An ultraviolet (UV) disinfection reactor based on excimer lamp technology was designed by integration of the results of numerical simulations based on computational fluid dynamics and a fluence rate (E') distribution model for cylindrical excimer lamps. The E' distribution model was developed based on a point source approach that accounts for absorption, dissipation, reflection, and refraction within the reactor system. A prototype reactor was constructed with a xenon-bromide excimer lamp and an internal spiral baffle. Experiments were conducted on the reactor to test its effectiveness for disinfection of drinking water in situations where the use of mercury-based UV sources is restricted or undesirable; a similar design approach could be used to develop an excimer UV reactor for disinfection of other fluid media, including wastewater or air.