Wed 9 Sep 2020
The American Embassy School (AES) is an international school located in New Delhi (India), which offers an educational program for children from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12
The American Embassy School has a semi-open courtyard in the center of their building, which is directly connected to the outside air. Earlier ENS proved the potential of particulate matter (PM) reduction using CFD simulations to improve the air quality. Before ENS was involved, the central courtyard could previously not be used optimally due to high particulate matter concentrations. In addition, due to the high concentrations in this central living space, there were fine dust problems in the rest of the building. After installing our air purification systems, the main focus was to reduce the most harmful particles with a diameter smaller than 2,5 µm, so called PM2.5 to create a healthier environment to students and staff.
To determine the effect of the air purification systems on particulate matter concentrations in the courtyard, an extensive measurement campaign was performed. During the measurement campaign, an average concentration reduction of 60% (PM10) was demonstrated in the courtyard, which corresponds to a particulate matter capture of no less than 410 grams per week. This unique approach in combination with the successful outcome will soon be published in a scientific paper.
Ventilating a building seems obvious, but many buildings are located in a polluted environment and are therefore ventilated with unhealthy air. Healthy air is important for public health, but in many places the air quality is substandard due to the presence of sources such as traffic (both combustion and wear processes), industry, households, intensive livestock farming, agricultural activities, but also sources of a natural nature. The measurement campaign proves that the ENS technology can be applied on a large scale inside buildings with a courtyard, atrium or other type of large (partly) enclosed building volume. Thereby creating a clean air bubble in heavy polluted environments. Through constant purification and recirculation, the ENS technology offers a solution for poorly ventilated areas, such as hospitals, office buildings, schools, museums, shopping centers, hotels, airports and public transport buildings.
Particulate matter is harmful to our health. Inhaled particulate matter causes respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. More and more research makes it plausible that infectious diseases, which are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses (such as COVID-19), spread through the air through the transfer of aerosols (part of particulate matter). These microscopic droplets can linger in the air for hours, posing a potential contamination hazard. The air purification systems can contribute to a reduction of the infection pressure by continuously capturing fine dust, including aerosols.
