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Title: Filter collection efficiency and growth of microorganisms on filters loaded with outdoor air

Abstract

A laboratory setup was used to challenge a glass fiber media filter, a polymer fiber media filter, and a two-stage electrostatic precipitator (electronic air cleaner) with 100% ambient outside air for one year. Over the year, fractional efficiency measurements were made as well as microbial sampling to determine filter effectiveness on ambient viable bioaerosols. Both of the media filters demonstrated greater than 90% effectiveness on fungi and bacteria bioaerosols. The electrostatic precipitator demonstrated initial efficiency of 95% or greater, which decreased over time as the device was overloaded. Normal maintenance of the electrostatic precipitator was minimized in an effort to create conditions favorable to microbial growth. Over the span of the year, no observable microbial growth took place on any of the filters. Subsequent tests on the loaded filters, however, showed that observable microbial growth occurred within a month of continuous exposure to 90% relative humidity.

Authors:
 [1]; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. Honeywell Homes and Buildings, Golden Valley, MN (United States)
  2. Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
87394
Report Number(s):
CONF-950104-
TRN: IM9535%%25
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) winter meeting and exhibition, Chicago, IL (United States), 28 Jan - 1 Feb 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of ASHRAE transactions 1995. Volume 101, Part 1; PB: 1517 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; AIR FILTERS; MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY; BUILDINGS; INDOOR AIR POLLUTION; AIR QUALITY; ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS

Citation Formats

Kemp, S J, Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Kuehn, T H, Pui, D Y.H., Vesley, D, and Streifel, A J. Filter collection efficiency and growth of microorganisms on filters loaded with outdoor air. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Kemp, S J, Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Kuehn, T H, Pui, D Y.H., Vesley, D, & Streifel, A J. Filter collection efficiency and growth of microorganisms on filters loaded with outdoor air. United States.
Kemp, S J, Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Kuehn, T H, Pui, D Y.H., Vesley, D, and Streifel, A J. 1995. "Filter collection efficiency and growth of microorganisms on filters loaded with outdoor air". United States.
@article{osti_87394,
title = {Filter collection efficiency and growth of microorganisms on filters loaded with outdoor air},
author = {Kemp, S J and Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN and Kuehn, T H and Pui, D Y.H. and Vesley, D and Streifel, A J},
abstractNote = {A laboratory setup was used to challenge a glass fiber media filter, a polymer fiber media filter, and a two-stage electrostatic precipitator (electronic air cleaner) with 100% ambient outside air for one year. Over the year, fractional efficiency measurements were made as well as microbial sampling to determine filter effectiveness on ambient viable bioaerosols. Both of the media filters demonstrated greater than 90% effectiveness on fungi and bacteria bioaerosols. The electrostatic precipitator demonstrated initial efficiency of 95% or greater, which decreased over time as the device was overloaded. Normal maintenance of the electrostatic precipitator was minimized in an effort to create conditions favorable to microbial growth. Over the span of the year, no observable microbial growth took place on any of the filters. Subsequent tests on the loaded filters, however, showed that observable microbial growth occurred within a month of continuous exposure to 90% relative humidity.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/87394}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}

Conference:
Other availability
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