Ultraviolet heaters - myth or reality?

Content:

The advantages and disadvantages of ultraviolet radiation
Devices based on ultraviolet radiation
UV Aquarium Sterilizer
UV mosquito repellent lamp
Where are UV heaters used?
Conclusion

There is a misconception that ultraviolet heaters and infrared heaters - It is the same. But this is not so - ultraviolet-based heaters are not used for space heating, but, for example, for the functioning of a solarium. Although exposure to sunlight enriches the skin with vitamin D, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light causes burns or more serious consequences, making the tanning bed a dubious device. But devices using ultraviolet light were originally invented to eliminate bacteria, since ultraviolet rays have disinfectant properties. Nevertheless, there are still devices that use ultraviolet radiation for heating, which in part can be called heaters.

The advantages and disadvantages of ultraviolet radiation

The main advantage of ultraviolet radiation in its disinfectant properties. It penetrates the DNA of bacteria and destroys reproductive cells, preventing them from reproducing. However, a person may not worry about his genetic code, his skin reliably protects him and ultraviolet rays will not reach him. And also, scientists and psychiatrists have proved that being under the sun helps in the treatment of depressive disorders, and this also justifies the phenomenon of "autumn depression", which affects people in the long absence of sunlight. Other benefits of UV rays include:

helps plants accumulate vitamin A, which they use for photosynthesis;
It stimulates the production of vitamin D beneficial for humans, which helps maintain normal blood sugar levels.

The disadvantages of UV light are also significant:

prolonged exposure to the sun will lead to burns and more serious consequences, including cancer;
a severe burn of the cornea of the eye is possible (a person gets light burns almost every day when he goes outside, but the eye recovers from them on its own).

Devices based on ultraviolet radiation

The term "ultraviolet heaters" does not mean a heater in the traditional sense of the word. Such devices look like a conventional lamp that performs various functions, usually disinfecting. They are made of special glass.

Such lamps can be seen in hospitals; either large in the wards (with their help they disinfect the room in the absence of patients), or small ones that help in the treatment of colds - ultraviolet rays are sent to the nose and their heat can cure a runny nose. They are also used according to the same principle, but for the treatment of ear infections - the lamp is directed to the ear.

UV Aquarium Sterilizer

The device used to clean the aquariums is assembled from a small cylinder with two tubes inside for water inlet and outlet. An ultraviolet lamp is located inside this cylinder. The principle of operation of the device is that dirty water enters through one tube, is disinfected from ultraviolet rays, and exits through another tube already purified. However, cleaning the aquarium with this device is not always effective because, for example, in large aquariums, the device will not be able to collect water that is closer to the bottom of the aquarium, and it will remain partially dirty. And in salt water, due to its density, the device is generally useless.

This device is not recommended for permanent use, as ultraviolet rays destroy not only harmful bacteria, but also those that are useful for fish, snails and other inhabitants of aquariums.

UV mosquito repellent lamp

It is a device that looks like a cell through which a current flows with ultraviolet LEDs inside. The principle of operation of the device is that the ultraviolet radiation attracts insects, they sit on the grate and the current discharge eliminates them. The advantages of the device are obvious, but the disadvantages include the inability to work during daylight hours and in rainy weather.

Where are UV heaters used?

In addition to repelling insects and disinfecting medical facilities, ultraviolet heaters are also used for other purposes:

In beauty salons use ultraviolet devices for processing manicure tools; those that cannot be used for another type of disinfection.
In spas, you can find towel dryers - cupboard-like devices that contain a heating element and UV lamps that dry and disinfect towels.
There are ultraviolet shoe dryers - these are two small devices with a heating element inside and an ultraviolet lamp.
In dental centers with their help, light fillings are installed.
Prevention of bacteria growth in swimming pools.

Conclusion

When choosing a heater, you do not need to opt for an ultraviolet device - such devices are simply unsafe to keep in the house, since, as has been said, even in medical institutions, they are disinfected with ultraviolet heaters only when there are no people in the room. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays is harmful to the eyes and skin. To warm up the house, it is worth considering infrared gas heaters or electric convectors.

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