Impact of Portable Air Cleaners and Energy Use - Literature review Example

Impact of Portable Air Cleaners and Energy use Indoor air pollutants are undesirable, sometimes detrimental materials in the air within the house. They range from chemicals to dusts to radon. Indoor air pollution is categorized among the upper five environmental risks to health. The study sought to answer two questions. 1) To determine which air cleaner is more efficient between a central HVAC with filters and a portable air cleaner. 2) The study seeks to compare the difference in energy consumption between the two air cleaning devices. There exists varying air cleaners, and there are also different indoor air pollutants. The study found that pollutants that can distress air quality in the home are categorized into particulate matter and gaseous matter. It is obvious that homes with portable air cleaners utilize less energy compared to homes with a central HVAC system with filters. The central HVAC system with filters air cleaner is more efficient the portable than the portable air cleaner device. Introduction Curtis (75) explains that indoor air pollutants are undesirable, sometimes detrimental materials in the air within the house. They range from chemicals to dusts to radon. Indoor air pollution is categorized among the upper five environmental risks to health. Usually, it is best to address this risk is by eliminating or controlling the sources of these pollutants, and ventilating the home with clean air from outdoor. However, the method of ventilation may be limited by weather conditions or detrimental levels of pollutants found in outdoor air. In the case of insufficiency of these measures, it may be significant to use an air cleaning device. Ventilation also aids the removal of indoor air pollutants but are not as commendable as source reduction (Becker, Seligman, and Darle, 415). In Nelson, Hirsch, Ohmanjr, Plattsmills, CReed, and Solomon (661) air cleaning devices only cannot satisfactorily remove all indoor pollutants. This is particularly true when the pollutant sources discharge a large volume of pollution, or if the pollutants rapidly settle on surfaces. The common air cleaning devices will only remove some of the pollutants from the indoor air. However, removing certain kinds of pollutants, like very fine particles, viruses, bacteria and carbon monoxide, odors, and radon is difficult. Such particles need specific types of filtration and devices of air cleaning (Macaluso 97) In Curtis (89), the intention of using the air cleaning devices is to remove impurities from indoor air. Air cleaning devices are accessible as portable, unconnected machines or as filters or as air cleaners in a central air system; the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system (Becker, Seligman, and Darle, 415). Portable units are ordinarily greatest for use in a single room, rather than use in multiple rooms or whole-house use. This is because of their limited capability to circulate bulky volumes of cleaned air. If properly arranged and sustained air cleaners and particular filters intended for use in central HAVC systems, may have the supreme potential to advance an entire home’s air quality. This is due to the facts that most can circulate very bulky capacities of sieved air all over the home (Macaluso 100). Macaluso (111) outlines that, based on the inadequate scientific evidence currently available, the health profits of air cleaning devices are not clear, but high proficiency filtration of indoor air may be an effective. However, it is vibrant that one should not use an air cleaner device that purposely produces ozone. Ozone producers cause indoor pollution rather than cleaning the air. Additionally, it is imperative to put into account the energy consumption level of the chosen device as some devices consume more energy than others (Nelson et al., 661). This paper purposes to establish the efficiency of reduction of indoor air pollutant concentration by using portable air cleaners in compare it to HVAC system with filter. Further, the paper seeks to compare energy consumptions over a particular time frame between a portable air cleaner and HVAC central system with filter (Curtis 115). Methodology The study seeks to answer two questions. 1) To determine which air cleaner is more efficient between a central HVAC with filters and a portable air cleaner. 2) The study seeks to compare the difference in energy consumption between the two air cleaning devices. This is a sequential study that will ensure identifying the first question before the second one. To determine the efficiency between a central HVAC with filters and a portable air cleaning device the study sought to study several factors including the following. First, it is important for the study to seek to know the types of indoor air cleaners and types of indoor air pollutants that can be cleaned by the cleaners. The study also identified the types of filters for central HVAC systems. Lastly, the study identified how to measure the performance of an indoor cleaning device to identify its efficiency. In addition to all these, the study sought to identify the effects that the devices have on human health conditions. More importantly the study sought the ‘life expectancy’ or ‘how long the device will serve its owner’ question for both the indoor air cleaning devices and cost considerations per device. In every electronic product, economics of energy is important. As the world goes green, the population attempts to minimize energy consumption. To compare the difference in energy usage economically over time, the study sought to identify the amount of energy consumption per particular period for both the devices. Energy consumption is calculated only when thee devices are turned on since they almost use no energy when turned off. The results and discussions of the studies are discussed below (Curtis 214). Discussions Measuring efficiency: Types of air cleaners There are different air cleaners as mentioned. This study sought to discuss between two types of air cleaners namely the central HVAC systems with filters and the portable indoor air cleaners (Shaughnessy and Sextro 168). Air cleaners engaging filters are of two types. First are the portable air cleaners. Portable air cleaners are self-contained air cleaning devices that are best suited for single rooms, like the bedroom of a sensitive child (Becker, Seligman, and Darle, 416). They are operated within the room to reduce or remove particle levels. In-duct air cleaners or the HVAC air cleaning systems are mounted in the ductwork of a household with central forced air. They are intended to reduce or remove particle levels all over the house (Shaughnessy and Sextro 168). Types of filters There are two general types of filters namely the mechanical and electrical filters. The mechanical filters capture the air particles passing through the filter. The normal furnace filter exemplifies the most common filter type. Secondly are the electrical charge filters. This type is often titled an electret. It uses electric currents to attract and capture certain pollutants. Since some particles in the air are charged, the electret will attract then in the opposite and let polarity do its action. The electric charge on the filter has no effect on the pressure drop hence there is no penalty for energy usage. Electrets are broadly used in motors to filter the air coming into certain passenger compartment (Macaluso 123). Indoor air pollutants The study found that pollutants that can distress air quality in the home are categorized into particulate matter and gaseous matter (Macaluso 123). Particulate matter includes smoke, pollen, dust, animal dander, tobacco smoke, particles produced from burning applications like cooking stoves. In addition, particulate substances include particles related with tiny organisms for example molds, dust mites, viruses and bacteria. Gaseous pollutants come are generated from combustion processes. Sources of such pollutants include vehicle exhaust and tobacco, gas cooking stoves and smoke. They are also generated from building materials, furnishings, and the use of building products for instance paints, varnishes, adhesives, cleaning products, and pesticides (Curtis 115). The study sought to know what kind of air pollutants air cleaner remove. As aforementioned, there are different types of air cleaning devices available. Each air cleaning device is designed to remove certain types of indoor pollutants. The study found that for removal of particles, there are two air cleaning devices that can be used. These include mechanical and electronic air filters (Macaluso 125). As aforementioned, mechanical air filters eliminate particles by catching them on filter materials. On the other hand, electronic air cleaners such as electrostatic precipitators use electrostatic attraction to capture charged particles. They attract air into an ionization section of the system where particles acquire an electrical charge before attracting those (Becker et al., 417). Efficiency of air cleaners There is an absence of a uniform procedure for measuring the efficiency of air cleaners (Shaughnessy and Sextro 170). However, hypothetically, the efficiency of an air cleaning device is the portion of particles that the device eliminates in one single pass through the system. This fraction is certainly measured by measuring the absorption of particles impartially upstream and impartially downstream from the filter. A usual heater filter has an efficiency below 10%, while an ESP will normally have efficiency superior to 90% for all sizes of particles (Nelson et al., 664). However, efficiency only is not enough to describe an indoor air cleaner. The cleaner could have very high efficiency but with a very low air flow. In such a case, the cleaner would not be distributing very much clean air. Therefore, it is important to multiply the efficacy by the air flow passing through the filter to determine how much clean air the cleaner can deliver (The clean air delivery rate or CADR). The CADR is typically presented as a volume of clean air distributed per time unit, for example cubic feet per minute (cfm) or cubic meters per hour (m3/h) (Nelson et al, 666). Focus on portable air cleaners Becker et al. (419) argues that the above-mentioned air cleaners’ standardized test procedure leads to a given quantity of the CADR unit for a particular portable indoor air cleaner. The procedure is overseen or administered by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). The organization certifies the air cleaners that have undertaken the test and conserves a Website listing all models and brands with their related CADRs (Nelson et al., 666). A website is the single most appreciated resource for consumers wishing gain information before buying an air cleaner. Portable air cleaners usually contain a fan for circulating the air. They may be transferred from room to room and utilized when localized and continuous air cleaning is desired. They may be an excellent option for air cleaning if a home is not furnished with a central HVAC system with filters or forced air heating system (Macaluso 140). Portable air cleaners can be appraised by their effectiveness in decreasing airborne pollutants (Shaughnessy and Sextro 182). Like other air cleaners, this desirable effectiveness is measured using the clean air delivery rate (CADR) a system that was developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). As aforementioned, CADR measures a portable air cleaner’s distribution of contaminant-free air, conveyed in cubic feet per minute. For instance, when an air cleaner has a CADR of 250 for dust particles, it means the device may decrease levels of dust particles to the same concentration as it would be attained by each minute adding 250 cubic feet of clean air. Whereas a portable air cleaner might not achieve its valued CADR under all situations, the value of CADR does permit comparison across diverse portable air cleaner devices (Curtis 167). There have been several studies on portable air cleaners evaluating particle removal from the air in unventilated rooms, room-size test spaces or extensively weatherized. All of the portable tests addressed elimination of cigarette smoke particles. The studies also performed some limited testing with larger pollutant particles such as fine automotive dust, pollen and airborne cat allergen among others. Each group of investigators used different test methods, and the results were also varied (Nelson et al., 667). Upon analysis, the studies showed varying amounts of effectiveness of portable air cleaners in eliminating pollutant particles from indoor air. In overall, units comprising of electrostatic precipitators, pleated filters or negative ion generators, and hybrid units having amalgamations of these devices, are more effective than flat-filter components in removing particles of cigarette smoke. However, effectiveness within these different classes widely varies (Macaluso 144). Also, significant factors, furthermore to the efficiency of the portable air cleaner device itself are the flow rate of air and characteristics of the particle. Moreover, there are efficiency degradation with particulate loading, bypass of air around the used collection mechanisms; and the size of the testing room. In addition, for generators with negative ion, the location of the device and the condition of air circulation in the room affects the device’s performance. For the elimination of larger dust particles, generators with negative ion, without any additional particle apprehension mechanisms like filters may perform poorly (Green Building: Project Planning & Cost Estimation 123). Several of the portable air cleaners that AHAM tested have modest to large CADR ratings for small pollutant particles. However, for distinctive room sizes, many portable air cleaners lack high enough CADR values to effectively eliminate large pollutant particles such as dust mite, pollen or cockroach allergens. Certain portable air cleaners applying electronic air cleaners may produce ozone that is a lung irritant. AHAM has a certification program for portable air cleaner and delivers a comprehensive listing of all the certified air cleaners with their CADR values on its Web site (Nelson et al., 669). In general, it is clear that the position of any portable air cleaning device might affect its performance. If there is a particular, recognizable source of pollutants, the unit should be the position to ensure that it intake is near that pollutants source. If there is no particular recognizable source, the air cleaner device should be positioned to force cleaned air into busy areas. Moreover, the air cleaner device should be located in a position where the outlet and inlet are not blocked by furniture walls or any other obstructions. Effectiveness of a portable air cleaner unit may also be reduced if the air exiting the air cleaner device outlet is not sufficiently mixed with the room air before returning into the device (Shaughnessy and Sextro 178). It is unanticipated that the use of a portable device unit to be effective in skyscrapers such as office buildings or apartments with HVAC systems with filters. Portable units are intended to filter the air in limited areas such as up to various connected rooms without barriers to flow of air. Air dispersed within central HVAC systems might have enormous adequate volumes such as numerous floors of a given building. To clean air in these circumstances requires the use of either many portable air cleaner units or induct systems deliberated for the building in question by HVAC engineers (Macaluso 156). Comparison of energy consumptions economically over a specific time The global trending practice of energy conservation has not left out air conditioning. For many buildings, the air conditioning procedure is a choice that offers direct control of indoor air pollutants or contaminants that is not possible under the normal Ventilation Rate Procedure. This further delivers enhanced indoor air quality as well as decreasing the amount of energy consumed on conditioning the ambient air. Moreover, this makes air conditioning a powerful tool for engineers and building owners to employ (Green Building: Project Planning & Cost Estimating 150). Mechanically, there are numerous factors that must be recognized in order to perform quality air conditioning with energy savings calculations. Such factors include ventilation efficiency, the amounts of recirculation and outside air and filter location or HVAC system location and location portable air cleaner device. On the contaminant or pollutant side, there are factors pertaining to building use, geographic location, air removal capacities and air cleaner capabilities. The efficiencies of air cleaner device are paramount to energy conservation in buildings over a period. Larger air cleaning devices like the central HVAC system must be designed in ways that ensure less energy consummation (Macaluso 168). Calculations of energy analysis for a particular building can be achieved independently or with several commercially available calculation software packages. In each calculation inclusion of the amount of energy consumed by an air cleaner device is important. Different geographic locations will need the use of numerous diverse sets of data (utility costs, weather data, etc.) that can affect the performance and operation of the central HVAC system with filters (Becker et al, 419). Air conditioners and air cleaners consume much energy. Obviously, economic consumption of energy differs between the portable air cleaners and the central HVAC systems with filters. The central HVAC systems with filter consume much energy per use. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, home air conditioning and air cleaning uses electricity almost 5% of all the electricity generated in the U.S. Therefore, if air conditioning and designing an air cleaning device in a house, it makes sense to purchase the most efficient air cleaning and conditioning unit in the market (Shaughnessy and Sextro 180). Although the central HVAC systems of air conditioners and cleaning appear to be more efficient than portable air cleaners, homes equipped with portable air cleaning devices use less energy for air cleaning compared to homes with the central HVAC systems. After all, houses with a central HVAC system usually maintain lower temperatures in extra rooms than homes with portable air cleaners. The central HVAC occupies the whole building, therefore, consumes many energies. Moreover, when turned on, the whole system turns on even the areas that are not in use compared to the portable air cleaning device that can travel from room to room as the requisition of the user (Curtis 200). According to Green Building: Project Planning & Cost Estimating (178) it is thus obvious that homes with portable air cleaners utilize less energy compared to homes with a central HVAC system with filters. This is because of numerous aspects among them being; central HVAC air cleaners often have ducts positioned in unconditioned lofts. Research has revealed that air cleaning systems with ducts in unconditioned lofts have duct losses summing to about 20% of the air cleaner’s elimination output. Since portable air cleaners are often always noisy, homeowners always remember to turn them off when leaving a room hence conserving energy. By contrast, some people with central HVAC system air cleaning often leave their systems on the whole day. This often leads to massive energy loss. The unobtrusive and quiet functioning of a central HVAC air conditioner and cleaning can result to accidental energy overuse. Work cited Becker, L. J., C. Seligman, and J. M. Darley. "Psychological strategies to reduce energy consumption: project summary report." personal and social psychology bulletin 4.3 (1979): 412-415. Print. Curtis, Stanley E. Environmental Management in Animal Agriculture. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press, 1983. Print. Green Building: Project Planning & Cost Estimating. Hoboken, N.J: RSMeans, 2011. Internet resource. Macaluso, Joseph. Building & Renovating Schools: Design, Construction Management, Cost Control. Kingston: Reed Construction Data, 2004. Print. Nelson, H., S. Hirsch, J. Ohmanjr, T. Plattsmills, C. Reed, And W. Solomon. "Recommendations for the use of residential air-cleaning devices in the treatment of allergic respiratory diseases." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 84.4 (1988): 661-669. Print. Shaughnessy, R. J., and R. G. Sextro. "What Is an Effective Portable Air Cleaning Device? A Review." Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 3.4 (2006): 169-181. Print. Read More