AWWA WQTC60646

A study was performed to investigate the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with a fluence rate model to determine the bias in ultraviolet (UV) biodosimetry measurements using inactivation of a challenge microbe instead of the target pathogen, termed the reduction equivalent fluence (REF) bias. Simulations were performed using two fluence rate models: RADial Line Source Integration (RAD-LSI) and UVCalc3D. CFD UV models were carried out in several closed conduit UV reactors using either mono- or polychromatic lamps. The REF bias was computed using the predicted fluence distribution from a Lagrangian particle tracking routine and compared with the REF bias computed using the EPA UV disinfection guidance manual (UVDGM) approach. Overall, the results show that the REF bias using the predicted fluence distribution for the specific UV reactor was generally 45 to 66 percent of the REF bias predicted using EPA UVDGM. The REF bias was slightly sensitive to the selected fluence rate model. Includes 17 references, tables, figures.