Glossary

When assessing the performance of an air purifier, it is necessary to start from the dimensions of the room you want to purify. Multiply the room area (in m²) by the height of the ceiling (2.6 m by default, but may vary).

The resulting volume in m³ must be tripled, for effective cleaning of the air from impurities, it is necessary that the air in the room passes through the air purifier filtration system at least 3 times completely. And if you are an allergy sufferer, then the exchange should occur even 4 times Higher-performance purifiers only speed up the filtration, but if the output is lower, the air purification will not be effective and will not remove the impurities in the room. 

Example: A room in a block of flats with the area of 20 m² with a ceiling height of 2.6 m

20 m² x 2,6 = 52 m³ - volume of air in the room

52 m³ x 3 = 156 m³/hour - minimum purifier performance for a person without allergies

52 m³ x 4 = 208 m³/hour - minimum purifier performance for an allergy sufferer

It is located in the control part of the device and, depending on the detected air quality, changes the colour of the LED lighting. It is suitable for quick checking of the room air condition.

The integrated dust sensor helps to determine the air quality and it is used to adjust the speed mode of the device.

Air washer is a combination of a purifier and a humidifier working on a similar principle as cold evaporation. Special evaporator discs absorb water, while the fan blows dry air through these humidified rotating discs. The humidified air is then dispersed into the surroundings. Humidifiers working on this principle are high-performance devices that have low operating costs and are almost silent.  A significant advantage of these devices is the fact that they clean the air from hazardous particles in the air and, if equipped with other technologies for air purification (e.g.HEPA filters), they can be a full-fledged air purifier replacement.

BSS (Bio Silver Stone) is a natural material that eliminates and kills various types of bacteria and viruses inside the water tank (the elimination efficiency is  above 99,9 %).

Carbon filter or activated carbon filter - absorbs various odours and gases such as. formaldehyde. This colourless, odourless gas is often considered to be the most dangerous substance on the inside because it is irritating to the respiratory tract and eyes and is highly carcinogenic. The life of carbon filters varies and is usually ranges from 6 months to 2 years.

The device has a built-in control system for timely filter replacement. If the filters have been used for too long, the device will notify you when you need to replace the filter with a new one.

The key term is dew point, which is the temperature at which moisture from the air begins to condense on the surface of windows and walls.

So, for example, if you have 22°C at home and a relative humidity of 50%, the dew point will be about 10°C. In this case, moisture will condense on everything that has a surface temperature of 10°C and less. 

The air purifiers are not all the same, they differ mainly in the main component of the filtration system. The most common component is a HEPA type filter, electrostatic filter, or filtering through water How do the methods differ?

HEPA filter purifiers are the most efficient of all. Depending on its class, the filtering ability is close to 100%, thus removing almost all impurities from the air. The filter binds these particles deep into its structure and does not let them further. Therefore, its capacity is limited and it needs to be replaced once in a while.

Electrostatic filter binds impurities from the air using static electricity. The filtration effect is slightly worse than in most HEPA type filters - around 95%. If cleaned regularly, it does not need to be replaced, unlike HEPA. But it is necessary to take into account that maintenance can cost you enough time and nerves, the filter can be soiled by impurities.

Also filtration through water is less effective than HEPA in smaller particles but it works great for larger pollen and dust type impurities. In addition, this principle effectively humidifies the air.

In the household, the dangerous gas is mainly formaldehyde. This colourless, odourless gas is often considered to be the most dangerous substance in the interior, because it is irritating to the respiratory tract and eyes and is highly carcinogenic But the carbon filter can handle it too.

Symptoms at lower concentration: shortness of breath, headache, nausea, eye and respiratory tract irritation, mild mild cough, tearing, sneezing

Symptoms at higher concentration: corneal opacity and vision problems, respiratory problems, burns of mucous membranes and skin, damage to internal organs, pulmonary oedema, asthma symptoms

HEPA filters are the most important part of any air purifier. There are several classes of this type of filter and it is true that the higher the number in the name, the less particulate will pass through the filter. Take a look at a comparison of the performance of each class

For simplicity, these filters are collectively referred to as HEPA type filters, technically there are three subcategories:

EPA - Efficiency particulate air (Efficient microparticle capture)

HEPA - High-efficiency particulate air (highly efficient microparticle capture)

ULPA - Ultra low penetration air (ultra-low particle penetration)

Power regulator based on measured humidity.

Factors that significantly affect the air include ions. Ions are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost an electron. The ions that lost the electron are positive ions, the ions that gained the electron are negative ions.

In their natural form, the positive and negative ions contained in the air are approximately in balance. (poměr 1,15 : 1 in favour of the positive ions.). Today, however, this is usually not the case in homes and offices, which are filled with synthetic materials, screens, air conditioners and printers. These producers of positively charged ions significantly disturb the balance in the air and thus have a negative effect on human health (ratio up to 6 : 1 in favour of the positive ions.).

This may result in an increased the production of the hormones serotonin and histamine and health complications in the form of breathlessness, allergic manifestations or even migraine.

Therefore, it is advisable to use devices with an ionizer in the interior, which produce ions with a negative charge, restore the balance of ions in the air and thus protect human health.

Below are the concentrations of negative ions found in different localities.

Massage is a great way to stimulate the blood and lymphatic system in our body, thus achieving better tissue elasticity and compensating for their stiffness. It is caused by lactic acid and other metabolic products. A classic massage can effectively remove these products and relax stiff muscles. In addition, the massage improves joint mobility, promotes healing of injuries and swelling, relaxes scar tissue, has a positive effect on the nervous system, or  improves skin properties.

This method is based on the natural principle of water evaporation in nature. Water adheres to the surface of the rotating discs or soaks into the filter paper and rises upwards. The fan is used to direct the flow of dry air through these filters. This makes the water evaporate into the air faster and easier. It is not possible to supersaturate the air with water vapor by cold evaporation. Unlike other principles (ultrasound, thermal evaporation), no escaping steam is visible in this method of humidifying the air.

Air washers are a special category for natural evaporation. These are a combination between a purifier and a humidifier operating on a similar principle as cold evaporation. Special evaporator disks adsorb (bind) water and the fan blows dry air through these humidified rotating disks. The humidified air is then dispersed into the surroundings. Humidifiers working on this principle are high-performance devices that have low operating costs and are almost noiseless. A significant advantage of these devices is the fact that they clean the air from dangerous particles in the air and if they are equipped with other technologies for air purification (eg PLASMA system or HEPA filter), they can be a full-fledged replacement for air purifiers.

This mode is ideal for use in the bedroom, after its activation, the purifier turns off the display and reduces the speed to a minimum.

Option of horizontal rotation of the fan.

Photocatalysis is the process by which chemicals, bacteria, viruses or dust micro particles are broken down by a photocatalyst and light radiation. Many substances decompose naturally and spontaneously by the action of light, photocatalysts are substances that speed up this process.

Photocatalysis is therefore a process of chemical decomposition of substances in the presence of a photocatalyst and light radiation. It is based in principle on photolysis, the natural decomposition of some substances by the action of light, accelerated by the presence of a photocatalyst. If a material with photocatalytic properties is exposed to light from a suitable wavelength, its surface is activated and a characteristic reaction is triggered. The primary free electron-hole pair and the hydroxyl radicals secondary to the contact of the excited photocatalyst molecule and the water vapor decompose the organic and inorganic substances present.

Substances decomposable by photocatalysis include, for example:. nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, chlorinated hydrocarbons, dioxins, chlorobenzene, chlorophenol, simple hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, phenol, toluene, ethylbenzene), pesticides, etc. viruses, fungi or micro-dust particles. The final product is usually common and stable compounds. The specific industrial applications of the photocatalysis principle may differ mainly in the type of the catalyst. Titanium dioxide, which is activated by UV radiation, is most often used.

The use of photocatalysis is done in two basic areas:

• self-cleaning - thanks to photocatalysis, the surface of the material is resistant to the development of organic impurities and thus retains its original appearance and colour for a long time
• Cleaning the surrounding media - polluted air or water allows you to suppress some of the adverse effects of human activity, for example air pollution in densely populated areas.

The two areas of use are very closely related - these are actually only two somewhat different consequences of the same reaction. In the case of self-cleaning, however, the emphasis is on decomposition of solids adhering to the surface of the material, while in the case cleaning the surrounding media, the ability to decompose a particular substanceconsidered undesirable near the surface.

The plasma system is an additional feature of Airbi purifiers and humidifiers, which helps eliminate viruses in the air. It works as follows:

The device uses high voltage to form positive and negative ions (Fig. 1), which form clusters (Fig. 2). These ions are surrounded by water molecules that ensure their longevity. The clusters of ions then surround the airborne viruses (Fig. 3), attaching to them and forming highly reactive molecules, so-called hydroxyl radicals (OH). They remove the hydrogen from the virus surface (Fig. 4), which disrupts the surface membrane of the virus, which dies immediately (Fig. 5). The removed hydrogen is subsequently combined with a hydroxyl radical and the final product is water.(H₂0) (Fig. 6).

In short: formed clusters of ions attack the surface of viruses until they are harmless. The plasma system is absolutely safe, its only by-product is water.

There are several technological options to choose from today to humidify the indoor air.

NATURAL EVAPORATION

This method is based on the natural principle of water evaporation in nature. The water sticks to the surface of the rotating disks or soaks into the filter paper and rises upwards. The fan is used to direct the flow of dry air through these filters. This makes the water evaporate into the air faster and easier.  It is not possible to saturate the air with water vapour by cold evaporation. Unlike other principles (ultrasound, thermal evaporation), no emitted steam is visible with this method of humidification.

A special category in natural evaporation is air washers. These are a combination of a purifier and a humidifier operating on a principle similar to cold evaporation. Special evaporator discs absorb (bind) water, while the fan blows dry air through these humidified rotating discs. The humidified air is then dispersed into the surroundings. Humidifiers working on this principle are high-performance devices that have low operating costs and are almost silent.  A significant advantage of these devices is the fact that they clean the air from hazardous particles in the air and, if equipped with other technologies for air purification (e.g. PLASMA system nebo HEPA filter), they can be a full-fledged air purifier replacement.

ULTRASOUND

The vibrating membrane (piezo) uses ultrasonic technology to decompose the water into micro droplets, which are then dispersed into the air by means of a fan, where they evaporate. The visible steam is cold and harmless to health.  Ultrasound devices do not require as much electrical energy and have sufficient power. When water vapour is generated by ultrasound, minerals are also released into the air, so it is necessary for devices with this technology to be equipped with water filters. Even in the case of hard water, this principle can lead to the deposition of mineral dust on the furniture and other equipment in the room.

HEAT EVAPORATION

The water inside the appliance heats up until water vapour is generated without bacterial germs (they are destroyed by high temperatures). The steam spreads in all directions in the room and increases the relative humidity of the air very effectively. These humidifiers are highly productive and should therefore always be equipped with a hydrostat for humidity control. But when it comes to security, it's worse. There is really hot steam coming out of the device, and therefore these devices are not suitable for places where children or animals are present.  In addition, the heating elements become clogged with lime scale over time, and regular maintenance is required.

With this feature, the humidifier produces even more steam and helps eliminate bacteria.

Thanks to the built-in timer, you can set the time after which the device should turn off automatically.

The vibrating membrane (piezo) uses ultrasonic technology to decompose the water into micro droplets, which are then dispersed into the air by means of a fan, where they evaporate. The visible steam is cold and harmless to health. Ultrasound devices do not require as much electrical energy and have sufficient power. When water vapour is generated by ultrasound, minerals are also released into the air, so it is necessary for devices with this technology to be equipped with water filters. Even in the case of hard water, this principle can lead to the deposition of mineral dust on the furniture and other equipment in the room.

From the point of view of human health, the optimal value of the relative humidity indoors is 40 - 60%, when the mucous membranes of the body are ideally moisturized and do not let dirt and pathogens into the body.

In summer, we can have window open all day and the humidity inside will be OK. However, if we ventilate in the winter, the relative humidity in the room will start to decrease rapidly. This is due to the fact that entering cold air holds less humidity than air at a higher room temperature. Warmer air expands more and has a greater ability to absorb moisture. For example, air at a temperature of 20°C can hold up to 5 times more water than air at a temperature of 0°C.

The devices measure the relative humidity, i.e. in percentage. If the air has a relative humidity of 60%, it means that it is filled to 60% of its capacity to hold humidity. But during winter ventilation, we let in cold air with low capacity and therefore the real humidity in the room decreases.