ??? $75>$4 IMO

regular antifreeze does the same jop and lubricates the pump at the same time.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

well i wouldn't use anti freeze because it messes with the thermal capacity of the water (or at least something that the water needs to cool well)

[serialk11r]

regular antifreeze does the same jop and lubricates the pump at the same time.

Are you sure antifreeze kills algae/bacteria/fungi/whatnot?

[Fossil]

Antifreeze doesn't kill all the things that can grow in water, even if you put quite a lot of it in. Believe me, I've tried. Hey, even Domestos only kills 99% :)

[jabski]

Hey, even Domestos only kills 99% :)
Rofl :clap: :clap:

[stormcloud]

It seams like more hassle\time\money than it's worth but it is a good idea. :)

[Lekko]

what kinda heat does that UV light put out? Some kinds of lights can get pretty toasty...

[serialk11r]

what kinda heat does that UV light put out? Some kinds of lights can get pretty toasty...


You have to find a way to concentrate the UV radiation...its possible to UV zap the water without having the bulb actually come in contact with the water. And you'll need a pretty powerful source of UV radiation or else the little algae are gonna start partying in your system...

[Anemone]

UVB light can damage your eyes bigtime in a matter of minutes, so be careful...

Most industry parts should take this into account, but leakage light that in most plumbing systems would be out of sight might not be in a computer case. Little research on UB B rays would be wise if your going to try this idea.

[Athanatos]

these are used in a larger scale in your return air system along with a hepa or electronic air cleaner

http://shop2.aol.ca/ss/media/2023000/2023675.jpg

just make a casing to completely seal it and run the loop past it

[Cassp0nk]

I have a koi pond and there are specific bits of plumbing designed for this. The uv tube sits in a quartz cylinder inside a plastic tube through which the water flows. They are pretty big though but this is for a 2300 gallon pond. I guess there may be smaller ones for domestic tanks etc. They do put out a bit of heat, but nothing major.

Something smaller might look like the 8w version of this : (my pond is 60W IIRC)

http://www.tmc-ltd.co.uk/pond/pond-clear-advantage.asp

[denmason]

Way too much hassle man, let alone money. And you'll prolly find that you will heating your water also. Just spend a few bucks on biocide from the pet shop, and straight distilled water.

[Cassp0nk]

Way too much hassle man, let alone money. And you'll prolly find that you will heating your water also. Just spend a few bucks on biocide from the pet shop, and straight distilled water.

Totally agree. The only reason you use UV is because you don't want to put toxins in a pond and hurt your fish.

The simpler the setup the less that can go wrong, and that's pretty important with watercooling I feel.

[WonderSausage]

Remember when saying "antifreeze" there are 2 distinct varieties: Ethylene glycol, which is toxic, and Propylene glycol, which is very non-toxic (it's even used in some human laxatives).

Pentosin uses ethylene glycol.

[IanY]

Propylene glycol is much less toxic, but can still be dangerous to small pets and small children in decent quantities. Laxatives use minute quantities.. and why do you think your guts are cleaned out? Its the toxicity that does it.

Ethylene glycol.. forget about it... less than 30 minutes before total liver and kidney shutdown.. Ethylene glycol lubricates the pump? :)

Biocide.. copper sulphate.. that's just poison. Drink enough of it and it'll wipe you out too.

I refuse to use either.

[NaeKuh]

Are you sure antifreeze kills algae/bacteria/fungi/whatnot?

Nothing can grow in elthelene glycol. It will keep the algae away. However when people dilute it with water, the conc. could allow some forms of algae, well more bacteria, cyanobacter, the filmy red/green hair algae will grow.

Cyano can grow about almost anywhere.


Also, PT Nuke = copper sulfate. Your blocks and radiator already uses copper. Copper kills algae as well, thats why our pipes and everything uses copper. PT nuke is recomended when you drop CCL's in your case.

CCL = more algae growth! So make sure you limit light or just drop in some PT nuke.



<my other hobby is fish tanks :P Algae is a common problem that i learned to fight against.> And yes their more resiliant then the c0ckr0aches. IF you had a survival war with cyno vs bugs. Cyno has been around since the dawn of simple protiens, and will be around until the end of the world. Quite Litterally.