Device for the uv treatment of fluid streams

A device for the UV treatment of fluids flowing in a flow channel, comprising;

• a plurality of UV emitters that are disposed in the low channel;
• at least one UV sensor adapted to monitor an operating state of the UV emitters;
• at least one power supply means for supplying power to said UV emitters, wherein said at least one power supply means is configured to modulate an operating voltage, for individual ones of said emitters or groups of said emitters, that is supplied to said emitters during operation;
• and
• at least one unit, connected with said at least one UV sensor, for monitoring said UV emitters, wherein said at least one unit is configured to evaluate a modulation contained in UV radiation emitted by said UV emitters.

A method of operating a UV disinfection device provided with at least one UV emitter, including the steps of

• supplying at least one UV emitter with an operating voltage for a firing and continuous operation thereof,
• modulating said operating voltage, an operating current, or an electrical power of at least one of said UV emitters;
• detecting UV radiation emitted by said at least one UV emitter with a UV sensor that is adapted to temporally resolve the modulation;
• evaluating a signal recorded by said UV sensor;
• and
• checking whether the modulation in a signal given off by said UV sensor corresponds to a desired value.