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There are many different brands of air cleaners that use a variety of filters in order to deliver quality and efficiency. Air purifiers are able to eliminate dust and odor particles in the air by absorbing them. There are many types of technologies and filters used in air cleaners to achieve this goal but one of the most unique ways is through electrostatic technology. This technology in air cleaners is a direct and advanced way to eliminate these particles of dust and dirt from the air.
A man named Frederick G. Cottrell, born in 1887, invented electrostatic air cleaner filters that are used in air cleaners today. He was bothered by the pollution that he saw being omitted to the air from smoke stacks and wanted to develop a way to clean the air. Cottrell experimented with the charging and attraction of particles and was able to discover how effective using this technology was in order to clean the air. With electrostatic technology, Cottrell realized the dust and smog in the air was easily absorbed and the air was cleaner and safer to breathe. This process soon became known locally as the “Cottrell Process” of removing dust particles from the air by taking advantage of their ability to be electrically charged. The inventor applied for the patent for his device in 1907. He was inducted into the Inventor Hall of Fame for his invention and discovery of this technology in 1992. Cottrell passed away in 1948 but his discovery lives on. There have been many different ways that electrostatic technology has been used in daily lives such as air cleaners.
Electrostatic technology is able to attract particles in the air by using static electricity. The air cleaner is generally able to absorb the particles onto collection plates inside the filter due to the static electricity. The static can turn the particles in the air into charged particles, which makes it easier for them to attract and stick to the plates. The electrostatic filter creates negative ions through which the air is flowing which cause the particles to be charged and drawn straight into the cleaner. The fan pushes these particles into the cleaner and they are then collected and stuck to the filters. Air cleaners using this technology are proven to have 95% efficiency or more. However, the efficiency of the air cleaner depends on factors such as the size of collection plates, how much power is in the electric field and the rate of the air flowing into the machine.
Electrostatic technology can be performed by either a one-stage system or a two-stage system. A one-stage system simply uses the static electricity to charge the particles and stick them to the collection plates. The two-stage system of this technology uses wires with high-voltage to place the charge on particles in the air. The particles that are charged are then pulled between a series of metal plates that are oppositely charged. The particles are then attracted and stuck to the metal plates in the filter. Both the one-stage and two-stage systems using electrostatic technology are effective in removing particles from the air. Air cleaners that use this technology are generally low maintenance. The collection plates need to be cleaned before they generate a build up of dust particles. As long as the collection plates are kept free from build up of particles, they will remain efficient and effective.
Air cleaners that use electrostatic technology can be compared to magnets. They are able to trap the particles and fumes in the air and absorb them due to the attraction of opposite electric charges. The pollutants in the air are positively charges, causing them to attract to the negatively charged plates in the air cleaner. With this strong electric attraction, the dust particles and fumes in the air stick to the collection plates causing the air to be cleaner, fresher and odor-free.
Electrostatic technology is a unique advancement in technology that is used by some air cleaners. The invention of this technology was a milestone in air cleaner technology because of the quality and low maintenance of the parts used in the air cleaner. It is proven to be an efficient and effective way to attract particles from indoor air and make the air unpolluted and clear.
