Electrostatic air filtration is another name for the electrostatic precipitator (ESP). Ionic Breeze wss one very popular "ionic" air purifier using ESP filtration technology, Freidrich C90b was another. Neither of these air cleaners survived the ozone shake out, but they still serve as leading examples of the electrostatic type air cleaner. ESPs generally do NOT have HEPA filters, they impart a charge to incoming particulate, causing it to stick to an oppositely charged metal grid. ESPs are efficient cleaning devices that offer less restriction to air flow than HEPA filters. They can remove fine particulates to .01 micron when properly maintained. Electro-static filtration is common in industrial particulate emissions applications. Its adaptation to residential air cleaning has a few problems. An ESP charges the air in it with a very powerful electric field, creating ionized particles. Oppositely charged metal collector plates, often made of stainless steel, attract and collect most of the particles in the air stream.

ESP air cleaners run at high voltages. ”I was working in the lab late one night, When my eyes beheld an eerie sight, For my monster from his slab began to rise, And suddenly, to my surprise” The electrically charged nature of this group raises several issues in my mind: these suggest theme lyrics from the 1962 pop hit “Monster Mash” by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. Some plate precipitators, such as the once popular Ionic Breeze, are completely filterless. Others, like the Friedrich C90 series, will have a pre-filter and a post filter with some carbon. The first ESP filtration issue is: as dirt accumulates, the efficiency of the unit dramatically declines, the dirt electrically insulates the collector plate. Then newly charged particles don’t stick, re-entering the room, sticking to hair, carpet, furniture, clothes and lungs. The efficiency of electrostatic air filtration can drop 20% in the first few days after plate cleaning. If the collection plates are left unwashed, the dirt may stick to the metal so that heavy scrubbing is needed to clean them.

Other parts inside the air cleaner may also get gummed up. I gave my son a Honeywell 60001, which uses ESP filtration, collecting particles on a honeycomb grid. If not rigorously cleaned it bypasses. He ran the 60001 for three years in a dirty apartment, THEN we cleaned it. The entire interior of the Honeywell electrostatic was coated with black soot. Some consumer ESP’s are offered with special soak-off cleaners, which soak the plate overnight, to loosen the tightly bound particulates. When some models with electro-static air filtration get dirty, they begin to arc across the plates, making a sharp crackling pop. This was a common problem with the Friedrich unit. Popping can be a very frequent and annoying reminder that cleaning has been neglected. This is not loud like HEPA units, but many owners complain. Among Sharper Image Ionic Breeze's few credits is the fact that it doesn't pop, making only a minor hum. Electronic air filtration removes only particles, having no effect on gas phase VOC pollutants.

As my readers know, I consider this a fatal flaw. ESPs are rarely used by the scientific or medical communities where clean air is critical.benefits to air purifiers The zombies were having fun,do air purifiers work allergies The party had just begun!air purifier australia cheap Many common electronic products including copy machines, televisions, and hair dryers, produce trace levels of ozone. ESPs can produce substantial ozone. There are government safety standards for ozone in other settings. 50 parts-per-billion (ppb)concentration (equals .050 parts per million)is the established limit for indoor medical devices. CARB (California Air Resources Board) has excluded a list of air cleaners which exceed .050 parts per million.

Most ESP air filtration units crowd or exceed the 50 ppb medical device/CARB air cleaner limit. In a Consumer Reports two-inch (from device output) ozone test in the open lab, the Surround Air XJ-2000 produced the most ozone, 319 ppb, followed by the IonizAir P4620 at 168 ppb, the Ionic Breeze at 48 ppb, the Ionic Pro CL-369 at 33 ppb and the Brookstone Pure-Ion at 26 ppb. In the three-feet open lab test, the Brookstone emitted the least ozone of the ionizers at 2 ppb, and the IonizAir producing the most at 28 ppb. Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent: when we take anti-oxidant vitamins to protect our health, why add unnecessary oxidants to our air? I do not accept the idea that low levels of ozone can safely be added to the list of toxins and oxidants we already breathe. Some electronic air filtration air purifiers, including Ionic Breeze, but not Friedrich, charge particles positively and collector plates negatively. Positive ions were implicated in the original ion research as the bad guys.

Negative ions were the source of claimed health benefits before the feds banned such claims. I have seen no tests, but it seems to me like dirty ESP ionic air purifiers might be dumping positive ions. I am concerned that the strong electrical fields used to charge the particles in ESP air filters may be more harmful to health than competing technologies. Of course, my 120 volt AC purifiers, clocks, and fans are kept far away from my head while I sleep. I run the purifiers on high until bedtime, then use the remote to downshift, turning the unit down during the night. ESP air purifiers are not cheap, and with so many good products available, I don't give electro-static air filtration systems top ratings. End Electrostatic air filtration, Go to sitemapAir purifiers or air cleaners are designed to make living spaces more comfortable. They reduce air pollutants that contribute to poor indoor air quality and many filter common allergens like dust and pollen - a great benefit for people suffering from asthma or allergies.

If you're considering a room air purifier, keep these characteristics in mind:Many room air purifiers can go with you. If your den and your bedroom are similar sizes, you can move your air purifier to the room you're in.Some room air purifiers provide more filtering power than whole home units.Different air purifier manufacturers offer different features, styles, and filtering technologies to meet different consumer needs. Air Purifier Filtering Technologies HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air, and like the name says, these filters are designed to remove 99.97% of all airborne pollutants 0.3 microns or larger from the air that passes through the filter (these include tobacco smoke, household dust and pollen). Here is an idea of the size of particles we are talking about: These ultra-HEPA filters are designed to trap 99.999% of all airborne particles 0.3 microns or smaller from the air that passes through the filter (these include tobacco smoke, household dust and pollen).

Carbon filters are often used in combination with HEPA filters to reduce or eliminate odors, gases, VOCs in the air.  Although more carbon can be helpful, it can reduce air flow. When the highest quality, FDA probiotics are released into the air it creates a better balance of negative bacteria to positive bacteria creating a healthier air environment.  This has been proven as an extremely successful technology especially with dust mites, common allergens, odors, mold, viruses, bacteria and more.  It is not recommended for smoke or heavy VOCs as those found in some foreign countries.  In these cases, it is recommended to use the BetterAir systems in conjunction with a purifier that utilities a filter system such as Carbon and HEPA> Electrostatic units filter the air using static electricity and have a static charge on the filter to allow airborne particles to "stick" to the filter, just like static-charged clothing sticks together. These air purifiers create opposite charges on the metal plates or wires in a filter assembly.

They attract the dust, pollen, smoke and other particles to the plate or grid wire that contains an opposite charge. The assembly can be washed of the particles and used again. Ionizers may be combined with other technologies, including different types of filters. Ionization units emit a small charge to the airstream which cause particles to adhere to the filter or other surfaces by a magnetic-like attraction. Photo Catalytic Oxidation (PCO) LIKE FIELD CONTROLS Field Controls patented PRO-Cell  catalytic grid transforms odors and VOCs into fresh, breathable air. With 7 patents, the PRO-Cell ranks the TRIO Portable air purifier among the leading air purifiers on the market.  Fresh air exits the TRIO Portable  after it passes through the patented PRO-Cell.  This 722 sq in of titanium infused photocatalytic grid,  the PRO-Cell technology transforms odors, smoke, and VOCs info healthy air. Let me first tell you that our store's belief is that NO OZONE is the best ozone.