New Energy Efficient HVAC Nanofiber Media

Transcription

1 New Energy Efficient HVAC Nanofiber Media Cigdem Akduman 1,2, Frank Baker 3 1 Pamukkale University, Denizli Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Department of Textile Technology, 21, Denizli, Turkey Abstract Introduction 2 Hifyber, Abalioğlu Teknoloji San. ve Tic. A.Ş, 2175 Denizli, Turkey 3 Hifyber, 5171 Old Hickory Blvd. Nashville, TN 37218, North America frank.baker@hifyber.com Due to increased energy prices, and/or the requirement to reduce CO2 emissions, the energy consumption of filters is becoming very important in the selection of filter media. To meet this ever increasing need, high performance HVAC nanofiber media, STP-472 series, was introduced by Hifyber which represents a new level of high efficiency, low energy consumption. Nanofiber filters have a great potential for application in HVAC systems and air cleaners, as they can reduce particle concentrations in buildings while consuming less energy because of their relatively low air resistance. The initial pressure drop obtained with HF-STP coded media is almost half (72 Pa) as compared to EN779: 212 compared to a glass fiber type filter. According to ISO 1689, the first pressure drop was found to be 82 Pa. Another advantage of the STP-472 series is its exceptional durability, in contrast to the delicate structures that restrict the use of nanofiber media in many commercial applications. STP-472 series nanofiber HVAC media will open up a new approach to HVAC medias in means of efficiency, light weight, durability, long life time and environmental friendly construction. Ventilation plays a crucial role in maintaining a clean indoor environment. However, as a result of inadequate system design, ventilation and air-conditioning systems can also be major sources of airborne pollutants, distribution or cross-contamination, etc [1]. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that indoor air is often two to five times more polluted than outdoor air [2]. Thus, air filtration technology plays a significant role in protecting human health by removing indoor air pollutions, while providing an alternative solution for reducing energy usage, operating costs and thus delivering a way to achieve sustainability [1]. Although fiberglass media is still widely preferred in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, HVAC systems produced from synthetic fibers show significant advantages compared to glass fiber. First of all, synthetic fibers are not prone to shedding as they are manufactured from nonshedding materials. Glass fiber filters may cause some issues because they have tendency to shedding of very small sized glass fibers. Synthetic fibers are produced from harmless materials for human and environmental health and doesn t have any shedding issue as observed in glass fibers. Filters produced from synthetic fibers are more durable compared to filters made of glass fiber and they are more economical because they have longer filter life. Synthetic filters have high dust retention capacity while filters produced from glass fibers exhibit low resistance to moisture and have lower dust holding capacity due to cake formation [3,4].

2 Nanofiber media Due to increased energy prices, and/or the requirement to reduce CO 2 emissions, the energy consumption of filters is becoming very important in the selection of filter media. To meet this ever increasing need, high performance HVAC nanofiber media, STP-472 series, was introduced by Hifyber which represents a new level of high efficiency, low energy consumption. Figure 1 shows the cross section of this new developed media. Nanofiber filters have a great potential for application in HVAC systems and air cleaners, as they can reduce particle concentrations in buildings while consuming less energy because of their relatively low air resistance [5].The challenges of nanofiber media are (1) attaining the homogeneity in size (diameter) distribution of fibers, (2) attaining the uniformity in deposition and orientation of fibers (thickness and structural indexes) and (3) obtaining durability and robustness of nanofiber layer in the filter [6]. High performance HVAC nanofiber media, STP-472 series show high durability and uniform filtration efficiency due to uniform nanofiber coating. Figure 1. Cross section of STP472 Figures 2a and b show the KCL and DEHS efficiencies of STP472-7 media, respectively [7]. ISO 1689 ratings are given in Table 1. For epm 1, it is about 6%, for epm 2.5, it is about 7% and for epm 1, it is 9%. In Figure 3, the pressure drop (Pa) of this media is given depending on the flow rate. Even after IPA, no significant changes in Δp values were observed and were lower when compared to similar filter classes.

3 1 9 8 KCL Efficiency (%) a) KCL Particle Size ( m) Initial Efficiency (%) Discharged Efficiency (%) DEHS Efficiency (%) Initial Efficiency (%) Discharged Efficiency (%) b),1 DEHS Particle Size( m) 1 Figure 2. According to ISO 1689 a) KCl Efficiency (%) b) DEHS Efficiency (%) of Hifyber STP472-7 media Table 1. According to ISO 1689 particle arrestance % of Hifyber STP472-7 media Reporting Data epm1 epm2,5 epm1 Minimum 61% 71% 91% Average 6% 7% 9% Reported 6% 7% 9%

4 25 Media Resisstance (Pa) Flow Rate (m 3 /h) p Initial (Pa) p Post IPA (Pa) % m 3 /h Δp Initial (Pa) Δp Post IPA (Pa) Figure 3. According to ISO 1689 Pressure Drop (Pa) of Hifyber STP472-7 media depending on Flow Rate (m 3 /h) The energy consumption of the filters in the Eurovent 4/21 standard is rated between A + and E. Depending on the high pressure drop values, the energy consumption levels of many glass fiber products are at the B-C level. A+ represents the lowest and E represents the highest energy consumption. Hifyber's STP 472 series nanofiber media provides the A + energy class at Eurovent 4/21 with a half-pressure pressure drop compared to glass fiber in a similar filter. In the V-Bank filter test, Hifyber s STP coded media has been classified as 85% epm1 according to ISO 1689 and F9 according to EN 779:212. According to EN779:212, HF-STP media has 85.5% discharged efficiency. STP-472 series does not rely on electrostatic charge and is delivering 1% mechanical filtration efficiency. STP-472 series achieves an energy rating of A+ in Eurovent 4/21 with half the pressure drop of glassfiber media in a similar filter. The initial pressure drop obtained with HF-STP coded media is almost half (72 Pa) as compared to EN779: 212 compared to a glass fiber type filter. The 4-pocket V-Bank filter produced with HF-ST is classified as ISO epm1 85% according to ISO According to ISO 1689, the first pressure drop was found to be 82 Pa. A comparison of Pressure drop (Pa), Efficiency (%) and Energy Consumption (kwh) values of the Hifyber s HF-STP472-9 media with glass fiber reference products are given in Figure 4. The initial pressure drop of HF-STP472-9 at 82.8% efficiency of the V-Bank filter is 72 Pa, while the initial pressure drops at glass fiber references of 8%, 78% and 9%, are 115, 13 and 12 Pa respectively. Depending on these values, 1166kWh energy consumption, which is rated for HF- STMP472-9 as A+ class, is far superior to the 147, 1758 and 175 kwh energy consumption of reference products [8].

5 Initial pressure drop (Pa) - Efficiency [%] Energy consumption (kwh) Hifyber HF-STP Glass Fiber Filter Ref 1 Glass Fiber Filter Ref 2 Glass Fiber Filter Ref 3 Initial pressure drop (Pa) Initial efficiency (%) Energy consumption (kwh) Figure 4. Comparison of Pressure drop (Pa), Efficiency (%) and Energy Consumption (kwh) values of the Hifyber s HF-STP472-9 media with glass fiber reference products. Another advantage of the STP-472 series is its exceptional durability, in contrast to the delicate structures that restrict the use of nanofiber media in many commercial applications. This durability of Hifyber nanofiber media enables the production of filters using standard equipment and, most importantly, allows high-speed pleating using rotary, blade or mini-pleaters. STP-472 series nanofiber HVAC media will open up a new approach to HVAC medias in means of efficiency, light weight, durability, long life time and environmental friendly construction. References [1] Liu, G., Xiao, M., Zhang, X., Gal, C., Chen, X., Liu, L.,... & Clements-Croome, D. (217). A review of air filtration technologies for sustainable and healthy building ventilation. Sustainable cities and society, 32, [2] Matela, D. (26). Air filtration: Green and clean how to improve indoor air quality. Filtration & separation, 43(9), [3] APC Filtration Inc., Fibreglass Vs. Synthetic Air Filtration: What s The Difference? Accessed on, [4] HVDS, Synthetic Fibre Filters vs FibreGlass Filters Accessed on, [5] Xia, T., Bian, Y., Zhang, L., & Chen, C. (218). Relationship between pressure drop and face velocity for electrospun nanofiber filters. Energy and Buildings, 158, [6] Barhate, R. S., & Ramakrishna, S. (27). Nanofibrous filtering media: filtration problems and solutions from tiny materials. Journal of membrane science, 296(1-2), 1-8.

6 [7] Hifyber, Technical, Blueheaven, ISO 1689 HIFYBER nanofiber media flat sheet for HVAC performance test Accessed on [8] Eurovent Certification, Accessed on,