Air cleaner

Air cleaner is a device that removes contaminants from the air in a room to improve indoor air quality. These devices are commonly marketed as being beneficial to allergy sufferers and asthmatics, and at reducing or eliminating second-hand tobacco smoke.

Types of air cleaners

There are two types of air cleaners, including mechanical air filters and electronic air cleaners.

Mechanical air filters

Mechanical air filters remove particles by capturing them on filter materials. The most common types include high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, ultra-low penetration air (ULPA) filters, and activated carbon filters.

Electronic air cleaners

Electronic air cleaners use electrostatic attraction to trap charged particles. They draw air through an ionization section where particles obtain an electrical charge. The charged particles are then attracted to a series of flat plates with an opposite electrical charge.

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of an air cleaner depends on how well it collects pollutants from indoor air and how much air it draws through the cleaning or filtering element. The performance of air cleaners is measured by the clean air delivery rate (CADR).

Health effects

Air cleaners are used to reduce the concentration of airborne contaminants and can be particularly beneficial for people who suffer from allergies and asthma. However, not all air cleaners are equally effective in removing all types of pollutants.

See also

• Air filter
• Air purifier
• Indoor air quality