Application Fields of Air Filters

Air filter is everywhere in our daily life and work, it consists of non-woven or filter paper, adhesive, metal outer frame, etc., which can purify the air. So do you know the six major application fields of air filters?

1. Air Filters in Residence

As people's requirements for quality of life continue to improve, the original air filtration system in residential buildings has failed to meet people's needs, and electrostatic air filters with higher performance have become a substitute for the original air filters. However, compared with ordinary glass fiber filters, electrostatic air filters are limited in application due to the higher cost of filter media.

The U.S. 3M Company is a major manufacturer in the electrostatic air filter market. 3M's electrostatic air filters use a corrugated structure with a loose accumulation of media and low resistance to airflow. The corrugated structure also improves filtration efficiency, capturing more particles than flat filters.

In China, the vast majority of residential buildings do not have air filtration systems. With the deterioration of indoor air quality and the enhancement of people's environmental awareness, the application of air filtration systems in residential buildings is promising and has great market potential.

2. Air Filters in Office buildings, airports, stations

The widespread use of advanced office appliances has led to decreased air quality in offices. Computer terminals are a source of ozone and volatile organic compounds. Inkjet printers are a source of hydrocarbons and ozone. Laser printers produce hydrocarbons, ozone, and respirable particles. These products seriously pollute the indoor environment and pose a hazard to people and office facilities.

It is estimated that 30% of office buildings and public buildings in the United States have indoor air pollution problems, especially public buildings such as airports and stations face more pollution than office buildings. The air flow in the lobby of Chicago's DeHale Airport is about 51.66 million cubic meters per minute. To improve air quality, there are 1100 pre-filters, 1100 final filters and 2200 carbon filters.

3. Air Filters in Indoor and car purifiers

With the increase in allergy population, consumers are increasingly concerned about indoor and car air quality. Especially people with respiratory infections, as air pollution affects their normal life. People spend 90% of their time indoors, and indoor air pollution levels can be 2-5 times higher than outdoors. Almost all indoor spaces contain pollen, mold, spores, animal hair, smoke, viruses, and harmful fibers and dust, including asbestos. Poor air quality makes respiratory illnesses and allergies more severe. Air filters are an effective way to remove indoor air pollutants.

The market for electrostatic air filters and fiberglass HEPA filters is in high demand. In the United States, the market for air filters is growing by more than 10% per year. Japan is the second largest market after the United States. In China, the demand for air filters is also increasing. With the deteriorating air quality and the emergence of home office, there will be a huge potential market for air filters.

4. Air Filters in Production plants

Different plants have different air quality requirements. Plants equipped with fume hoods and pollution control equipment require large amounts of supplemental air. If the ambient air in the area where these plants are located is contaminated, the supplemental air must be filtered before it is distributed to the workplace. In the semiconductor manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries, the air cleanliness requirements are high. In a typical work environment, there are 500,000 particles per cubic foot of air, while in semiconductor production there is only one particle per cubic foot of air. Therefore, the shop floor needs to be cleaned with a continuous cycle of clean air filtered by HEPA filters. To maintain the cleanliness and life of the HEPA filter, several low efficiency pre-filters need to be used simultaneously.

For some specific plants that emit exhaust gases containing toxic mercury, arsenic, chromium, beryllium, etc., the emission limits are very strict. In order to meet the emission conditions, it is also necessary to use air filters to remove the harmful substances. Some German companies use HEPA filters in their filtration systems, in conjunction with pulsed air purification equipment to make the filter media corrugated and denser. An American company took another step forward and designed a tubular fine glass fiber HEPA filter.

5. Air Filters in Hospital

The health industry is a large and specific industry with high requirements for air cleanliness. In general, the low requirements for hospital air are filtered through a combination of pre-filters (30% efficiency) and final filters (90% efficiency). Under normal circumstances, HEPA filters are not required, but in special circumstances, such as specific testing and care areas in isolation rooms, HEPA filters are required.

Many HVAC systems in hospitals use outdoor air, which is a good strategy to prevent patients from being infected by microorganisms suspended in the HVAC system. However, using outdoor air exclusively does not eliminate the growth of airborne microorganisms and their adverse effects on the care environment. That is why many hospitals still need high-performance HVAC systems.

Health system clean rooms are mainly used in operating rooms. It is just beginning to be widely used for orthopedic surgery, which is long and prone to infection. The ideal level of control is an air cleanliness of 100 near the operating table. it is generally recommended to use a top HEPA filtration system that can cover at least 3m*3m, including the operating table and people.

Other areas where clean rooms are used include delivery rooms, nursery rooms, cardiac care units, etc. One of the new developments is the use of dental surgical clean rooms, reducing the risk of infection for medical staff during prolonged surgery.

6. Air filters in food processing

The use of air filters in the food industry is increasing, and the method of decontamination by sterilization is gradually not being used. Operating under aseptic conditions can improve the quality of food, increase its nutrition, improve its taste and extend its shelf life. In Europe, yogurt can be canned in clean rooms and the product can be stored for long periods of time without the addition of chemical preservatives. Breweries need 100,000 clean rooms to control air pollution around the filling plant and to protect draft beer. For this type of plant, top ventilation systems and filters with HEPA filters can be used.