High capacity filtration, UVC lamps and Quarts filtration for improving Indoor Air.

Jules Williams.   BAP BPI.                    IAQ Blog. 1/27/2012.

 Indoor air quality  is  one of the greatest concern  for comfort air-conditioning designers today. Indoor air is much more polluted when compared to out- door air.

We are experiencing higher reports of respiratory illness  today compared to any period in the history of modern medicine. The HVAC industry  has been addressing indoor air problems using high capacity filtration, ultraviolet and ozone treatments.

Ozone generation, accumulation and control have been a concern for indoor inhabitants and added resistance to HVAC systems caused by high capacity filtration has been a problem for HVAC design and installation.

A whole house duct mount HEPA Air Cleaner with Ultra Violet light and Photo Catalytic Filter is now available for providing clean indoor air without  adversely affecting the operation of the HVAC system, while providing exceptionally clean indoor air.

How it works.

Millions of airborne pollutants are carried through the air ducts of HVAC heating and cooling systems during normal operation. This compromises the quality of the indoor air. This air purifier is designed to be installed on the return side of the HVAC installation. A portion of the return air is diverted through the air purifier and goes through a 5 stage filtration system.

The air passes through pleated Carbon Pre-filter where lint and large particles 0.3 microns and larger are removed. The clean air passes through a reflection chamber where 2 ultra violet Germicides lamps emit powerful UVC light rays which are designed to kill or inhabit bacteria, viruses, mold, fungus, and microbiological growth. The lamps are producing no ozone. The ultra violet is also used to activate the Cinquartz media located below the UV lamps.

The photo catalytic oxidation filter is a quartz media coated with nanoparticles of titanium dioxide. The combined action of the UVC light and the Titanium Dioxide decomposes organic materials into basic molecules such as H2O and CO2 and reduces odors and volatile organic compounds as a result.

A carbon potassium permanganate final filter further reduces VOC’s and light gases. Clean air is returned to the occupied space.

My concern with the addition of the unit is the added  cost for operating the unit. The unit  consumes 1.7 amps and the recommendation is to operate the unit continually. This equates to 4896 watt hours or 5kWH.

The additional cost associated with operating the HVAC  with this enhanced filtration system should be compared  with the health derived from the air treatment delivered. Manufacturers have indicated an interest in installing variable speed motors into the units. Replacing the constant speed motor with a variable speed will significantly reduce the operating cost of the unit.

Air treatment using high capacity filtration, carbon filters and ultraviolet radiation has proven worthy of their ability to treat indoor air. This unit increases substantially this effort.