5,000 TPD Open-Channel Wastewater UV Project with 0.8 m Effective Water Depth

Published 16 October 2026 · Customer identity withheld

KONCHE supplied a KCW-UV5.12KW open-channel UV system for a 5,000-tonne-per-day wastewater project in China. The configuration uses 16 lamps rated at 320 W each, with an effective lamp water depth of 0.8 m. The installation passed acceptance, met the project's Class I A discharge requirements and entered operation. This case illustrates the channel dimensions and disinfection conditions defined for a specific wastewater installation.

Project configuration and channel dimensions

The project used one UV system. Its specified equipment dimensions were 2.2 × 0.2 × 1.0 m, with a channel measuring 4.5 × 0.3 × 1.2 m. The distinction matters for procurement: equipment dimensions and the surrounding channel dimensions are separate inputs to the installation layout.

The lamp count follows the specified 2 × 8 arrangement. Multiplying 16 lamps by 320 W gives 5.12 kW of combined lamp rating; this figure is not a measured electricity-consumption result for the complete installation.

What channel information should a buyer provide for UV selection?

A daily treatment figure identifies the project's scale, but the channel drawing explains the installation space. In this case, the drawing dimensions and effective lamp water depth were explicit equipment-selection conditions. A buyer comparing proposals should keep those values attached to the quoted configuration rather than comparing lamp wattage alone.

For a new project, provide the available channel width and depth, normal and peak flows, operating water levels, and access around the proposed equipment. Include drawings of the upstream and downstream interfaces so that the UV supplier and civil engineering team can review the same layout.

The KCW open-channel UV product page introduces the relevant equipment family. The UV system sizing guide provides a starting point for preparing the flow and water-quality information needed for a technical proposal.

What did Class I A mean for this wastewater project?

The project contract referenced the Class I A requirements of GB18918-2002, the Chinese discharge standard for municipal wastewater treatment plants. It specified a fecal coliform limit of no more than 1,000 per litre and required the other relevant physical and chemical indicators of the water entering UV disinfection to meet the agreed Class I A conditions.

That allocation defines the role of UV within the treatment process. UV provides the disinfection stage; the upstream treatment process must address the other required water-quality indicators. The completed project passed acceptance and met its discharge requirements.

For an overseas installation, the proposal should use the receiving site's applicable discharge requirements. This Chinese project's contractual standard is a description of its acceptance basis, not a substitute for another country's requirements.

Why does the effective water depth belong in the equipment discussion?

The specified effective lamp water depth was 0.8 m, while the channel's full depth was 1.2 m. These are different dimensions and should not be used interchangeably. Keeping them separate helps the civil engineering team and UV supplier discuss the intended operating arrangement accurately.

A comparable project also needs the quality of the treated water entering the UV stage. UV transmittance, suspended solids and the required disinfection endpoint are relevant inputs to that review. KONCHE's UV water treatment systems guide explains the wider selection context.

Project outcome

The 5,000-tonne-per-day installation passed acceptance and entered operation after meeting the project's requirements. It provides a practical reference for buyers seeking an open-channel UV supplier that can work with defined channel dimensions, effective water depth and a specified discharge objective.

Frequently asked questions

How many lamps were used in this system?

The specified arrangement was 2 × 8 lamps. With 16 lamps rated at 320 W each, the combined lamp rating was 5.12 kW.

Was the effective water depth the same as the full channel depth?

No. The effective lamp water depth was 0.8 m. The specified channel dimensions included a full depth of 1.2 m.

Did UV replace the upstream wastewater treatment process?

No. The contract required the other relevant physical and chemical indicators of the water entering UV disinfection to meet the agreed conditions. UV served as the disinfection stage.

What information is needed to quote a similar installation?

Provide design and peak flows, treated-water quality, discharge requirements, operating water levels and a channel drawing. Those inputs allow the equipment and site interfaces to be discussed together.