Performance of in-duct bipolar ionization devices on pollutant removal and potential byproduct formation in indoor environments

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) since SARS-CoV-2 may be transmitted through virus-laden aerosols in poorly ventilated spaces. Multiple air cleaning technologies have been developed to mitigate airborne transmission risk and improve IAQ. In-duct bipolar ionization technology is an air cleaning technology that can generate ions for inactivating airborne pathogens and increasing particle deposition and removal while without significant byproducts generated. Many commercial in-duct ionization systems have been developed but their practical performance on pollutant removal and potential formation of byproducts have not been investigated comprehensively. The results in this study showed that the in-duct bipolar ionization technology can significantly improve the particle removal efficiency of the regular filter, while no significant ozone and ion were released to the indoor air. © 2022 17th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2022. All rights reserved.

Interpreting Air Cleaner Performance Data

The global COVID-19 pandemic has prompted widespread demand for air cleaning technologies aimed at reducing risks of airborne pathogen transmission inside buildings. The commercial landscape for air cleaning devices is complex, ranging from conventional technologies such as high-efficiency fibrous-media filters and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) to a wide variety of electronic air cleaning technologies such as plasma generators, hydroxyl radical generators, ionizers, photocatalytic oxidizers and others. This article demonstrates some frequently prevalent issues in electronic air cleaner performance testing and reporting and proposes a path forward to meet research needs and improve test methods that could reduce the current uncertainty about the performance of electronic air cleaning technologies. It also provides tools to support practitioners and consumers in their decision-making regarding air cleaning technologies. Copyright 2022 ASHRAE.

AutonoMop, Automating Mundane Work in the COVID-19 Era

While the COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts in our lives, It rendered critical needs for intelligent automation in fields such as janitorial works. The cleaning task is an inseparable element of various sectors ranging from residential to hospitals and industrial buildings. The current study introduces a newly developed design based on the recent technology called AutonoMop, an eco-friendly autonomous robot. The proposed AutonoMop technology addresses the multifaceted problem of autonomous surface cleaning and mopping. AutonoMop advances beyond the existing cleaning technology by embodying an eco-friendly element for water filtering and serving multi-functionalities (vacuuming, washing, mopping). The first AutonoMop prototype consists of three modules working in unison to operate, an electronic module, a process module, and a body module. With design objectives, such as relatively compact size and weight on an industrial scale, in mind, the prototype of the AutonoMop robot delivered promising performance. © 2022 IEEE.