Outdoors

SteriPen's UVR tech amplifies UV rays to speed up water purification

SteriPen's UVR tech amplifies UV rays to speed up water purification
The SteriPen Emergency+ kit will come with both 2- and 4-L water containers
The SteriPen Emergency+ kit will come with both 2- and 4-L water containers
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SteriPen Quantum purifier
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SteriPen Quantum purifier
SteriPen Emergency+ purifier
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SteriPen Emergency+ purifier
The SteriPen Emergency+ kit will come with both 2- and 4-L water containers
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The SteriPen Emergency+ kit will come with both 2- and 4-L water containers
The reflective bottles make the UV purification process quicker
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The reflective bottles make the UV purification process quicker
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There are many ways to filter and purify water out in the wild, the MSR Guardian and Oasis being a couple of the most recent we've looked at. Since 1999, Hydro-Photon has gone with ultraviolet light, offering lightweight, compact SteriPen purifiers that quickly zap away microorganisms. With its new Ultraviolet Reflection (UVR) technology, it makes the UV purification process even faster, so outdoor enthusiasts can get clean water more efficiently than ever.

UVR kits pair SteriPen portable, battery operated purifiers with soft RapidUVR water bottles. The bottles feature a proprietary reflective coating that amplifies and contains the UV rays from the purifier, speeding the process enough to purify up to 4 liters of water in 90 seconds, compared to 1 liter/90 seconds when a SteriPen is used without a UVR bottle.

Like Vapur's Anti-Bottles, the RapidUVR bottles are collapsible, helping to conserve backpack space. They look plenty practical for backpackers and other backcountry explorers looking to keep things light and compact.

The reflective bottles make the UV purification process quicker
The reflective bottles make the UV purification process quicker

Hydro-Photon will offer two US$79.95 SteriPen UVR kits beginning in August 2016. The SteriPen Quantum UVR System will combine a Quantum purifier, 2-liter RapidUVR bottle, 40-micron pre-filter and neoprene carry case. It will purify those 2 liters in as little as 90 seconds. The Emergency+ system will pack an Emergency+ purifier, 2- and 4-liter RapidUVR water bottles, and a neoprene carrying case. It will purify 4 liters of water in 90 seconds.

Hydro-Photon says that you can expect 50 liters worth of purifying power from four alkaline AA batteries and 150 from lithium batteries. The UV lamps will last around 3,000 treatments. The company is still finalizing the design of the UVR bottles so it does not yet have specs such as weight.

Source: SteriPen

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3 comments
3 comments
Roger Garrett
Please explain how a reflective surface can AMPLIFY the light.
Certainly the reflective surface can keep the light inside the container for a period of time that may be significantly longer than just shining through the liquid and then out of the container, and by that means cause it to purify the liquid quicker.
But I think the assertion that it also AMPLIFIES the light is simply bogus.
Bob Flint
How much power does the UV light need? Rough calculations based on the average alkaline AA power available of 2000mA/H and stated liters processed with a set of batteries, I estimate draw at 160W way too much for a relatively small solar/pouch to surface area to be powered by solar, but maybe it could recharge the batteries in between uses.
Also a clear version left in the sunlight natural UV for a longer time frame will also sterilize the water, provided the replaceable filters can pre-clean the water in the first place. .
the.other.will
The batteries would be recharged with a portable solar cell panel. That arrangement works if someone is already carrying 1 to power other devices. Otherwise, it wipes out the weight savings of the Steripen over a (human powered) reverse osmosis water filter. I'll get a Rapid UVR bottle to go with my Steripen, depending on cost.