NEWS RELEASE                                                                                     August 2020

Filters and HVAC Selection to Fight COVID will be Analyzed in a September 10 Webinar

Join us on September 10 at 10:AM Central Time to discuss and debate the best filter and room air purifier choices to conquer COVID.

New facts and theories are appearing every day. There is increasing evidence that most of the transmission is airborne. McIlvaine has formed a working group  to determine how much additional virus is emitted from filters and masks which initially capture larger droplets and convert them to aerosols. The bottom line is that the more efficient the HVAC filter the better.

Here are specific issues we plan on discussing.

Issue

Aspects

Virus Parameters

Size, quantity, minimum infectious load, life, destruction methods, deposition on duct internal surface, distance traveled and the percentage in small aerosols

Treatment Types

Filtration, ionization, UV disinfection, precipitators, carbon beds. What is the performance and how widely is each used? Are combinations used and is this a benefit?

Filter Media

Membranes micro fiberglass, electrostatically charged meltblowns for high efficiency, shapes, pleats, and other parameters

Particulate  Efficiency

Viral removal performance of the range of MERV and HEPA filters. We will discuss how one can test not only initial efficiency but include aerosols formed on the filter media

Pressure Loss

Filter depth vs filter efficiency and pressure drop

Filter Inventory

How efficient are filters now installed in schools, nursing homes, meat processors, etc.

Upgrade Expense

How costly will it be to install more efficient filters?

HVAC            Air Quantity

How many air changes per hour are needed? How much outside air should be introduced?  How is this limited cost wise by outdoor temperature and humidity?

Air Direction

How is air directed so that the maximum amount flows from transmitter to the HVAC system and then is diluted prior to reaching the recipient? Where are partitions and diffusers beneficial?

Room Air Purifiers

When and where should they be used and what volume and efficiency is needed?

Fan Filter Units

Where should they be used rather than partitions or in conjunction with partitions?

Isolators, Modules

Where are isolators and modular cleanrooms the best choice?

Pollution Combination

Use of filters to eliminate air pollutants and viruses in outdoor spaces such as traffic intersections?

Indoor Air Purification

Benefits of purifying indoor air to remove pollutants as well as viruses; a common metric to measure all harm and good

Processes

Rooms, elevators, reception, cashier counters, industrial processing

Facilities

Residential, commercial, hotel, nursing homes, hospitals, dental, meat processing, schools, gyms, transportation

Due to the evidence of substantial transmission through small aerosols much of the discussion will be about more efficient media options. We start with the fact in the U.S. (and elsewhere) the present sales of MERV 15 and 16 filters are negligible.

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Source Brent Stephens IIT

More efficient filters can be installed  at the same pressure drop by increasing filter depth.

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Source Brent Stephens IIT

Michael Bruce of Filtration Group provided this comparison of an upgrade from MERV 11 rigid filter to a M 15 V bank design with little increase in pressure drop.

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AAF shows that an M16 filter will emit 9 x less particles than an M 14 in the 0.3 micron range where much of the virus may reside.

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The KCC line of high efficiency, electret-charged, bicomponent spunbond air media offers filtration efficiencies from MERV 7 to MERV 15 for pleat, pocket, and mini-pleat filters.

As depicted in this line graph from AAF, filters that achieve the same efficiency rating, in this case ULPA filters rated at 99.999%, are not necessarily equal in their MPPS performance.

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Room air purifiers and Fan/Filter Units will be needed in many locations due the widespread clouds of virus particles. Partitions by themselves may cause turbulence and more spread. This fan/filter unit at a checkout counter in Austria is an example of what can be done.

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Source: Ortner Cleanroom


For more information on the webinar and to register click here   http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/2-uncategorised/1574-coronavirus-webinars#Filters

For more information on Coronavirus Technology Solutions and other services click on www.mcilvainecompany.com

Bob Mcilvaine can answer your questions at 847 226 2391 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.