Electrostatic Precipitators as an Indoor Air Cleaner—A Literature Review

Abstract

Many people spend most of their time in an indoor environment. There is a positive relationship between indoor environmental quality and the health, wellbeing, and productivity of occupants in buildings. The indoor environment is affected by pollutants, such as gases and particles. Pollutants can be removed from the indoor environment in various ways. Air cleaning devices are commonly marketed as benefitting the removal of air pollutants and consequently, improving indoor air quality. Depending on the type of cleaning technology, air cleaners may generate undesired and toxic by-products. Different air filtration technologies such as electrostatic precipitators have been introduced to the market. The electrostatic precipitator (ESP) has been used in buildings because it can remove particles while only causes low pressure drops. Electrostatic precipitators can be either in-duct or standalone units. This review aims to give an overview of ESP use, methods for testing this product, the performance of existing ESPs in removing pollutants, their by-products, and the existing market for ESPs.

CO2 concentration monitoring inside educational buildings as a strategic tool to reduce the risk of Sars-CoV-2 airborne transmission

“…In the same way, air cleaner systems such as electronic ones (e.g. ionizers, hydroxyl generators and electrostatic precipitators), ozone generating systems and filtering systems based on High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, are not usually present in schools ( EPA, 2018 ; Afshari et al, 2020 ; https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57219649415&eid=2-s2.0-85094613078 Cheek et al, 2021 ). Moreover, even if the opening of windows and doors is often the only effective strategy to vent the classroom with outside fresh air, sometimes it is not possible due to cold temperature and heating costs.…”

ZeBox: A novel non-intrusive continuous-use technology to trap and kill airborne microbes

“…Electrostatic precipitation uses electric field to attract and trap aerosols pre-charged by corona discharge, but which produces noxious gases like ozone [3,11]. Its microbicidal action is dubious; in fact electrostatic bioaerosol samplers capture microbes that remain viable [12,13,14].…”

“…While some are microbicidal, others only trap microbes. Filtration [2] and electrostatic precipitation [3] belong to the latter category. Microbes trapped inside filters can multiply in situ [4,5,6,7,8]; such filters are detrimental to indoor air quality and hazardous during their disposal.…”

“…Its microbicidal action is dubious; in fact electrostatic bioaerosol samplers capture microbes that remain viable [12,13,14]. However, because of its low flow resistance, it consumes less power per unit of clean air delivered compared to filtration [3]. Filters made of anti-bacterial fibers have also been developed [15,16,17,18,19,20] but their performance remains be proven under realistic indoor conditions.…”

Novel non intrusive continuous use ZeBox technology to trap and kill airborne microbes

“…While some are microbicidal, others only trap microbes. Filtration 2 and electrostatic precipitation 3 belong to the latter category. Microbes trapped inside filters can multiply in situ 4 – 8 ; such filters are detrimental to indoor air quality and hazardous during their disposal.…”