The Clean Air Curtain is an air cleaning device that utilizes both a true HEPA filter and a UVGI light to institute a “trap and kill” strategy for the elimination of airborne pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2. But what is unique about the solution is the incorporation of an “air curtain” that allows for the separation of one air space from another. This allows for a very clean, high velocity curtain of air to protect one air space from another. A secondary benefit of the air curtain is the high-velocity air forces the mixing of clean air into the entire room, causing a rapid reduction of pathogen concentrations in the room.
passing up through the HEPA filter at high
velocity. Photo: Air Cleaners Inc.
The exit velocity of the air curtain air is 1300 FPM (6 m/sec), which is quite high. This feature results in a forced mixing of the air in the room. Many existing filter devices release air at a low velocity near the floor, however airborne pathogens are buoyant and float up into the air remaining in there for hours. The high-velocity plume from the Clean Air Curtain reduces the pathogen concentration by mixing it with highly filtered air, quickly diluting the concentration below the level required to set off the reaction in the human respiratory system.
The Clean Air Curtain is also uniquely packaged. Where most commercial-grade air cleaners are large and remain on the floor, the Clean Air Curtain is packaged as a desktop device, allowing the air return diffusers to be closer to the human breathing zone, collecting and killing pathogens emitted from a person’s mouth. Examples of placement include any “point of purchase” location, such as found in the retail and hospitality industry. The device would also be beneficial in pubs, restaurants, hotels and health clubs.
3 key features:
- High-velocity air curtain plume: The Air Curtain provides two primary benefits by both creating an air barrier that protects one person from another, and the resulting high-speed plume of air forces rapid dilution of pathogens in the room.
- ‘Trap and Kill’ design: Air is returned to the device and forced at high pressure through a true HEPA filter. UVGI is deployed in the supply plenum and directed onto the filter constituting a “trap and kill” design. Pathogens are trapped against the HEPA filter, and killed by the UVGI light.
- Small portable “desktop” package: The Clean Air Curtain is a small desktop unit that measures only 24 x 12 x 8 inches and can therefore fit onto a countertop or desktop. The unit is portable and weighs approximately 30 pounds. It can therefore be added to an environment for a period of time, and then moved as appropriate to a new location.
