The Hi-Velocity air purification system

The new Hi-Velocity Air Purification System (HEPS filter) is an                                                                                                                                                               

optional extra indoor air purifier, which creates a cleaner working environment.

This air purification system has six worldwide patents and is unique because it combines three technologies into one product to address all three areas of indoor air purification:

1. High efficiency MER–11electrostatic particle filtration system (UK grade F5 to EN779) to 0.3 micron
2. Catalytic oxidation for the destruction and elimination of gas phase toxic chemicals and odours
3. Ultraviolet germicidal air disinfection for the reduction of airborne disease germs

The HEPS filter reduces all three classes of indoor air contamination:

1. Particulates
2. Microorganisms
3. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Particulates
Particulates include pollen, fungal spores, dust mites and lung damaging dust. They are 0.3 - 10 microns in size.

The HEPS system uses the ‘needled fibre electrostatic filtration media’ developed by 3M Corporation. The advantage of this is high efficiency particle reduction down to 0.3 microns, while maintaining high dirt loadings and low static back pressure.

Microorganisms
Microorganisms are bacteria (1 to 0.3 microns) and viruses (0.001 microns). They cause diseases including influenza, common colds, tuberculosis, Legionella and pulmonary disease.

The HEPS system reduces these microorganisms by using germicidal ultraviolet technology. The need for true air purification is growing as antibiotic resistant staph, tuberculoses bacterium and new types of viruses are evolving all the time.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are gas-phase chemicals, fumes and odours and are 0 .001 to gas molecules in size. They are emitted from certain solids or liquids including paint solvents, automobile exhaust, ozone, pesticides, cleaning fluids, chemicals and alcohol. They also include combustion by-products, such as carbon monoxide, NOX, propane and methane, and cconstruction materials including carpets, particleboard, foam insulation, floor finishes, laminated counters and man made materials.

Symptoms associated with VOCs include headaches, dizziness, irritation of eyes, nose and throat, constriction of airways and fatigue.

The HEPS system reduces VOCs by up to 90% or more using titanium photo-catalytic technology. It has 70 Square feet of titanium surface area. This is a major improvement in the field of indoor air quality.

The results of test data requested by the government of Hong Kong, and conducted at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dept. of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, showed a reduction in VOCs and airborne bacteria of 90% after 21/2 hours of operation.

This confirms that this combination technology will reduce of bacteria in the air from 111 colony-forming units per square meter to 7 cfu (colony forming units) per cubic metre in two hours. After two hours, the level of bacteria was reduced to below the level of detection (Reference 1).

Electrostatic particle filtration
The HEPS MERV–11Electrostatic Particle Filtration system (UK grade F5 to EN779) removes allergens including pollen, dust mites, bacteria and tobacco smoke.

The system uses full-length 25” germicidal ultraviolet lamps (wave length 254 nanometres) with aluminum reflectors. The ultraviolet light kills disease germs on contact and the photo-catalytic oxidation destroys toxic chemicals and eliminates odours. The titanium catalyst is a powerful oxidiser, and works with the germicidal ultraviolet light to efficiently deactivate microorganisms.

Most disease causing bacteria and viruses are deactivated with levels of ultraviolet light of 8,000 microwatts per centimetre squared per second or less. Where mould spores are not easily destroyed with ultraviolet light due to the long exposure time needed, mechanical filters are used to remove mould spores that are 4 - 6 microns in size.

The more passes through the ultraviolet field and the greater the intensity of the ultraviolet lights, the greater the reduction of germs in the air.

The MER-11 rating is a comparison formula that consists of averaging a number of different micron sizes. The indoor air passes through the filter three to four times per hour. For example, while a MER-11 filter is 91% efficient at 5.0 microns, it is 24% efficient at 0.3 microns. However, if you reduce the particle count by 24% three to four times per hour, you will achieve a lower total particle count in the range of 86% to 92% overall room reduction.

Laboratories will not perform efficacy tests on dangerous germs due to their infectious nature. They test ultraviolet equipment using surrogate germs that are not infectious but are destroyed with the same level of ultraviolet radiation.

Test were run on non-harmful background heterotrophic bacteria found commonly in the air of all indoor environments as they require much more ultraviolet exposure for deactivation than typical disease causing micro organism.

This system filter has a six-month service life and a low replacement cost. The ultraviolet lamps are replaced only once a year.

ASHRAE rating
The HEPS filter is rated by ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air conditioning Engineers) to ASHRAE standard 52.2.

ASHRAE sets the standards and test protocol for the entire USA and many other countries use these.

References

1. Test report for the photo catalytic air purification system (P04-0055)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dept. of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology
September 2004

Click here for research article on VOC levels in an IVF laboratory

Click here for the HEPS Brochure
Click here for the HEPS Installation Manual