Development and Engineering Substantiation of a Low-voltage UV-C System for Bactericidal Sanitation of Milk-transport Containers

Abstract

Background: Hygienic preparation of milk-transport containers is important for limiting secondary contamination after washing and before filling. Aims: This study aims to develop and substantiate a compact low-voltage ultraviolet-C (UV-C) electrotechnical system for finishing bactericidal sanitation of milk-transport containers and to define its constructive, electrical, operating and safety parameters. Study Design: Engineering development, analytical calculation and safety-oriented substantiation of a prototype sanitation device. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Poltava State Agrarian University, Poltava, Ukraine, and Poltava Academy of Sciences of Technological Cybernetics of Ukraine, Poltava, Ukraine, during the development, engineering substantiation and manuscript preparation of the prototype in 2024 2026. Methodology: A portable low-voltage UV-C unit was developed for treatment of the internal air volume and accessible inner surfaces of previously washed and drained containers used for milk and dairy-product transportation. The study combined engineering design analysis, electrical calculation, UV-C dose modelling, estimation of energy consumption and safety assessment. The UV-C dose was formalised as the product of average irradiance and exposure time. Microbiological validation and irradiance mapping were not performed at this stage; these procedures are proposed as mandatory steps before industrial implementation. Results: The developed unit is intended for a treated volume of up to 5 m3 and has overall dimensions of 550 x 160 x 160 mm, a mass of 3 kg and an installed electrical power of 20 W. The device can be supplied from 12 or 24 V DC sources, with estimated current consumption of approximately 1.67 A and 0.83 A, respectively. For a maximum treated volume of 5 m3, the specific installed power is 4 W/m3. The calculated energy consumption of one sanitation cycle is 1.67 Wh for 5 min, 3.33 Wh for 10 min, 5.00 Wh for 15 min and 6.67 Wh for 20 min. Conclusion: The proposed system can be considered as a finishing reagent-free sanitation step after mechanical washing, detergent cleaning, rinsing and draining. It is not a substitute for standard cleaning procedures. Since no experimental microbial-reduction data are presented in this manuscript, its expected function is limited to an engineering hypothesis that must be confirmed by UV-C irradiance measurements and microbiological surface swab testing at selected exposure times.