ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF FAN-FILTER BASED AIR PURIFYING SYSTEMS IN CREATING A HEALTHY MICRO-ENVIRONMENT INDOORS

Abstract

Particulate matter has been gaining traction in the research community as one of the predominant factors in affecting the health and well being of the human population. Studies have shown that long term exposure to particulate matter can increase the risk of nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory-related diseases, resulting in death. The small diameter of particulate matter allows it to be an airborne vector for the transmission of infectious diseases like COVID-19, which can cause serious damage to human health. With the gradual return of employees to workplaces after the lockdown measures for COVID-19 are lifted, the focus is on the reduction of indoor air pollutants to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases.

This study aims to explore the filtration efficiency of different filters and the effectiveness of a portable air purifier (PAP) prototype in creating a clean localised micro-environment in the absence of natural and mechanical ventilation. The results of the study showed that the thickness of the filters affects their filtration capability. Besides High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) filters are also effective in reducing particulate matter when used within a PAP prototype. In terms of localised micro-environment testing, using the highest airflow rate of the PAP prototype does not equate to the best filtration rate as the high speed is just mixing the air together instead of cleaning it.