Air exchange rate as a means of ensure requirements to air purity on the basis of high-efficiency filters

Abstract

In the context of a constant increase in air pollution, the question arises of creating safe air zones with quality control of the air environment in places where people stay. The constant deterioration of air quality caused by military operations and their consequences, as well as the need to reduce the consumption of available energy resources, requires studying the recommendations on the optimal air exchange rate of existing European and American air quality requirements in residential and office buildings to achieve the required air quality with minimal energy consumption. The objectives of the study were to obtain data on the efficiency of air purification in a given volume at different air exchange rates. A separate task was to check the data declared by the manufacturer on the pressure drop across the filter with an increase in the volume of air passing through it. CleanZone5300 filtration systems with F9 class filter and HEPA H12/13 class filter were considered, which can provide an air exchange rate of 2 to 10 times. In a room volume of 225.9 m3, at a temperature of 18 ˚C, a relative humidity of 57-59 % and an initial number of particles in the room air of 533,440 particles/ft3 (15105 particles/m3), the ability of filtration units to purify the air at different rates was studied. It was concluded that even with a factor of 2, the filtration system can provide air purification up to 40 % when using the F9 filter and up to 60 % when using the HEPA H12/13 filter in a short period of time. Recirculation filter units are considered as the easiest way to increase the air exchange rate in the room, in our climatic conditions. With the possibility of avoiding the processing of air for heating or cooling when using outside atmospheric air. In the installations used in the study, the electrical power consumption of the fans is 300 W per hour. The conclusions of the study need to be tested in office premises with an existing ventilation system to determine the optimal multiplicity of achieving a given air quality when using filters or portable filter units.