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5. AIR FILTRATION

Atmospheric air contains a number of contaminants, such as smoke (< 1µm), fumes
(< 1µm), dry granular particles (< 100µm), vapour and gases (< 10-5µm), organic
particles (<< 1µm up to 5µm). The semi-stable dispersion of such complex mixture
in a gas is called an aerosol.

The concentration and the type of atmospheric contaminants vary with the local
environment, the wind and the season of the year. To prevent these contaminants
from entering an air-conditioned space, as well as to remove those contaminants
generated inside the space, a cleaning device, such as a filter, for the supply air stream
is required. The wide range of particulate size and concentration makes it impossible
to design one air-filter to serve all applications.

5.1 CLASSIFICATIONS OF AIR FILTERS

Air filters can be classified into various types according to:

• the shape - whether they are panel filters, extended-surface filters, rotary filters or
automatic renewable rolling filters

• the coating - whether they are coated with viscous adhesives or not, as in the case
of the dry filters or viscous filters;

• the operating life - whether they are reusable or disposable; and

• the efficiency or grade - whether they are low, medium or high efficiency filters.

Since the efficiency or grade of an air filter is closely related to the filter selection
criteria, it is the basis for the classification of air filters.

5.2 FILTER TYPES

Air filters can be classified into two main categories:

i) mechanical filters - there are 4 common types: dry fabric, viscous impingement,
adsorption and absolute.

ii) electrostatic precipitation cleaners.

5.2.1 Dry Fabric Filter (Figure 5.1)

The filtering media (cotton-wool, glass fibre fabric, cellulose fibres, wool felt,
synthetics i.e. polymer, pleated paper, expanded metal etc.) are in some form of
textile; can be constructed of either coarse fibers loosely packed or fine fibers densely
packed. By varying density, dry-type air filters are available that have good efficiency
only on larger particles, or are also available with medium or high efficiency for

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removing very small particles. The media in air filters can be arranged in the form of
random filter mats or blankets of varying thickness, fibre sizes, and densities; screens,
or corrugated sinuous strips.

i) Cell type : pads of material placed obliquely across the air stream,
[Figure 5.1 (a)] includes panel filter, bag filter, extended
surface filter etc.

ii) Automatic-roll: an upper roll of clean fabric wound downwards across the
air stream with the dirtied material re-wound into a roll at
the bottom end of the unit; the motor is operated by either a
timer or a pressure differential switch. [Figure 5.1 (b)]

Extended Surface Filter –

Panel Filter Bag Filter / Dry Cell Filter

(a) dry filter (b) automatic dry roll filter

Figure 5.1 Dry Fabric Filter

(a) cell type (b) automatic type

Figure 5.2 Viscous Impingement Filter

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5.2.2 Viscous Impingement Filter

This type of filter has a media of coarse fibers with a high porosity that are coated
with a viscous adhesive e.g. oily fluid. Glass fibers and metal screen are two
commonly used media materials. Dust particles in air are trapped and then moved
deeper in the oil. This type of filter has a large dust-holding capacity, will remove
larger particles satisfactorily but not small particles. It is normally used in industrial
environment where high level of pollutants exists. It is low in cost. (check HKFSD
requirement on the use of viscous coating)

Both cell-type and automatic-type [Figure 5.2 (a) & (b)] are available in the market.

5.2.3 Adsorption Filter [Figure 5.3]

The filter is most effective in removing smells from the atmosphere and in removing
poisonous gases e.g. SO2. Adsorption is a physical process in which a gas is attracted
to a solid surface.

Activated carbon (charcoal) in particular has a structure which offers an enormous

surface area open to any stream of gas passing over it. After reached saturation (with
a life of ½ to 2 years), activated carbon can be removed for re-activation by heating to
600oC or higher. Typical application is for the refuse room.

Air flow

(b) cell type

(a) panel type

Figure 5.3 Adsorption Filter

5.2.4 Absolute Filter [Figure 5.4]

This type operates dry and is disposable. The filter is of extremely high efficiency
and the air velocity through the media is relatively low because of the significant
pressure drop. It is therefore also called as HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air)
filter.

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When installed it is essential to have a good efficiency filter be installed upstream

(pre-filter) to extend its service life. It is used for clean rooms, operating theatres and
for other precision manufacturing processes.

Figure 5.4 Absolute Filter

By electrostatic precipitation
effect of dust particles

Figure 5.5 Electrostatic

Precipitation Cleaners

5.2.5 Electrostatic Precipitation Filter [Figure 5.5]

The filter consists of 2 sections: an ionising unit and a collection unit. The electric
field of the ionising unit firstly ionises the dust particles in air, typically 80%
positively charged and the rest negative. Air then passes through a collection unit,
which consists of a set of vertical metal plates. The alternative arrangement of
positively charged and earthed plates causes the attraction of the negatively and
positively charged dusts to adjacent plates accordingly. Optional features are often
available for electronic air cleaner. After-filter such as roll filters collect particles that
agglomerate and blow off the cell plates.

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Commercial products like AAF, Farr, Cambridge etc. are available in the market.
Some more examples can be found in www.affintl.com and www.camfil.com.

5.3 SELECTION OF AIR FILTERS

5.3.1 In the selection of air filters, the following criteria should be noted:

• The degree and type of air cleanliness required

• Amount and type of dust to be removed from the air. (size, shape and
concentration of the dust particles)

• Disposal of dust after it is removed from the air

• Operating resistance to airflow (pressure drop)

• Space available for filtration equipment

• The initial cost and the maintaining or replacing cost

5.3.2 Other considerations in the selection and design of filtration system:

• The efficiency rating of an air filter is determined by the type of test method used
(i.e., the size of the tested dust). Hence, both the efficiency rating and the test
method should be noted at the same time.

• Two or three low-efficiency filters connected in series will not significantly

improve the removal of the submicron-sized atmospheric dust.

• An air filter of a higher grade protected by a prefilter of a lower grade or a low-

efficiency filter and a prefilter of medium efficiency will extend the life of the
filter of a higher grade. Therefore, it is very common to use a prefilter and a final
filter in the same system, sometimes 3 stages of filters for higher requirement job.

• For HEPA filters, the air leakage caused by the use of poor quality seals and
adhesives will seriously damage the efficiency of the air filter.

• If key objective is to protect the coils and other mechanical equipment, use panel
filters, media pads or pleated filters. These filters do an excellent job of removing
the larger and heavier particles and will generally do a satisfactory job of
protecting the coils under normal dust loading conditionings.

• If key objective is to prevent staining or protect a product, use high efficiency

extended surface filters. These filters remove the microscopic particles of carbon
and other substances that cause staining and contamination.

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5.4 FILTER TESTS

5.4.1 Filter efficiency is a measure of its ability to remove dust from air.
 C − C2 
η = 100 1  (5.1)
 C1 

where C1 & C2 are the upstream and downstream contaminant concentrations

respectively.

The efficiency rating of an air filter is a function of the test method and the measuring
procedure used. Different test methods may result in substantially different efficiency
ratings for the same filter.

5.4.2 Typical methods of testing filters are:

• Weight arrestance – by measuring the gain in weight of the dust particles on the
membrane filter after the air filter to be tested. This is used primarily as a
measurement of the air cleaning capability of lower cost filters, such as panel
filters, media pads, or automatic roll filters that use fiberglass or synthetic media.

• Dust spot discolouration – a filter paper downstream of the filter media to check
the amount of smaller particles that cannot remove by the cleaner i.e. it is
important if these particles cause soiling of room surfaces.

• DOP penetration – for filters of high efficiency in removing very small particles
e.g. HEPA filter

Table 5.1 indicated some typical classification of weight arrestance and efficiency for
common filters.

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Table 5.1 Typical Classification of Arrestance and Efficiency

Filter Type Face velocity Pressure drop Arrestance Atmospheric

m/s Pa % Dust Spot
Efficiency
%
Automatic
Viscous 1.87-2.5 100 80 --
Dry 2.54-3.58 125 70-80 --
Panel
Cleanable, viscous 1.9-2.7 80 65-80 --
Cleanable, dry 1.72 95 70-76 --
Disposable 1.8-3.78 135 70-89 --
Bag
Low-efficiency 3.78 220 -- 30-50
Medium-efficiency 3.78 220 -- 55-90
High-efficiency 2.54 220 -- 90-97
Electrostatic
Agglomerator with 2.54 100 -- 90
storage section

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