AbstractTheoretical expressions are derived for the fraction of the energy, emitted from a UV lamp, which strikes the reactor wall in systems where a reflecting surface is included. Two geometries used in photoreactors are considered: a cylindrical lamp located at the focus of a superimposed parabolic reflecor. The predicted efficiencies are low, particularly for the elliptical reflector—reactor system, because of the energy that escapes through the ends of the system. Experimentally determined efficiencies for the elliptical type are in reasonable agreement with predicted values, suggesting that the theoretical method may be used for estimating efficiencies for different reactor system