How Plasma Air Technology Works

Plasma Air uses soft ionization, or bipolar ionization, technology for proactive indoor air purification.

How Soft Ionization Works to Clean the Air of Pollutants

Like sunlight does in the atmosphere, Plasma Air technology produces a climate rich in positive and negative oxygen ions. The negative ions contain an extra electron while the positive ions are missing an electron. The result is an unstable condition.

To find stability, these polarized ions seek out atoms and molecules in the air to trade electrons with. This process effectively neutralizes particulate matter, bacteria and virus cells, odorous gases and aerosols, and VOCs.

Positively and negatively charged ions cause airborne particles to cluster.
Filters catch large particle clusters.
Oxygen ions inactivate bacteria and viruses as they bond.
Oxygen ions bond with and neutralize odorous gases and aerosols including VOCs.

See Plasma Air HVAC Air Purification in Action

Plasma Air HVAC Air Purification for Commercial Applications

Plasma Air Residential HVAC Air Purification for Residential Applications

How Plasma Air Compares to Other Air Purification Methods

Plasma Air’s bipolar ionization air purification technology is a superior solution. It proactively treats the air in the occupied space at the source of contamination. Traditional end-of-pipe solutions utilize a reactive “pass-through” or “filtered” approach.

 
Plasma Air
Particle Filtration HEPA / Fine Grain Filters1 Carbon Filters2 Ultraviolet3 Biofilters Chemical Scrubber PCO4
Description Soft (Bipolar) Ionization Pre-filters, bag filters, pre-treated filters, fiberglass filters for larger airborne particles Captures fine airborne particles Adsorbs and filters chemicals Ultraviolet light kills germs and remove airborne particles Treats exhausted air through biological media by reacting with contaminants Treats exhausted air through chemical media by reacting with contaminants Filtered media is coated with material that reacts with chemicals
Energy savings Up to 30% None None None None None None None
Pressure drop Low Low High Medium None Very high High Medium
Particle size Small Large(> 5um) Small(< 0.01um) N/A N/A N/A N/A Large
Treats air in room Yes No No No No No No No
Treats Make-up / Supply air Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
Treats return air Yes Yes Yes Rarely Yes No No Yes
Treats exhaust air Yes Rarely No Yes Rarely Yes Yes Rarely
Capital costs Low Low Medium High Medium Very High Very High High
O&M Costs Low Low Low to medium High Low Very High Very High High
Energy Costs Low Low High High High High High Medium
Disposal Costs None Low Depends on contamination High Medium High High High
Success rates5 99% Low 0-99.7% Low Low Low Low Low
1) HEPA filters add significant pressure drop resulting in larger horsepower motors and increased fan energy. 2) Carbon has high first cost, additional space requirements in the air handling units and prohibitive media replacement costs. 3) At high levels, UV can create noxious gases and is mutagenic. Bacteria kill rates are negligible with no effectiveness in the occupied space. 4) PCO can produce formaldehyde. 5) Success Rate based on independent tests on airborne pathogens

What Are Oxygen Ions?

Ions are molecules or atoms that contain an electrical charge and exist in nature in various sizes. Small ions only last between 30 and 300 seconds before losing their charge, but are extremely active.

Small ion densities range from 900 to 1,100 negative ions and 1,000 to 1,200 positive ions per cubic centimeter (ions/cm3) in pristine natural environments. At sea level ion density is typically around 500 negative and 600 positive ions/cm3. In cities and inside buildings ion levels drop by 80% to 95% and can be barely detectable in small spaces.

As ion density decreases, so does the air quality. By increasing the quantity of both positively and negatively charged small oxygen ions, air quality improves. This is the basis of Plasma Air's soft ionization, bipolar ionization, technology.

Ion-Count-Ionization-Infographic.png

More questions about how bipolar ionization works?

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