Evaluation of the filtration efficiency to airborne microbes by an air filter

• YANAGI U

  National institute of public health, department of architectural hygiene

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• エアフィルタによる浮遊微生物粒子の捕集性能の評価について
• エア フィルタ ニ ヨル フユウ ビセイブツ リュウシ ノ ホシュウ セイノウ ノ ヒョウカ ニ ツイテ

Abstract

Air filters are used for reducing indoor air contamination caused by suspended particulate matter in non-occupational environments. Recently, as the concerns have being gathered for the problem of the indoor air pollution by viable particles, air filters are expected not only in removal of suspended particles but airborne microbes. There are various kinds of air filters and the evaluation method of the filtration efficiency is according to the purposes.<BR>In this paper, firstly, filtration mechanisms of an air filter, i.e., inertial impaction, interception, diffusion, and electrostatic attraction, were described. Secondly, the JIS (Japanese Industry Standard) method and ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) method for evaluating an air filter were introduced. Regarding the JIS B 9908-2001, air filters are classified by 3 types according to the object particle size, and the filtration efficiency of these 3 types are evaluated by particle size method, dust spot method, and weight method, respectively. About ASHRAE 52.2, the filtration efficiency is evaluated only by particle size method. Finally, the in situ experimental results about the filtration efficiency of low- and medium-efficiency particulate air filter over both suspended particles and airborne microbes under real operating conditions were reported. Results show that there are significant correlations of filtration efficiency between airborne microbes and distributed suspended particles. Each of the filtration efficiency over airborne Staphylococcus aureus, bacteria, and fungal spores is almost equal to the filtration efficiency over suspended particulates larger than 1 μm, 2 μm, and 5 μm in diameter, respectively.

Journal

• Indoor Environment

  Indoor Environment 10 (1), 23-32, 2007

  Society of Indoor Environment, Japan

Keywords

• Air filter
• Filtration efficiency
• Suspended particulate matter
• Airborne microbes

Details

• CRID: 1390282680434777344
• NII Article ID: 130004989115
• NII Book ID: AA11443020
• DOI: 10.7879/siej2007.10.23
• NDL BIB ID: 8765384
• ISSN: 18820395
• ISSN: http://id.crossref.org/issn/18820395
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I8765384
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed