Published In
Science and Technology for the Built Environment
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-18-2024
Subjects
Indoor air quality, Air purifier -- Clean air delivery rate
Abstract
Air cleaning reduces indoor exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during wildfire smoke events. However, resource and cost constraints may limit access to air cleaning during such an event, as both commercial devices and the higher-rated MERV filters that do-it-yourself (DIY) assemblies typically rely upon tend to be expensive and in short supply. With these constraints in mind, we developed and evaluated several configurations of a novel, DIY air cleaner that uses common household fabrics as filtration media. Clean air delivery rates (CADRs) of the devices were experimentally evaluated in two ways: first, with independent measurements of flowrates and single pass removal efficiencies, and second, via pull-down testing in a large chamber. With two layers of cotton batting fabric and a flowrate-increasing cardboard shroud attached, the device achieved particulate matter CADRs of 162, 134, and 206 m3/h in 0.02–0.3, 0.3–1, and 1–2.5 µm particle diameter bins, respectively, during chamber testing. Results indicate that these simple, inexpensive, fabric configurations can meaningfully reduce PM2.5 levels in smaller zones of a home, and thus represent a viable option for improving indoor air quality during rapid-onset air pollution events, such as wildfires.
Rights
Copyright (c) 2024 The Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Locate the Document
DOI
10.1080/23744731.2024.2378675
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42461
Citation Details
Stinson, B. W., & Gall, E. T. (2024). Developing and testing low-cost air cleaners for safer spaces during wildfires. Science and Technology for the Built Environment, 1–19.