Air Filtration System

Air filtration systems are used to filter the air to meet different goals. In residential settings, an air filtration system might be used to improve air quality. In industrial settings, the air may be filtered to meet stringent manufacturing requirements. Air filters may be used in agricultural settings to improve the wellbeing of indoor livestock.¹

Air filtration systems are effective at removing particulate matter, and at reducing the number of pathogens in the air. Air filtering can also reduce the presence of gaseous pollutants that are known to harm human health.

Methodology

How air filters work depends on the type of filter being used. Some air filtration systems reduce the number of contaminants in the air by adding an electrostatic or ionic charge to air as it enters the system. This causes the particles and suspended liquids in the air to either fall out of the air column outside of the filter, or to become attracted to a charged electric plate.

Air filtering that uses a filter medium to trap particles is a common implementation in many settings. These filters work by passing air through a filter that is made up of randomly arranged fibers, often fiberglass. The filters often have accordion-like ribs to increase the surface area available for filtering, which increases air flow. As the particle filled air passes through the filter, particles collide with fibers and get stuck.

Activated carbon or activated charcoal is used in air filtering systems to remove gaseous pollutants from the air. Air is passed over carbon that has been specially processed to have a large surface area. The gaseous pollutants either chemically react or physically adsorb (attach to the surface) of the activated carbon. This removes dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, acetone, and formaldehyde.

Uses for air filtration systems

Air filtration systems are used in industrial, research, medical, residential, and commercial settings.

Many industries require air that has been filtered to meet certain parameters. In computer chip manufacturing, for example, the smallest piece of dust or debris can cause expensive failures and delays. The process to create computer chips shines light through a large-scale model of the chip and focuses the resulting shadows onto a much smaller area. If a piece of dust were to block the light, the outline of the dust would end up on the chip²

In medical testing and medical research environments, filtered air may be mission-critical. For example, PCR, or polymerase-chain reaction, amplifies a small sample of genetic material until there is enough material to perform a test of some sort. If an airborne virus, bacteria, or other source of genetic material were to enter the PCR chamber prior to amplification, any tests results could be inaccurate.³ Air filtration systems are also used to reduce the transmission of airborne pathogens in hospital settings.⁴

Many residential homes include air filtering in the HVAC system in order to reduce particulate matter and help remove harmful volatile organic compounds.⁵

Well-maintained air filtration systems are very effective at removing particulate matter from the air. Clean air machines sold for residential use can remove allergens and pathogens from air in the home.