Laboratory determination of indoor air cleaner life span

Indoor air cleaners are available on the market but a lot of them are not tested and their performances are not known. The main objective of our study was to develop a laboratory test method which allows to determine the life span of indoor air cleaners. Loading of the device is carried out with tobacco smoke which is an air pollutant that reflects real conditions. Fractional efficiency and air flow rate of the device are measured at the initial stage (clean device) and step by step as the device becomes loaded. Pressure difference of the device is maintained constant and equal to zero and variations of fractional efficiency, air flow rate and clean air delivery rate are expressed according to loading. Two different air cleaners using the two most popular filtration technologies (HEPA filter, electrostatic filter) have been tested according to the method and their life span have been determined.