ASHRAE Announces Grant for Air Cleaning Technology Research
By CP Editorial Staff - August 2007 - Facilities Management
ASHRAE recently approved a research grant to analyze by-products from photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) air cleaning devices, improving understanding of the technology.
ASHRAE Research Project 1457, By-Product Production from Photocatalytic Oxidation Associated with Indoor Air Cleaning Devices, was awarded to University of Wisconsin. The $124,889 project is expected to take two years to complete. The grant is one of 12 ASHRAE recently approved for funding, totaling $1.4 million.
PCO, used for removal of gaseous contaminants in air-cleaning equipment, requires less energy to operate than many existing filter systems, according to ASHRAE. In the best-case scenario, all of the contaminants removed are converted to non-threatening levels of carbon dioxide and water. However, the contaminant conversion process has the potential to release chemicals that are less desirable than the ones being removed from the air stream, ASHRAE says.
The research will investigate a variety of stand-alone and in-duct air cleaners using PCO technology, challenging them with several airborne contaminants to identify chemicals released.
