New variant on electrostatic particle capture

**BobL** · 2nd February 2013, 12:35 AM

Summary:

A new device called a soft X-ray electrostatic precipitator protected immunocompromised mice from airborne pathogenic bacteria, viruses, ultrafine particles, and allergens. This device, known for short as a SXC ESP, is highly versatile, with multiple potential uses, and Washington University is working on licensing the technology.

The device could be used in homes, with a cost similar to that of high efficiency air cleaners, But it would be much easier to operate, and much more effective," he adds. It could be added into stand-alone air cleaners, or incorporated into HVAC systems in homes, offices, and even in aircraft cabins. In the study, the device exceeded standards for high efficiency articulate air filters, which must be capable of removing particles larger than 0.3 micrometers with 99.97 percent efficiency.

It would be interesting to see what dust load it could cope with and if it could be used incorporated into small Workshop Air filters and VCs.

For a bit more See New device traps particulates, kills airborne pathogens

Electrostatic precipitation has been around for a long time so it sounds like they are using a low energy Xray (high energy UV) source to ionize the particles and then apply standard EP methods. I will download the publications and take a gander.

**QC Inspector** · 2nd February 2013, 05:26 AM

Hmmm. Sounds interesting. Are we going to need to wear a full body foily in the shop to protect ourselves from the dust collector?

Pete

**BobL** · 2nd February 2013, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by QC Inspector

Hmmm. Sounds interesting. Are we going to need to wear a full body foily in the shop to protect ourselves from the dust collector?

Pete

No. Soft X-ray sources are increasingly used in labs. It will be equivalent to a low intensity (invisible) high frequency end UV light. If the setup is fully interlocked is should be fine. If someone overrides the interlocks, and sticks their hand in there for long enough they will get badly sunburnt. My guess is the first domestic ones will be small ie 100 cfm type units to suit a domestic VC. I would be more interested in ones that can cope with 1000 CFM. The real issue is how well do they deal with X, 10X, 100X, 1000X particles per cubic metre. If they can only handle small dust loads then they will not help us.

**QC Inspector** · 2nd February 2013, 08:57 AM

I was kidding just a bit.

Even if they can't handle large volumes of dust particles, they could be useful as a very last stage for those of us in cold climates or some of you in the hot ones where the exhausting of conditioned air is a big consideration. Cyclone, to cartridges, to Soft X-ray gizmo type of system. Hopefully the Soft X-ray would have much less resistance than a Hepa filter. What kind of prices would these things command if mass produced and when might they be on the market?

Pete

**BobL** · 2nd February 2013, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by QC Inspector

I was kidding just a bit.

Even if they can't handle large volumes of dust particles, they could be useful as a very last stage for those of us in cold climates or some of you in the hot ones where the exhausting of conditioned air is a big consideration. Cyclone, to cartridges, to Soft X-ray gizmo type of system. Hopefully the Soft X-ray would have much less resistance than a Hepa filter.

Yep I imagine that is thge big attraction

What kind of prices would these things command if mass produced and when might they be on the market?

No idea. Like a lot of ideas the patent could be bought up by someone and it just sits in their assets register.

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