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Air filter is a device responsible for air purification and Air filtration supplies the means to obtain the level of particular cleanliness required by any definition of "air conditioning." It extends from the simple task of preventing lint and other debris from plugging heating/cooling coils to removing particles as small as 0.1 micron, which could cause a short circuit on a microchip.
Air filters are used for a wide variety of purposes, some of which include:
- Protecting the general well-being of the occupants of a space
- Protecting the decor of occupied spaces by removing the staining portion of airborne dust
- Reducing maintenance of building interiors by reducing the frequency of washing such items as Venetian blinds and fluorescent bulbs
- Protecting the contents of occupied spaces including paintings, tapestries, and other items of historic or cultural value
- Elimination of fire hazards by removing lint and other materials which might accumulate in ductwork
- Extension of shelf life of perishable dairy products by removing airborne mold during processing operations
- Removing airborne bacteria from operating room air to help prevent postoperative infection.
Air filters/cleaners are generally classified according to the technology employed to remove various sized particles and/or gases from the air. The general types of technologies available for use in air cleaners include mechanical filters, electronic air cleaners, and hybrid filters for the capture of particles, and gas phase filters to control odors. Air cleaners which operate by chemical process, such as ozonation, also exist.
The selection of a type of air filter should depend on the intended use of the filter. Air filters' wide applications include: 1) protecting the HVAC equipment and components, 2) protecting the furnishings and decor of occupied spaces, 3) reducing housekeeping and building maintenance, 4) reducing furnace and heating equipment fire hazards, and 5) protecting the general well-being of residents. The first four of these applications can be accomplished with the lower efficiency filters generally used in central HVAC systems. The last, which has to do with health issues, will require much higher performance filtration. It may not always be possible to install this equipment in older existing environmental systems. Thus, self-contained portable room air cleaners must sometimes be used to obtain sufficiently high levels of filtration effectiveness.
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