What is an open-channel UV retrofit?
An open-channel UV retrofit is the modernization of an existing ultraviolet disinfection installation by replacing or upgrading obsolete equipment while retaining the existing channels and civil infrastructure wherever technically feasible.
In municipal wastewater treatment and water reuse plants, UV systems may become outdated even when their concrete channels remain structurally sound. Ageing UV modules, obsolete control systems, inefficient operating strategies, maintenance difficulties or limited spare-parts availability can justify a technical upgrade without necessarily requiring complete reconstruction.
However, not every existing UV channel can accommodate a new disinfection system without modifications. The feasibility of a retrofit depends on channel dimensions, hydraulic conditions, operating water levels, available installation space, maintenance access and the required disinfection performance.
A properly engineered retrofit therefore begins with a technical assessment of the existing installation, followed by the selection of suitable UV modules, cleaning systems, instrumentation and automation.
Longking EnTech Europe supports open-channel UV modernization projects through its modular NLQ disinfection systems, customized engineering, hydraulic integration, PLC/SCADA integration and lifecycle technical support.
The objective is to preserve usable infrastructure where possible while adapting the UV disinfection system to current treatment requirements and operating conditions.
Why retrofit an existing UV plant instead of replacing it completely?
Replacing an ageing UV disinfection system does not always require demolishing existing channels or constructing a completely new treatment facility.
In many wastewater treatment plants, the civil infrastructure can remain serviceable for considerably longer than the UV equipment installed within it. As lamps, modules, cleaning systems and control technologies become obsolete, operators may face increasing maintenance costs, reduced equipment availability or difficulties obtaining replacement components.
An open-channel UV retrofit can offer an alternative by modernizing the process-critical equipment while preserving usable infrastructure.
Potential economic advantages of UV retrofitting
Depending on the condition and geometry of the existing installation, a retrofit may offer several advantages:
Reduced civil works: Existing concrete channels and structures may be retained, limiting excavation, demolition and reconstruction.
Lower initial investment: Reusing suitable infrastructure can reduce project CAPEX compared with constructing an entirely new installation.
Improved energy management: Modern lamp power regulation and appropriate disinfection control strategies can help optimize electricity consumption.
Reduced maintenance requirements: Automatic cleaning, improved accessibility and updated components can simplify routine operation.
Longer useful life of existing infrastructure: Retaining serviceable structures avoids replacing assets that do not yet require renewal.
These benefits must be evaluated against the cost of new UV equipment, hydraulic modifications, installation works and any temporary treatment arrangements required during implementation.
Operational advantages of upgrading existing UV systems
Beyond capital investment, retrofitting can improve the operation and maintainability of an existing UV installation.
Modern systems can incorporate UV intensity monitoring, automatic quartz sleeve cleaning, PLC-based controls, alarm management, operating data logging and SCADA integration.
These features help operators monitor equipment condition, identify abnormal operating conditions and manage the disinfection process more effectively.
Where the plant has multiple channels or suitable bypass arrangements, installation works may also be planned in stages to reduce operational disruption. However, uninterrupted treatment cannot be assumed without reviewing the plant configuration.
Is retrofitting always better than complete replacement?
Not necessarily.
A complete replacement may be more appropriate when existing channels are structurally deteriorated, hydraulic limitations cannot be resolved, the required disinfection capacity has increased significantly or adaptation costs approach those of a new installation.
The correct decision should be based on a technical and lifecycle cost comparison between retrofitting and complete replacement, considering disinfection performance, hydraulic feasibility, CAPEX, OPEX, maintenance, installation risks and future treatment requirements.
The objective is not simply to retain the existing infrastructure, but to determine whether it can support a reliable and technically compliant UV disinfection system.
When does an open-channel UV retrofit make technical and economic sense?
An open-channel UV retrofit is technically and economically attractive when the existing infrastructure remains suitable for continued operation, but the installed UV equipment no longer meets the plant's operational, maintenance or disinfection requirements.
The decision should be based on a structured assessment of the existing installation rather than on equipment age alone.
Signs that an existing UV plant may be suitable for retrofitting
A retrofit should be considered when:
Existing channels remain structurally sound: Concrete structures are in acceptable condition and can accommodate new UV equipment without extensive reconstruction.
Hydraulic conditions are compatible: Available channel dimensions, operating water levels and flow distribution can support the required disinfection performance.
UV equipment is becoming obsolete: Existing lamps, ballasts, modules or control systems are difficult to maintain or replace.
Operating costs are increasing: Energy consumption, cleaning requirements or equipment failures justify evaluating more modern technology.
Treatment requirements have changed: Variations in flow, UV transmittance (UVT), suspended solids or required microbial reduction make the original system design unsuitable.
Automation needs improvement: The plant requires modern PLC/HMI controls, UV intensity monitoring, alarm management, power regulation or SCADA integration.
Maintenance accessibility can be improved: New module configurations or cleaning systems could simplify operation without major modifications to the existing channels.
These conditions indicate that a retrofit may be worth evaluating, but they do not automatically establish its technical feasibility.
What can limit the feasibility of a UV retrofit?
Even when the existing concrete channels are in good condition, technical constraints may prevent a straightforward equipment replacement.
Potential limitations include:
Insufficient channel width, depth or available installation length.
Inadequate hydraulic conditions or excessive head loss.
Unsuitable minimum or maximum operating water levels.
Insufficient space for module installation, lifting or maintenance.
Increased design flow beyond the capacity of the existing channels.
Water quality conditions requiring substantially greater UV treatment capacity.
Incompatibility between new equipment and existing electrical or automation infrastructure.
Lack of a suitable bypass or alternative disinfection arrangement during installation works.
Some of these limitations can be resolved through engineering modifications, while others may make a new installation more appropriate.
How should the economic feasibility be evaluated?
The economic assessment should compare the complete cost of retrofitting against the cost of constructing a new UV installation.
This comparison should consider:
New UV equipment and associated accessories.
Required civil and hydraulic modifications.
Electrical and automation upgrades.
Installation and commissioning activities.
Temporary treatment arrangements and operational disruption.
Expected energy consumption.
Lamp replacement and maintenance costs.
Spare-parts availability and long-term technical support.
The lowest initial investment is not necessarily the most economical solution over the equipment's service life.
A well-engineered retrofit should offer a technically viable solution with competitive total lifecycle cost, acceptable installation risk and reliable disinfection performance.
What is the first step in evaluating an existing UV installation?
Before selecting replacement equipment, the existing plant should undergo a technical assessment covering its hydraulic configuration, water quality, disinfection requirements and operational constraints.
Existing drawings, equipment documentation and operating records provide an initial basis, but site measurements or additional inspections may be necessary to verify the actual installation conditions.
Longking EnTech Europe can support this preliminary evaluation and assess whether its NLQ open-channel UV systems can be adapted to the existing infrastructure.
The objective is to determine whether modernization is technically justified before proceeding with detailed UV sizing and equipment selection.
Why must UV dose and system sizing be recalculated before a retrofit?
An open-channel UV retrofit should begin with a reassessment of the required disinfection performance, not simply with the replacement of existing lamps or UV modules.
The original UV installation may have been designed for different flow rates, water quality conditions or microbiological requirements. Even when the concrete channels remain suitable, the existing equipment configuration may no longer provide the required performance under current operating conditions.
The number of UV lamps, their electrical power and the nominal capacity of the equipment do not, by themselves, establish the UV dose delivered to the water.
Which parameters determine UV disinfection performance?
The technical assessment should consider several interacting design parameters:
Design flow: Maximum, nominal and minimum flow rates, expressed in m³/h, including variations between operating channels.
UV transmittance (UVT): UVT measured at 254 nm through a 1 cm optical path, reflecting the ability of UV radiation to penetrate the treated water.
Total suspended solids (TSS): Suspended particles can shield microorganisms from UV radiation and affect treatment performance.
Required disinfection objective: Target microorganism concentrations, required log reduction or applicable regulatory criteria.
Lamp characteristics: UV-C output, lamp ageing assumptions, operating power and the characteristics of the selected lamp technology.
Quartz sleeve fouling: Expected fouling conditions and the effectiveness of the cleaning system.
Hydraulic conditions: Flow distribution, water velocity, operating water levels and exposure conditions within the UV channel.
Equipment configuration: Number, arrangement and positioning of UV modules in relation to the available channel geometry.
These parameters must be evaluated together to establish an appropriate UV system configuration.
What is the difference between UV lamp power and UV dose?
UV lamp power is generally expressed in watts (W), while UV dose, or fluence, is expressed in mJ/cm².
The electrical power of a lamp is not equivalent to its germicidal UV-C output, and neither value directly establishes the dose received by microorganisms travelling through the treatment system.
The effective disinfection performance depends on the UV radiation field, hydraulic exposure conditions, water quality and microorganism sensitivity.
For this reason, installed electrical power should never be used as the sole basis for comparing or dimensioning UV retrofit solutions.
Where validated UV performance is required, equipment selection must also consider the applicable validation methodology and the operating conditions covered by that validation.
Why are hydraulic conditions particularly important in UV retrofits?
Existing channels impose physical constraints that can significantly influence the performance of a replacement UV system.
Even if the new modules fit within the available space, the hydraulic configuration must be assessed to verify that water flows through the irradiation zone under suitable conditions.
The review may include:
Channel width, depth and available installation length.
Minimum and maximum operating water levels.
Flow distribution between channels.
Inlet and outlet arrangements.
Hydraulic head loss.
Available space for module positioning and maintenance.
Compatibility with existing or proposed water-level control systems.
Depending on the installation, hydraulic modifications or additional flow-distribution measures may be required.
A retrofit design must therefore verify both the UV disinfection requirements and the hydraulic compatibility of the new equipment.
How does Longking approach UV recalculation for retrofit projects?
Longking EnTech Europe evaluates open-channel UV modernization projects using updated operating conditions and the specific constraints of the existing installation.
The engineering process begins by reviewing the required disinfection objective, design flow, UVT, suspended solids and available channel geometry.
Based on these inputs, the most appropriate configuration can be evaluated within the Longking NLQ open-channel UV portfolio.
The assessment also considers the cleaning system, UV intensity monitoring, water-level control, automation interfaces and maintenance requirements.
Where project specifications require validated disinfection performance, the selected equipment and its operating conditions must be assessed against the available validation documentation.
The objective is not simply to replace the existing UV equipment with more powerful technology, but to develop a configuration that provides the required disinfection performance under the actual conditions of the plant.
What components should be upgraded in an open-channel UV retrofit?
Modernizing an existing open-channel UV disinfection system involves more than replacing lamps or installing new modules.
A successful retrofit should evaluate the complete disinfection installation, including UV equipment, quartz cleaning, instrumentation, power control, automation and interfaces with the existing plant.
The scope of the upgrade depends on the condition of the installed equipment, the required disinfection performance and the infrastructure that can be retained.
1. UV modules and lamp technology
The UV modules are the core components of the disinfection system. Their arrangement determines how UV radiation is distributed through the water and how the equipment interacts with the existing hydraulic conditions.
When replacing obsolete modules, the engineering assessment should consider:
Compatibility with existing channel dimensions and operating water levels.
Lamp technology, electrical power and germicidal UV-C output.
Number and arrangement of lamps and modules.
UV dose requirements and applicable validation conditions.
Accessibility for lamp replacement and maintenance.
Materials suitable for continuous immersion and the operating environment.
Compatibility with existing or proposed lifting and support structures.
Longking's NLQ open-channel portfolio incorporates low-pressure amalgam UV lamps in modular configurations designed for different hydraulic and installation requirements.
The portfolio includes 320 W and 800 W lamp technologies, depending on the selected equipment family.
However, higher electrical lamp power does not automatically mean higher disinfection efficiency. The appropriate configuration must be established through UV sizing and assessment of the actual treatment conditions.
Lamp service life must also be evaluated correctly. Estimated lamp durability and guaranteed disinfection performance are different concepts, and the applicable operating hours, ageing factors and guarantees depend on the selected lamp and contractual conditions.
2. Automatic quartz sleeve cleaning systems
Quartz sleeve fouling can significantly reduce the UV radiation reaching the treated water.
Deposits on the sleeve surface may develop progressively depending on water quality, suspended solids and operating conditions.
For this reason, cleaning technology is an important consideration when modernizing an existing UV system.
Longking's NLQ open-channel systems can incorporate automatic mechanical cleaning using wipers that move along the quartz sleeves, reducing the need for frequent manual cleaning.
The standard mechanical cleaning arrangement uses pneumatic actuation and therefore requires a suitable compressed-air supply.
Depending on the selected NLQ configuration, online chemical cleaning may also be evaluated as a project-specific option, with different actuation and utility requirements.
The retrofit assessment should consider:
Existing fouling conditions and cleaning frequency.
Effectiveness of the proposed cleaning method.
Compressed-air availability where pneumatic cleaning is used.
Cleaning-system accessibility and maintenance.
Compatibility with existing plant operating procedures.
Additional utilities required by optional cleaning configurations.
The cleaning strategy should be selected according to the wastewater characteristics and the equipment configuration rather than assuming that one solution is optimal for every plant.
3. UV monitoring, power regulation and PLC/SCADA integration
Older UV installations may have limited monitoring capabilities, obsolete control equipment or insufficient integration with the plant's central automation system.
A retrofit provides an opportunity to modernize these functions alongside the UV equipment.
Depending on the project requirements, the upgraded system can incorporate:
UV intensity sensors.
Water-level measurement and protection interlocks.
Lamp operating status and fault detection.
Automatic lamp power regulation.
Monitoring of cleaning-system operation.
PLC-based control with HMI visualization.
Alarm management and operating history.
Communication with the plant SCADA system.
Integration of available flow and UVT signals.
Automatic power regulation, often referred to as dose pacing, can adjust lamp operation according to the configured control strategy and available process information.
This can help optimize energy consumption when operating conditions permit, while maintaining the required disinfection performance within the validated or specified operating envelope.
However, UV intensity measurement alone does not directly establish the dose delivered to microorganisms. Appropriate disinfection control requires consideration of the hydraulic conditions, UVT, lamp characteristics and applicable design or validation methodology.
For retrofit projects, the existing electrical panels, field instrumentation, communication protocols and control interfaces must be reviewed before defining the final automation architecture.
4. Factory Acceptance Testing and commissioning
Replacing an existing UV system introduces technical and operational risks, particularly when the new equipment must be integrated into an installation that remains in service.
Structured testing can help reduce these risks before and during implementation.
Depending on the agreed project scope, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) may include:
Visual and dimensional inspection of equipment.
Verification of electrical assemblies and connections.
Lamp and ballast operation.
UV intensity sensor signal verification.
Automatic cleaning-system operation.
PLC and HMI functionality.
Alarm and safety-interlock simulations.
SCADA communication testing.
Verification of control responses to simulated operating conditions.
FAT verifies defined equipment functions under factory test conditions. It should not be confused with biological validation of UV disinfection performance or with verification of actual treatment performance at the installed plant.
After installation, commissioning and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), where required, should verify that the equipment operates correctly within the plant's actual hydraulic, electrical and control conditions.
The final verification scope must be established according to the project requirements and applicable performance criteria.
5. Should every component be replaced during a retrofit?
Not necessarily.
A well-planned retrofit should identify which existing assets can be retained safely and which components require replacement or modification.
Depending on their condition and compatibility, elements such as concrete channels, lifting structures, hydraulic control devices, power distribution infrastructure or certain plant instruments may be reused.
Other components may require replacement because of obsolescence, insufficient performance, incompatibility or maintenance limitations.
The objective is to develop a technically justified modernization scope, preserving suitable infrastructure while upgrading the elements needed to achieve reliable UV disinfection and long-term operational support.
Which Longking UV systems are suitable for open-channel retrofit projects?
Longking EnTech Europe offers different configurations within its NLQ open-channel UV disinfection portfolio, allowing engineers to evaluate suitable solutions for both new installations and modernization of existing treatment plants.
For retrofit projects, the three main configurations to consider are NLQ-H, NLQ-V and NLQ-HPV.
The appropriate choice depends on the required UV disinfection performance, existing channel geometry, hydraulic conditions, available installation space and maintenance requirements.
NLQ-H: horizontal UV modules with 320 W lamps
The Longking NLQ-H Series uses 320 W low-pressure amalgam UV lamps arranged horizontally within open-channel modules.
This configuration can be particularly suitable for retrofit projects involving:
Existing channels with dimensions compatible with horizontal modules.
Small and medium treatment flows, subject to actual UV sizing.
Installations where horizontal module access facilitates maintenance.
Projects requiring adaptation to existing civil infrastructure.
Applications where automatic mechanical cleaning and power regulation are required.
NLQ-H incorporates automatic pneumatic quartz-sleeve cleaning as its standard solution. Selected configurations can also accommodate online chemical-assisted cleaning when required by the application and compatible with the module arrangement.
For retrofit projects, the horizontal architecture may help preserve existing channels when the hydraulic and dimensional conditions are suitable.
NLQ-V: vertical UV modules with 320 W lamps
The Longking NLQ-V Series uses the same 320 W low-pressure amalgam lamp technology in a vertical module arrangement.
This configuration provides an alternative when the existing channel geometry or available installation space favours vertically positioned lamps.
NLQ-V can be considered for:
Open channels where vertical module integration is technically preferable.
Installations with limited space for horizontal arrangements.
Retrofit projects requiring a different module orientation.
Applications where module layout, water depth and maintenance access favour vertical equipment.
The system can incorporate automatic pneumatic cleaning, UV intensity monitoring, water-level protection and PLC-based control.
The selection between NLQ-H and NLQ-V should not be based solely on lamp power, since both use 320 W technology. Channel geometry, hydraulic conditions and maintenance accessibility are decisive factors.
NLQ-HPV: high-power vertical UV modules with 800 W lamps
The Longking NLQ-HPV Series is designed around 800 W low-pressure amalgam UV lamps in a vertical configuration.
Its reference module incorporates 16 UV lamps, providing high installed UV-C capacity within a modular arrangement.
This technology is particularly relevant for:
High-flow municipal wastewater treatment plants.
Large water reuse installations.
Retrofit projects where high treatment capacity must be accommodated within constrained channel dimensions.
Installations where a higher-power lamp configuration may reduce the number of individual lamps required.
Projects requiring modular equipment with automatic cleaning and integrated control.
NLQ-HPV uses automatic pneumatic quartz-sleeve cleaning, requiring a suitable compressed-air supply.
The system also incorporates UV intensity monitoring, water-level protection, PLC/HMI control and lamp power regulation according to the selected control strategy.
However, 800 W lamps do not automatically make NLQ-HPV the best retrofit solution. The actual suitability of the system depends on the UV dose requirements, hydraulic exposure conditions and available space.
How should the correct NLQ configuration be selected?
For an existing open-channel installation, the selection process should compare the three configurations against the actual plant requirements.
The main factors include:
Design flow and operating range.
Minimum UVT and relevant water quality parameters.
Required microbiological disinfection performance.
Existing channel dimensions and water levels.
Available length for UV banks and hydraulic transitions.
Installation and maintenance accessibility.
Cleaning requirements and available utilities.
Electrical and automation interfaces.
Redundancy requirements.
Equipment investment and expected lifecycle cost.
The evaluation should also establish whether the selected configuration can meet the applicable disinfection performance and validation requirements.
Longking EnTech Europe's objective is not to promote one NLQ family for every retrofit project, but to identify the most suitable configuration for each installation.
Depending on the existing infrastructure, a horizontal 320 W system, a vertical 320 W system or a high-power 800 W vertical system may provide the most appropriate technical solution.
For further information, explore our Longking open-channel UV disinfection systems and their available configurations.
What are the expected benefits of a well-engineered UV retrofit?
A properly designed open-channel UV retrofit can improve disinfection reliability, energy management, maintenance conditions and operational visibility while preserving existing infrastructure where technically feasible.
However, these benefits are not automatic. Their magnitude depends on the condition of the original installation, the selected replacement equipment, water quality, hydraulic conditions and the operating strategy of the plant.
More consistent UV disinfection performance
Modernization provides an opportunity to reassess the existing UV system against current treatment requirements.
By combining appropriate UV sizing, compatible hydraulic integration, UV intensity monitoring and effective quartz sleeve cleaning, a retrofit can help maintain more consistent disinfection conditions.
The selected system must be capable of achieving the required treatment performance within its specified or validated operating conditions.
Improved energy efficiency and operating costs
Modern UV systems can incorporate automatic lamp power regulation, allowing electrical consumption to be adjusted according to the configured operating strategy and available process signals.
Potential benefits include:
Reduced unnecessary operation at maximum lamp power.
Improved energy management during periods of lower treatment demand.
More effective use of the installed UV equipment.
Better visibility of energy consumption and operating conditions.
Actual energy savings depend on the previous equipment, the plant's operating profile and the control strategy implemented. They should be assessed through project-specific calculations or operating data rather than assumed.
Reduced maintenance burden and improved reliability
Replacing obsolete equipment with modern UV modules, automatic cleaning systems and updated controls can simplify routine maintenance and reduce dependence on difficult-to-source spare parts.
Depending on the installation, improvements may include:
Less frequent manual quartz sleeve cleaning.
Better access to lamps and replaceable components.
Earlier detection of equipment faults.
More structured preventive maintenance.
Improved availability of compatible spare parts.
Maintenance intervals and operating availability must still be evaluated according to the selected equipment and site conditions.
Better monitoring, automation and plant integration
A retrofit can also improve how operators supervise and manage the UV disinfection process.
PLC/HMI controls, alarm histories, UV intensity monitoring and SCADA communication can provide better operational visibility and support more informed maintenance decisions.
These capabilities are especially valuable when the UV system must operate within a larger wastewater treatment plant with centralized automation and reporting requirements.
How can the benefits of a UV retrofit be verified?
Whenever practical, the project should establish a baseline before modernization and compare relevant operating indicators after commissioning.
Useful indicators may include:
Compliance with the required microbiological disinfection objectives.
Electrical energy consumption, including kWh/m³ treated where suitable data are available.
Lamp operating hours and replacement frequency.
Cleaning frequency and maintenance interventions.
Equipment faults and unplanned downtime.
Operating alarms and relevant UV monitoring data.
Comparisons must account for differences in flow, UVT, water quality and operating conditions.
The value of a UV retrofit should ultimately be measured through reliable disinfection performance, sustainable operating costs, improved maintainability and the effective use of existing infrastructure.
Longking EnTech Europe's retrofit approach considers these objectives from the preliminary technical assessment through system engineering, equipment integration, commissioning and lifecycle support.
What information is needed to evaluate an open-channel UV retrofit?
A preliminary UV retrofit assessment should begin with the technical and operational characteristics of the existing installation.
The objective is to determine whether new UV equipment can be integrated into the current infrastructure while meeting the required disinfection performance.
Complete engineering documentation is not always necessary for an initial review. However, several essential parameters must be established before a reliable equipment configuration can be proposed.
1. Water flow and disinfection requirements
The first step is to establish the actual treatment duty:
Total design flow in m³/h.
Maximum, nominal and minimum operating flow.
Number of existing UV channels and their operating arrangement.
Flow distribution between channels.
Required microbiological disinfection performance, expressed as target effluent quality or log reduction.
Applicable UV dose or validation requirements, where specified.
2. Water quality and UV transmittance
The characteristics of the treated water directly influence UV equipment sizing.
The most relevant parameters include:
UV transmittance (UVT) at 254 nm, measured through a 1 cm optical path.
Total suspended solids (TSS), in mg/L.
Expected variations in water quality.
Available microbiological data.
Historical quartz sleeve fouling or cleaning problems.
Where possible, the assessment should use representative operating values rather than relying solely on ideal or average water quality conditions.
3. Existing channel dimensions and hydraulic conditions
A UV retrofit must be compatible with the existing civil infrastructure.
Useful information includes:
Channel width, depth and available installation length.
Minimum and maximum operating water levels.
Inlet and outlet arrangements.
Existing water-level control system.
Available hydraulic head and allowable head loss.
Space for UV module installation, lifting and maintenance.
Existing channel drawings and photographs.
This information helps determine whether horizontal or vertical UV modules can be installed and whether hydraulic modifications may be necessary.
4. Existing UV equipment and automation
The technical review should also identify the equipment currently installed and the infrastructure that may be retained.
Relevant information includes:
Existing UV system manufacturer and model.
Number, type and power of the installed lamps.
Existing cleaning-system configuration.
Electrical supply and available power.
Control panel and PLC configuration.
Available flow, level and UVT signals.
SCADA communication requirements.
Existing lifting equipment and maintenance arrangements.
Details about recurring failures, equipment obsolescence and spare-parts availability can also help establish the priorities of the modernization.
5. Project implementation constraints
Finally, the feasibility assessment should consider how the retrofit would be executed.
Important considerations include:
Whether the plant must remain operational during installation.
Availability of standby channels or bypass arrangements.
Permitted shutdown periods.
Site access and installation restrictions.
Required commissioning and acceptance procedures.
Project schedule and operational priorities.
These conditions may influence the equipment configuration as much as the technical sizing itself.
Can a preliminary UV retrofit assessment begin without all this information?
Yes. An initial technical review can begin with a limited set of reliable data.
For a first evaluation, Longking EnTech Europe primarily needs the design flow, number of channels, UVT, suspended solids, required disinfection performance and existing channel dimensions.
With this information, our engineering team can begin assessing potential configurations within the NLQ open-channel UV portfolio and identify any additional data required.
A final technical proposal will require verification of the relevant design parameters, hydraulic compatibility, installation conditions and applicable performance requirements.
The purpose of this process is to develop a suitable modernization solution without assuming that the existing infrastructure or original UV design conditions remain valid.
Can your existing UV disinfection system be upgraded without rebuilding the plant?
An open-channel UV retrofit can provide an effective way to modernize wastewater disinfection while preserving existing channels and civil infrastructure wherever technically feasible.
However, a successful modernization project requires more than replacing obsolete UV lamps or modules. The existing hydraulic conditions, water quality, required disinfection performance, equipment configuration and operational constraints must all be evaluated before selecting the most appropriate solution.
Longking EnTech Europe supports wastewater treatment operators, engineering companies and EPC contractors in evaluating UV retrofit projects through:
Preliminary technical assessment of existing UV installations.
Evaluation of hydraulic and dimensional compatibility.
UV system sizing based on actual treatment requirements.
Selection between NLQ-H, NLQ-V and NLQ-HPV configurations.
Integration of automatic cleaning, UV monitoring and PLC/SCADA systems.
Equipment engineering, manufacturing coordination, commissioning and lifecycle support.
Our objective is to identify a technically appropriate modernization strategy that combines reliable UV disinfection, operational efficiency, maintainability and effective use of existing infrastructure.
Whether your project involves replacing an obsolete UV system, upgrading the treatment capacity or improving operational reliability, our engineering team can help assess the available alternatives.
Request a preliminary UV retrofit assessment
If you are considering an upgrade, share your existing channel drawings, design flow, UVT, suspended solids and required disinfection performance with our team.
We can use this information to begin evaluating the feasibility of adapting a Longking NLQ system to your installation and identify any additional technical information required.