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Control of Respirable Particles in Indoor Air with Portable AirCleaners

Journal Article · · Atmospheric Environment
OSTI ID:876192

Eleven portable air cleaning devices have been evaluated for control of indoor concentrations of respirable particles using in situ chamber decay tests. Following injection of cigarette smoke in a room-size chamber, decay rates for particle concentrations were obtained for total number concentration and for number concentration by particle size with and without air cleaner operation. The size distribution of the tobacco smoke particles was log normal with a count median diameter of 0.15 {micro}m and a geometric standard deviation of 2.0. Without air cleaner operation, the natural mass-averaged surface deposition rate of particles was observed to be 0.1 h{sup -1}. Air cleaning rates for particles were found to be negligible for several small panel-filter devices, a residential-sized ion-generator, and a pair of mixing fans. Electrostatic precipitators and extended surface filters removed particles at substantial rates, and a HEPA-type filter was the most efficient air cleaner studied.

Research Organization:
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Director, Office of Science
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
876192
Report Number(s):
LBL--17939; EEB-VENT 84-20
Journal Information:
Atmospheric Environment, Journal Name: Atmospheric Environment Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 19; ISSN ATENBP; ISSN 0004-6981
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English