GEA ATpicco rids air of dust, tobacco smoke, and other toxic substances

Now, after introducing GEA Clarifair, its virtual smokers’ booth for operation in the open, GEA Air Treatment has developed an additional, similar system – the ATpicco room-air purifier – that removes toxic substances such as tobacco smoke from room air. This flat unit, which has its place above a suspended ceiling, combines the expertise from the GEA Ventilation and Filtration business units. The key element in this air-handling unit is a compact, highly efficient electrostatic precipitator with a patented wave-shaped ionizer.

Already valid VDI directives and European standards attach great importance to the topic of air quality. It is highly probable that future European Union regulations will soon define new limit values for the levels of pollutants in such facilities as office buildings. Cigarette smoke will consequently become a problem. Already today, however, GEA offers the effective solution:  the ATpicco room-air purifier.

The ATpicco system, based on the ATpicco range of flat units, measures only approx. 35 cm in height. As a result, it has plenty of room above a suspended ceiling. With an airflow rate of approx. 1,500 m³/h, it is capable, for example, of completely recirculating and filtering the air in a room with 30 m³ every 3 minutes. It is therefore an ideal choice for providing fresh air in smokers’ rooms or in areas with potentially dangerous concentrations of toxic substances in the air. A filter system has therefore been installed inside whose principle of operation has been effectively proven in the GEA Clarifair virtual smokers’ booth:

A pre-filter holds back coarse dust and large particles. This stage also assures uniform air impingement of the air mixture in the downstream electrostatic filter. This electrostatic-filter stage separates the tiniest sold or liquid suspended particles – including smoke particles. An activated-carbon unit removes unpleasant odours. Service hatches and a sophisticated system configuration simplify preventive and corrective maintenance work on the filter system.

Despite the compact unit measurements, the patented wave-shaped ionizer assures top filter performance. The ionizer electrically charges aerosols (particles suspended in air), in order to deflect them in an electrical field in the downstream collector, and to separate them out. Removal takes place more effectively, the more intensive the previous charging of the particles. The wave-shaped ionizer assures this:  its geometry enables longer dwell time of the aerosols in the ionization zone, and for systematic swirl of the air. Both of these measures intensify the ionization. The filtration effects of this system are accordingly one-quarter better in comparison to conventional electrostatic filters.

The recirculated-air solution of the ATpicco room-air purifier offers an additional advantage over ineffective ventilation with opened windows:  that no heat is lost from the room. This, of course, enables considerable savings potentials. The optional air-quality sensor of the ATpicco room-air purifier likewise contributes to energy savings. Its measured values make it possible for a closed-loop control system to optimally set the fresh-air share and the air flow rate in accordance with actual current needs.

A prototype of the ATpicco room-air purifier is currently proving its qualities, and market introduction of the system is planned for the second half of 2008.