1. science
2. ecology
3. pollution

How to solve the
biggest Indoor Air
Quality problem in the
Middle East
Lifa Air Ltd
Vesa Mäkipää
President
Lifa Air Ltd
Company founded in 1988, since
then focusing on combating with:
(i) environmental pollutants, (ii)
airborne diseases, and (iii) air
security
Two main product lines:
– Ventilation Hygiene
– Building Protection
Solutions
OFFICES:
Helsinki
Hong Kong
New York
The Lifa Air Concepts
• Methods, products and
services for inspecting
and cleaning the
HVAC ducts
• Superior energy efficient
filtration solutions to
remove airborne particulate
and gaseous impurities
Particle distribution in Urban air
#/cm3
mg/m3
Emissions from ground and vegetation,
resuspension caused by traffic
Gas-to-particle conversion
Emissions from
combustion sources
mg/m3
#/cm3
Organics+sulphate
0.01 µm
Dust, road dust,
biogenic primary particles
0.1 µm
1 µm
Tobacco smoke
Viruses
10 µm
Particle
Diameter
Spores
Bacteria
Edited from a Figure by Hanna Vehkamäki (University of Helsinki) and Veli-Matti Kerminen (FMI)
Viruses, biological agents, nerve agents –
invisible threats to be stopped Current air ventilation systems don`t
• Fine particles ( < 2.5 µm, < 1 µm)
– Increased risk of cardiac and respiratory
diseases
protect people:
Most air filtration solutions are
incapable of filtering fine particles or
gaseous impurities.
• Ultrafine ( < 0.1 µm)
– Toxicologically ultrafine particles are more
active than bigger particles with the same
total mass
– Exceptional ability to penetrate to the
pulmonary tissue
– E.g. diesel particles increase responses to
allergens and are likely to cause cancer
• Gas/vapor phase impurities cause
health problems and make people feel
uncomfortable
– Ozone
– VOCs (odors etc.)
Virus
LIFA 3G filtration principle
Optional
UV-light
Charger
•
The particles are charged and collected
on a charged filter media
-
Airflow
direction
-
Pre-filter
•
•
Collecting section
Low vapor gases like
nerve gases, VOC´s and
ozone etc. filtrated with
integrated gas filter
media
Collected microbes are
destroyed with the 3G
UV-light
3G Technology
Charging is crucial for the filtration of the
small particles
The unique 3G technology maintains the
charge and thus the high filtration
efficiency through out
the life time of the filter
HEPA class filtration with
a pressure drop and life
time of a EU7 (F7) class
filter + gas filter
UV-light sterilization for biological agents that are
trapped on the filter
Lifa3G Filtration provides 2 x half-hour
periods for sterilization of viable
particles that are trapped on the filter
every day
reduce risk of biohazard
Hypothetical Risk factor
Hypothetical risk of biohazard with and without daily sterilization
0.002
0.0015
Without UV
0.001
With UV
0.0005
0
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52
No. of Weeks
Low Airflow Resistance & High Loading Capacity
Energy-saving
Pollutant concentration (mg/m3)
By
(1) Low airflow resistance
(2) Less air changes per
hour needed to dilute
the indoor pollution
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Air Changes per Hour (ACH)
16
18
20
3G Particle Filtration Efficiency
Particle filtration standards
Filtration efficiency (%)
100
Electrically
Enhanced
3G filter
Filter
80
Measurement
devices:
EU 8
EU 7
60
40
Met One
ELPI
EU 6
20
EU 5
0
0.01
Particle size (µm)
0.1
1
Spores
Tobacco smoke
Viruses
10
Bacteria
WHO,2003: Inhaleable particles 0,5 – 5 µm, Recent studies: Also smaller particles are a health risk
Measurements by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Extraordinary filter quality
Two main factors governing the filtered air quality:
1.
2.
Filtration efficiency of the filter cleanliness of the incoming air
The airflow resistance of the filter adequacy of ventilation rate
i.e. too high airflow resistance resulted in poor ventilation and hence poor indoor air
quality
100
90
ln (P)
qF = −
∆p
P = penetration, P = 1− E, E = efficiency
∆p = pressuredrop
80
Quality factor (1/kPa)
Air Filter Quality
Factor
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Filter class
EU6
Penetration
P=0.65
pressure drop dp=18 Pa
EU7
P=0.35
dp=28 Pa
EU8
P=0.15
dp=40 Pa
H10
P=0.02
dp=85 Pa
3G H10
P=0.02
dp=45 Pa
H13
U15
P=0.00001 P=0.000001
dp=180 Pa dp=230 Pa
• LIFA 3G Filters and LIFA High Security Filters
effectively prevent the spread of airborne contaminants
Chemical detector
Particle sensor
High Security Filter
Low noise
auxiliary fan
Particle monitor
3G Filter
Product family
3G White Paper
• 3G IAQ products to provide good
indoor air quality
– 3G TJ models are designed to be
connected to HVAC ducts as supply or
exhaust air filters
– 3G EX can also be used as a standalone product since it contains a fan
– 3G M is a complete mobile system that
in addition to a fan, also contains
wheels
• 3G HS products are custom made high security
solutions that provide added protection against gas or
vapour phase impurities
LIFA 3G in a Fan Coil Unit
•
•
•
•
Decreases the drawbacks of recirculation
Odors emitted by humans; sweat,
perfumes, garlic
Fresh air
Tobacco smoke
Other small particles;
Supply
air
– viruses
– Bacteria
Customer satisfaction
Cabin
3G Filter
Recirculating air
Lifa 3G in a Fan Coil Unit
• Lifa filter bag
– Filtration efficiency > 50% for 0.3 µm
particles through out the life time of
the filter
• After 2 months of operation 88 %, right
after installation 95 %
– Filtration of odors
– Pressure drop < 90 Pa @ 180 l/s
• Lifa filter bag + Charger
– Filtration efficiency > 95% for 0.3 µm
particles through out the life time of
the filter
– Filtration of odors
– Pressure drop < 90 Pa @ 180 l/s
•
Optionally UVC with both applications
Case – Fan Coil Unit
100
Filtration Efficiency (%)
90
Lifa filters
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-10
14.11.05 14.11.05 15.11.05 15.11.05 16.11.05 16.11.05 17.11.05
0:00
12:00
0:00
12:00
0:00
12:00
0:00
Date
Standard filters in fan coil units do not filter small particles. Above filtration efficiency
for 0.3 micro meter particles measured in 4 fan coil units: 2 with standard filters and 2
with Lifa filters.
Filtration effciency improves with increasing particle size: for the standard filters
approximately 50% for 5 um and close to 0% for 0.3 um particles
Filters in the Exhaust/Return Air Unit
• Lifa 3G filter bag
• Particles and gases/vapors
filtrated before they enter the
return air ducts
– Clean return air ducts
– Reduces the load on Enthalpy
wheels etc.
• Reduces the negative effects of
re-circulation sensed by people
If ambient pollutants or emissions
indoors are the problem, the filters
should be placed into supply air
units
LIFA 3G Filter: superior solution
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Effectively prevent the spread of
airborne contaminants:
Nuclear and chemical accidents
Airborne biological, chemical and
Lifa 3G Filters
nuclear terror attack
Environmental pollutants
Gas filters ULPA / HEPA
Fine filters
Airborne Diseases (Bird flu, SARS,
Tuberculosis etc)
Fumes
Dust
Continuous protection, gives more
time to react than sensor (only)
Hair
based warning systems
Tobacco smoke
Molecules
High efficiency
Pollen
Diesel exhaust
High loading capacity, long service
Spores
life, less waste
Room/space specific flexible
Viruses
Bacteria
protection
Low pressure drop low energy
0.01
0.1
1
10
100
0.001
consumption
Particle size (micrometers)
Low flow resistance filter bypass is
Ultrafine Particles
Fine Particles
minimized
How long you can survive?
Thanks for your attention!
Headquarters
Lifa Air Ltd.
Hämeentie 103 D
00550 Helsinki
Finland
fax + 358 9 3948 5781
tel + 358 9 394 858
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact your local Lifa Air representative or visit www.lifa.net for
more information about other LIFA products and services.
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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