Measurement of particle removal performance for a novel design of range hood

Abstract

A novel range hood (NRH) consisting of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter circulation component and exhaust component was designed to improve indoor air quality. The HEPA filter circulation component with an airflow rate of 72 l/s was used to remove the particulate matter generated by cooking activities and return filtered clean air to the room. The exhaust component was used to reject both particulate matter and other indoor air pollutants to the outdoors. Field measurements were carried out in an open kitchen of a two-floor residential house. The total occupied zone was about 160 m³ with a living area of 64 m2 (including an open kitchen) and a height of 2.5 m. Frying bacon that can generate a large number of particles of different sizes was used to simulate the daily cooking activities. Four operating conditions of the NRH were studied, i.e. 38 l/s exhaust airflow rate with the HEPA circulation on and off, and 78 l/s exhaust airflow rate with the HEPA circulation on and off. The concentration of PM0.1 count, PM2.5 mass, and PM10 mass were measured during measurements. The HEPA filter circulation part of the NRH can dramatically reduce the concentration of all sizes of particles generated by cooking activities. By combining the HEPA filter circulation component, the NRH can separately reduce the concentration of PM0.1, PM2.5, PM10 by up to 91.9%, 95.7%, 94.6% compared to that when only running the exhaust part.