Σύγκριση της τεχνολογίας υδροξυλίου με άλλες τεχνολογίες
Χαρακτηρισιτκό |
OH-FEEL Hydroxyl |
Filters (HEPA) |
Photocatalytic Oxidation(PCO) |
Ionizer
|
Germicidal UV In-Duct |
Foggers |
Safe for Occupied Spaces 24/7
|
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
X |
Reduce Pathogens in air – Inside the Device
|
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
X |
Reduces Pathogens in air – Outside the Device
|
✔ |
X |
Limited¹ |
Limited² |
X |
✔ safe until people return |
Kills Pathogens On Surfaces
|
✔ |
X |
Limited¹ |
Limited² |
X |
X |
Destroys all types of harmful viruses, bacteria and mold throughout a room
|
✔ |
X |
Limited¹ |
X |
✔ |
X |
VOC & Odor Removal in Air – Inside the Device
|
✔ |
X |
✔ |
✔ |
X |
X |
VOC & Odor Removal in Air & on surfaces – Outside the Device
|
✔ |
X |
Limited¹ |
Limited² |
X |
X |
Creates an active person-to-person infection barrier (restricts cross contamination)
|
✔ |
X |
X |
X |
X |
People cannot Be present |
Sanitizes all the air & surfaces
|
✔ |
X |
X |
Limited |
X |
X |
Breaks down ultra-fine particles throughout the room (PM2.5) |
✔ |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Neutralises allergens, pollens, mold spores, pet dander, dust mite excretion in the room |
✔ |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Partial until People return |
Destroys all types of airborne germs, bacteria, viruses, and mold throughout the room
|
✔ |
Typically 50% after one hour ³ |
Typically 50% after one hour ³ |
X |
X |
Yes, until people return |
Destroys all types of harmful germs, bacteria, viruses and mold on all surfaces throughout the room |
✔ |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Yes, until people return |
Breaks down and removes harmful gaseous pollution (TVOC’s, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ammonia) throughout the room |
✔ |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
¹ Hydroxyl production is restricted to the catalyst surface resulting in very limited production of organic oxidants
² Reactivity of ions and O² are short lived, effect drops of quickly as distance from ion source increases.
³ Filter system generally eliminate 50% after one hour, they cannot clean all the air (Study by Novoselac and Seigal 2009)
Comparing Air Cleaning Technologies
The problems with ALL filter-based air purifiers
All traditional filter-based air purifiers (including HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air), Electrostatic, UV-C (Ultraviolet-C) and PCO (photocatalytic oxidation)) share the same basic failings: they only filter out some types of pollutant, not all, and they only clean the air that passes directly through them:
- Filter-based technologies only reach their maximum level of pollution reduction (typically around 50% – Study by Novoselac & Siegel 2009) after more than an hour.
- Filters remove particles from the air passing through the filter but the filtered air they emit is immediately re- contaminated by mixing with unfiltered air.
- Stratification (caused by warm air rising) and eddies (circling air), and the fact that existing air is constantly being replaced by new air from outside, means that much of the air in a room will never even pass through the filter. This effect is often compounded by a lack of filter ‘suction’ (fan speed) compared to room size.
- Filters typically only capture particulates, not gaseous pollution (VOC’s).
- As filters don’t produce a hydroxyl cascade, they don’t clean surfaces or neutralize viruses, bacteria, mold or pollens within the room.
While larger, more powerful, noisier fans can filter more air, in practical terms they can never overcome the above failings.
Compare Air Cleaning Technologies
Disadvantages of Other Technologies
What is it?
A HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air filter) has to meet specific minimum standards of efficacy for its ability to remove particulates above a particular size from the air that passes through it.
Disadvantages
All traditional filter-based air purifiers (including HEPA, Electrostatic, UVC etc.) share the same basic failings: they only filter out some types of pollutant, not all, and they only clean the air that passes directly through them:
- Filter-based technologies only reach their maximum level of whole room pollution reduction (typically circa 50% – Novoselac & Siegel 2009) after more than an hour.
- Filters remove particles from the air passing through the filter but the filtered air they emit is immediately re-contaminated by mixing.
- Stratification (caused by warm air rising) and eddies (circling air), and the fact that existing air is constantly being replaced by new air from outside, means that much of the air in a room will never even pass through the filter. This effect is often compounded by a lack of filter ‘suction’ compared to room size.
- Filters typically only capture particulates, not gaseous pollution.
- As filters don’t produce a hydroxyl cascade, they don’t decontaminate surfaces or neutralize viruses, bacteria, mould spores or pollens within the room.
- While larger, more powerful, noisier fans can filter more air, in practical terms they can never overcome these failings.
- Filter-based technologies only reach their maximum level of whole room pollution reduction (typically circa 50% – Novoselac & Siegel 2009) after more than an hour.
- Filters remove particles from the air passing through the filter but the filtered air they emit is immediately re-contaminated by mixing.
- Stratification (caused by warm air rising) and eddies (circling air), and the fact that existing air is constantly being replaced by new air from outside, means that much of the air in a room will never even pass through the filter. This effect is often compounded by a lack of filter ‘suction’ compared to room size.
- As filters don’t produce a hydroxyl cascade, they don’t decontaminate surfaces or neutralize viruses, bacteria, mould or pollens within the room.
- While larger, more powerful, noisier fans can filter more air, in practical terms they can never overcome these failings.
What is it?
- As with HEPA filters, ionizers have the drawback that they only effect particulates, not gasses.
- Maintaining a sufficiently high intensity of ions throughout an entire space is practically impossible, as evidenced by Boeing’s latest research, which was unable to demonstrate any material biocidal effect on surface-borne pathogens during their extensive testing.
- Any effects tend to be very local as ion intensity drops off naturally and rapidly away from the device. Indeed, LifeAir’s own published data shows that only around 1% of ions remain active just 1m away from the device!
- Local to the device, particulates, including microbes, may be charged and then adhere to nearby surfaces (like soft furnishings), but they will easily be disturbed and made airborne again.
- Even if they were generally effective in removing particulates (including viruses and bacteria) from the air to surfaces in the room then, as the particles gradually lose their charge, or they are disturbed, they will be re-adsorbed back into the air.
- If an ionized pathogen is inhaled, it is more likely to stick to the walls of your respiratory system thus increasing the chance of an adverse reaction.
- Ionizers often increase the level of ozone in a room, possibly beyond safe levels. Indeed research at the University of Leeds has shown that pathogens that eventually become non-viable in the presence of ions are primarily damaged by the related ozone and not by the ions nor their associated charge!
Germicidal UV in Duct
What is it?
Germicidal UV in duct is UVC lights installed in your HVAC system to clean out the ductwork system. These high-energy rays can damage the DNA of microorganisms, and prevent them from infecting or reproducing.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive Installation Costs and Bulb Replacements
- Potential safety hazards
- Limitations of effectiveness
- Does not treat surfaces in the room
- Every air handling unit is different and requires different specifications before UVC products can be installed. This can be costly.
- Doesn’t remove allergens like pet dander
One major disadvantage is that as soon as someone walks into a newly fumigated room, it’s immediately re-contaminated!
- Requires trained personnel working strictly in accordance with a safe method of work statement.
- Requires the room or space to be treated to be empty of people and secured so that people, pets etc. cannot accidentally enter the space being fumigated.
- Requires items likely to be damaged by the fumigant to be removed, and later replaced, to protect them from damage.
- Requires the transportation, storage or handling of toxic chemicals
Oh-Feel technology is entirely safe, requires no supervision, and can be operated 24/7 with people present.