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Developing standards: Global standards for air cleaning equipment

Article in Filtration + Separation · November 2008

DOI: 10.1016/S0015-1882(08)70369-0

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 Leading the world of filtration

Keeping it clean
Controlling industrial air pollution

Also:
• Developing air filtration
standards
• Cutting the cost of
compressed air
• Achieving cleaner air
with filter media

November 2008 www.filtsep.com

 Editorial 1
Filtration+Separation November 2008

Time to set the standard?

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 The latest industry news
4-10

Leading the world of filtration

16-19
20-23
Improving filter media
Controlling to achieve cleaner air
industrial air
pollution

Contents • Features
Filter media: Improving filter media to achieve
• Editorial 1 cleaner air 20
Filter media plays a primary role in determining the overall cost for
Time to set the standard?
operating an air filtration system. Hollingsworth & Vose discuss how
media performance can be improved.
• Industry news 4 Air filtration: Air filter media – an industry evolves 24
Lon Edelman of Kimberly-Clark looks at the evolution of filter
• Technology news 10 media in the air sector of the industry, with a particular focus on
• Cover story 16 the industry in North America.

Air filtration: Using filtration to control industrial Developing standards: Global standards for air
air pollution cleaning equipment 28
Ken Sutherland reviews the various kinds of air pollution from industrial Paolo Tronville considers the importance of developing global
and commercial operations, and the means used for its elimination – or standards for air cleaning equipment, and looks at the challenges of
at the very least, its minimisation. merging existing test methods.

Filtration+Separation November 2008

 Air filter media – an Contents 3

24-26 industry evolves

14

41-42
Replacing air systems

Developing standards
for air cleaning
equipment

32-34
28-31

Cutting the cost of

compressed air

Air filtration and efficiency: Cutting the cost of to provide compressed air to international standards, as well as dealing with
compressed air 32 other critical areas.
While compressed air can be a relatively inexpensive form of
Compressed air systems: Auditing and replacing
factory power, energy costs are forcing managers to review its use.
David Wright explains how effective air-line filtration can reduce
air compressors 41
costs. Ensuring compressed air systems are cost effective and working
efficiently is a must. We take a look at how a European company deals
Air filtration: Choosing the right filter class for with issues relating to compressed air.
HVAC systems 36
Getting the best from a system is not just about choosing media and
correct installation. Thomas Carlson explains the importance of using
and selecting the right filter class for HVAC systems.
• Diary dates 43
• Applications • Product Finder 44
Manufacture and design: Improving compressed
air production 39
Engineers set out to design a cartridge filter that worked efficiently enough • Advertisers’ Index 48

Dates to remember
• 10-13 November • 2-5 December
Water Expo China, Beijing, China Pollutec, Lyon, France

• 27-30 November • 9-11 December

PMEC, Mumbai, India Filtration 2008, Philadelphia, USA

Filtration+Separation November
November 2008
2006
 28 Feature
Filtration+Separation November 2008

Developing standards:
Global standards
for air cleaning
equipment
aolo Tronville considers the importance of developing global
P standards for air cleaning equipment, including the challenges
of merging existing test methods, filling the gaps and
developing new tools.

Introduction • Making the design, production and supply the Participating Members (P-Members)
of products and services more effective and are represented and five active Working
In this era of globalisation, [1] [2] the air Groups (WG) that are made up of experts
reliable;
cleaning equipment business and industry cannot representing their personal point of view:
exclude itself. Standardisation plays an important • Safeguarding consumers and users;
role in this respect because the widespread • WG 1 – Terminology;
adoption of International Standards means that • Sharing technological advances and
disseminating innovation; • WG 3 – General ventilation filters;
suppliers can develop and offer products and
services that meet specifications which have • Providing governments with a technical • WG 4 – HEPA and ULPA filters;
wide international acceptance in their sectors. base for health, safety and environmental • WG 8 – Gas-phase air cleaning devices;
Hence, businesses using International Standards legislation, and conformity assessment.
can compete in many more markets around the • WG 9 – Particulate air filter intake systems
world. At the same time end users appreciate The current ISO/TC142 structure includes for rotary machinery and stationary internal
standards because they ensure desirable the main Technical Committee in which combustion engines.
characteristics of products and services such
as quality, environmental friendliness, safety,
reliability, efficiency and interchangeability.
The ISO (International Organisation for
Standardisation) [3] is the world’s largest
developer and publisher of International
Standards. ISO standards are developed by
technical committees comprising experts from
the industrial, technical and business sectors
which have asked for the standards. These
experts may be joined by representatives of
government agencies, testing laboratories,
consumer associations, non-governmental
organisations and academic circles.
ISO Technical Committee 142 “Cleaning
equipment for air and other gases” has been
reactivated in 2005 after being inactive for
nearly 30 years. Several work items are being
discussed and developed inside ISO/TC142 for
the sake of:
• Making the trade between countries easier ISO standards are developed by technical committees comprising experts from the industrial, technical and
and fairer; business sectors which have asked for the standards.

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 Feature 29
Filtration+Separation November 2008

Current activity inside ISO/TC142

WG 1 is producing a terminology document
which would assist those drafting new
documents to maintain the required
consistency within the standards produced
by TC142, i.e. ensuring terms used in related
standard documents are not assigned different
meanings within these documents. Committee
Draft (CD) 29464 “Cleaning equipment
for air and other gases – Terminology” has
already been prepared. This document will
update and replace ISO 3649:1980 “Cleaning
equipment for air or other gases – Vocabulary”.
Some more work is still needed in order to
include terms related both to gas-phase and to
particulate capture. Usually terminology is not
a contentious item, unless it involves terms
classifying a product in a diverse manner in
Figure 1: Comparison of pressure drop behaviour between two models of compact filters. Dashed lines indicate
different parts of the world (one example is
filters working in an actual installation with prefilters upstream (386 days); continuous lines indicate filter tested in
the term HEPA – High Efficiency Particulate laboratory using ASHRAE dust.
Air Filter – that needs a precise definition).
The WG 3 has prepared the Final Draft is developing a series of standards based on
Laboratory procedures are not able to provide
International Standard (FDIS) 21220 the EN 1822 series (the European standard)
reliable data on what is happening to air filters
“Particulate air filters for general ventilation but taking into account the needs and the
when they age in an actual installation [7].
– Determination of the filtration performance” requests of the American and Asian markets.
Figure 1 shows some impressive difference
which could not be approved until now. This In this case the obstacle is represented by the
between laboratory measurements and natural
document was the first one to be tackled by the different test methods currently used all over
ageing effects.
revitalised TC142 a few years ago. The main the world. The following Committee Drafts
problem in this case was represented by the The need for obtaining actual performance were balloted during the past months:
presence of well consolidated national standards data of the air cleaning devices induced
in various parts of the world [4] [5] [6]. These ISO/TC142 to work on the New Proposal • CD 29463-1 – Performance testing and
test methods do differ from each other and (NP) 29462 “Field testing of general classification of high efficiency filters and
contain also very different classification ventilation filtration devices and systems filter media for removing particles in air –
systems that were developed according to local for in-situ removal efficiency by particle size Part 1: Classification, performance, testing
markets needs. FDIS 21220 did not contain any and resistance to air flow”. The document is and marking;
classification system for this reason. intended to be a test procedure for evaluating • CD 29463-2 – Performance testing and
the in-situ performances of general ventilation classification of high efficiency filters and
Nonetheless the process of unifying the
filtration devices and systems. filter media for removing particles in air
different national standards is likely to take
several years due to the obvious resistance Such valid information is important to users – Part 2: Aerosol production, measuring
of each country to give up its own national who would like to know how the filters actually equipment, particle counting statistics;
standard for the sake of having one global perform in their system. The availability of such • CD 29463-3 – Performance testing and
reference laboratory test method. data is essential to drive the selection of filters classification of high efficiency filters and
that meet the efficiency needs and provide filter media for removing particles in air
The most contentious part of FDIS 21220 better Life Cycle Cost (LCC) calculations
was its Annex A in which it is described a – Part 3: Testing flat sheet filter media;
so that the owner can minimise the energy
normative test method for measuring the consumption due to the filter. • CD 29463-4 – Performance testing and
electrostatic enhancement factor of the classification of high efficiency filters and
media that is used for manufacturing the The environmental aspect filter media for removing particles in air
filter. In fact certain types of filter media – Part 4: Determining leakage of filter
rely on electrostatic effects to achieve high As with many other technical bodies, ISO/
elements (Scan method);
efficiencies at low resistance to air flow. TC142 is concerned with sustainability issues,
Exposure to some types of challenge, such as i.e. to help limit the impact of air cleaning • CD 29463-5 – Performance testing and
combustion particles or other fine particles, devices on our planet’s resources. For this classification of high efficiency filters and
can inhibit such charges with the result that sake the Preliminary Work Item (PWI) 12249 filter media for removing particles in air
filter performance suffers. Therefore several “Quality factor – Life cycle cost – Life cycle – Part 5: Determining the efficiency of filter
experts deemed that it is useful to identify this assessment – Safety of the materials which elements.
type of behaviour and to provide quantitative make up the filter product” was activated at
These documents were accepted in principle,
information about the importance of the the end of 2007. These issues will probably
even if some modifications will be needed to
electrostatic removal. require developing more than a single
improve the consensus within the P-members.
document to deal with them.
The 29463 series is based on particle counting
Working with the right data
HEPA and ULPA filters do not suffer a strong methods which actually cover most needs of
The development of an international standard dependency from local markets like filters for different applications. The difference between
that could be adopted all over the world is still general ventilation. Therefore it should be this proposal and other national standards lies in
a challenging task and the technical debate is easier to develop a global classification system the technique used for the determination of the
likely to continue during the next years. that can suit everyone’s needs. The WG4 overall efficiency. Instead of mass relationships or

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 30 Feature
Filtration+Separation November 2008

Figure 2: Loading effect of several different flat sheets of air filter media by means of atmospheric urban aerosol.

total concentrations, this technique is based on by means of general ventilation test procedures. have participated and it was difficult to launch
particle counting at the most penetrating particle In the case of self-cleaning filter elements this some new initiatives. However, the task group
size (MPPS), which is for micro-glass filter becomes impossible because when pressure drop “Performance testing of dust collectors” has
mediums usually in the range of 0.12 to 0.25 builds up to a predetermined level, the filter been formed and the standard ISO 6584:1981
µm. Some alternative test methods are included is cleaned by a brief back-pulse of air, either “Cleaning equipment for air and other gases –
in informative annexes. These are common extracted from the gas turbine compressor, or Classification of dust separators” (written many
practices in several countries and include derived from an auxiliary source task. Hence, years ago by SC 1 “Dust collectors, droplet
the use for photometric detection of aerosol to test this kind of filters it is essential to use and separators and purifiers”) is under review.
concentrations and a method for production a different test rig, designed for this specific New experts have already shown interest for
testing of filter media. application. participating in this task.
Therefore the WG9 is developing the following Among the products that are still missing
Gas-phase contaminants documents: a standardised test method we can cite
During the last decade the removal of gas- • NP 29461-1 – Air intake filter systems for electrostatic precipitators for general ventilation
phase contaminants got fairly popular also for rotary machinery – Part 1: Test methods and applications; some proposals exist [8] but no
general ventilation applications. The cleaning classification for static filter elements; standard is currently available. In fact the dust
equipment sold for this purpose is still lacking loading procedures adopted, for instance, by
a method of testing and the WG8 is working • NP 29461-2 – Air intake filter systems for FDIS 21200 are intended to simulate changes
to fill in this major gap. Two new proposals are rotary machinery – Part 2: Test methods and in filter media performance with use. These
currently being elaborated by the experts: classification for cleanable (pulse jet) filter procedures, however, are incompatible (due
systems” that will address these needs. to high dust conductivity) and inappropriate
• NP 10121-1 – Test method for assessing the
performance of gas-phase air cleaning media These documents should not be confused with (due to loading by pressure drop) for residential
and devices for general ventilation – Part 1: the CD “Air quality – Standard test method electrostatic precipitators. As a result these
Gas-phase air cleaning media; for filtration characterisation of cleanable devices are typically only tested for their initial,
filter media” which is being developed at clean efficiency.
• NP 10121-2 – Test method for assessing the present by WG 23 “Test methods on cleanable
performance of gas-phase air cleaning media Similarly, testing of flat sheets of filter
filter media” of ISO/TC 146 “Air quality”
and devices for general ventilation – Part 2: media for general ventilation applications is
Subcommittee 1 “Stationary source emissions”.
Gas-phase air cleaning devices. routinely carried out either by media or filters
This test method is intended for filter media
manufacturers. Nonetheless no standardised
only and its development started when ISO/
The items covered include granular media, test method exists for this sake. Consequently
TC142 was still dormant.
fibres or pads and full size, production, gas filters manufacturers and testing laboratories supply
where the media are incorporated. Nuclear data not readily comparable and usable. Figure
Other areas
applications are excluded because ISO/TC85 2 shows an example of data obtained by aging
“Nuclear energy” will specifically deal with this Some ISO/TC142 Task Groups have been several flat sheets of media in parallel small scale
topic. Technologies such as scrubbers, absorbers, formed during the past meetings in order ducts at the same time.
non-sorptive devices or packed columns are to evaluate the need and the scope of
addressed only if they fit into the specified test standardisation activity for products yet not Beyond the laboratory
apparatus. addressed by the current activity. They are:
The scope of ISO/TC142 activity goes beyond
Gas turbine power generation • Filters for residential applications; the preparation of laboratory test methods
for measuring the performance of filter media
plants • UV and biocide devices.
and elements. In fact it is not possible to
Air cleaning requirements are getting more The scope of ISO/TC142 is broad and does standardise real world operation. The changes
important and severe for gas turbine power include also industrial applications, which of efficiency and pressure drop versus time
generation plants and no specific test method actually were the main point of interest when can be surprisingly different from the data
is yet available for this kind of application. the TC was put in stand-by more than 30 years measured in the lab by aging artificially the
Common barrier static filters are usually tested ago. Until now only a few experts in this field air cleaning equipment. The mass of dust

fs4509_pg28_31.indd 30 17/10/2008 15:39:21 online_BG

 Feature 31
Filtration+Separation November 2008

captured varies tremendously among different Environmental impact – incineration as a matter of fact there is no standardised test
applications. – recycling method available for measuring the efficiency
of filters in removing particles below the 100
However, data obtained from laboratory Air filters are bulky and fibrous filter media nm size. Therefore it is difficult to draft any
testing is still very useful to compare different is not recyclable, hence to dispose of these regulation for handling nanoparticles safely.
products, even if some deviations among products easily is not simple. The possibility
laboratories should be taken into account. to incinerate air filters at the end of their Conclusion
Like in the case of automobiles, bench testing service life it is considered in many parts of
the world as a good solution. Some pieces A lot of standardisation work in the field of air
of air cleaning equipment should be integrated
of most filter elements could be probably cleaning equipment needs to be carried out as
by “road testing” and “virtual prototyping”.
recycled but this should be done only if soon as possible. The participation of experts
Future challenges the overall environmental impact would be from countries all over the world is welcome
minimised. On the other side, it may be too to make possible to accomplish at least some
We list here below some of the needs that hard to match fire reaction requirements of the most important goals highlighted above.
would probably require attention from the with the chance to incinerate completely the End users and facility managers are currently
standardisation activity of ISO/TC142. Time filter. Therefore a method to make Life Cycle under represented in ISO/TC142 and would be
and money are tight so they will be developed
if and when more work forces will join the
Assessment (LCA) analysis of air cleaning
equipment could help the manufacturers
welcome to join the committee. •
Technical Committee. Contact:
and the market to move towards more Paolo Tronville, Ph.D.
Since standards play an important part to the environmentally friendly products and Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
users and specifiers of filters their contribution solutions. E-mail: [email protected]
would be really valuable and welcome. Tel: +39 011 5644477
Bypass – re-entrainment of particles
References
Calculation of Life Cycle Cost (LCC) The degradation of filtration performance due
1. Hocking B., McGuire S., “Trade Politics
The calculation of LCC is difficult for several to bypass should be assessed in order quantify
– Domestic, International and Regional
reasons. First of all it is difficult to include the negative impact on filter efficiency. Such
Perspectives”, Routledge, 1999, ISBN
in this calculation the value of “cleaner problem is relevant for higher efficiency
0415193575.
air”. Nevertheless a minimum efficiency filters that sometimes are used a security tool
requirement should be set before comparing and that may suffer large degradations in 2. IBM Institute for Business Value, “The
competing filters. Otherwise the calculation efficiency. Enterprise of the Future: The Global CEO
of the minimum cost would indicate simply to Study 2008”, 2008, http://www-935.ibm.
The re-entrainment of particles is due to
remove the air filter from the installation. com/services/us/gbs/bus/html/ceostudy2008.
agglomerated particles breaking off by the
Another crucial point is represented by the html.
air stream and is mostly related to vibrations
choice of the final pressure drop to be used for the and changes in air velocity passing through 3. http://www.iso.org, Geneva, 2008.
calculation. Such pressure should actually be the the filters. If not detected immediately this
result of the minimisation of the LCC analysis. phenomenon may lead to the contamination 4. EN 779:2002, “Particulate filters for general
The actual trend of the air flow resistance versus of the whole system causing also an increase ventilation: Determination of the filtration
the operation time influences the results too. of maintenance costs. At the moment no test performance”, 2002.
method is available to quantify this kind of 5. ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2-2007, “Method of
Energy rating of air filters and air behaviour, mostly occurring in low efficiency Testing General Ventilation Air Cleaning
cleaning devices filters. Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle
The energy labelling of air filters would allow Size”, 2007.
Efficacy in removing nanoparticles
choosing the products that require less energy
6. JIS B 9908:2001, “Test method of air
consumption (like in the case of bulbs and other Nanoparticles are particles having one or more
filter units for ventilation and electric air
appliances). In the case of air filters it is not dimensions of the order of 100 nm or less. The
cleaners for ventilation”, 2007.
obvious how to do it because filters belonging to reason why there is a lot of interest around
different families (prefilters, fine filters, HEPA them is due to the fact that at the nano- 7. Hanley J. T., Owen M. K., Final Report
filters) have different efficiency targets. scale they show different properties of the on ASHRAE RP-1190 “Develop a New
bulk material they are made of. As of today, Loading Dust and Dust Loading Procedures
Metering the energy consumption of some
there are some concerns about man-made for the ASHRAE Filter Test Standards 52.1
actual installation would probably help in
nanoparticles escaping into the environment. and 52.2”, 2003.
getting valuable information but, again, no
In fact there are some safety issues that are
standardised procedure is yet available for this 8. Hanley J. T., Ensor D. S., Franke D. L.,
currently not fully understood.
sake. On the other hand to use laboratory “Environmental Technology Verification
data would not obtain reliable results and Fibrous air filters can be very effective in – Draft Test Protocol for Electronic Air
indications. removing nanoparticles from air streams but Cleaners”, 2002.

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