Air Ionizer Purifier

2008-10-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

1. What is the air ionizer purifier ?

The air ionizer purifier is an air purifier that works by ionizing the particulates in the air. The air ionizer purifier doesn´t have a cloth filter like air purifier HEPA filter or produces ozone like ozone air purifiers (at least they are not suposed to, in reality even the best of air ionizers do but this is not what they were designed for, you have to be careful with this!) also, it doesn't have any special lamp like UV air purifiers to sterilize the micro-organisms that pass through it. This device doesn't use activated carbon air filters or hydroxyl radicals to purify the air. It operates in a very unique and interesting way that I’m going to describe to you here.

2. How does the air ionizer purifier work?

This device works by ionizing the air. What does this mean? Air ionizers use high voltage to ionize particulates. Using a specific and efficient method know as "corona discharge", ionic air purifiers are able to cause particulates to gain a positive or negative charge, giving particulates an additional electron or taking an electron of the particulates. This process converts the particulates into ions.

Inside the ionic air purifier we can find plates, known as collection plates. These plate have an opposite charge from the particles in the air. Collection plates work by capturing the opposite charged particles in the air that are drown to them.

The charged particulates in the air will also be drown to other particulates that have an opposite charge. As you know, negative charged particulates attract positive charged particulates. When this happens, negative charged particulates are drown to positive charged particulates in the air, they stick together falling out of the air because they get heavier than the air. These need to be vacuumed or dusted away.

It's important to have in mind that not all ionic air purifiers are equal. There are two major subdivisions: the fanless ionizer and fan-based ionizer. Fanless ionizers are noiseless and use little power, but are less efficient at air purification. Fan-based ionizers clean and distribute air much faster. It's always recommended that you inform yourself on the specific features of the device you are buying.

3. Resume

Ionic air purifiers work by charging the particulates in the air converting them into ions.

Ionic air purifiers collect opposite charged particulates that are electrostatically attracted to a charged collector plate.

Opposite charged particulates attract each other and fall out of the air, as they get heavier than the air.

4. Advantages

- Effective: This devices are very effective in removing extremely fine particulates from every anywhere in a room where the machine is located. Even several feet away from the device, the process remains effective.

- Silent: Generally, people tend to like fanless ionizers as they are very quiet compared to other machines like HEPA filter machines.

- Economic: Fanless Ionizers use little power.

5. Disadvantages

- Ozone: Ionic air purifiers produces trace amounts of ozone and other oxidants as by-products.

- Odors: These devices are not effective when it comes down to removing odors.

- Germs: Ionic air purifiers don't kill germs. The way this devices work removes germs from the household air but doesn't kill them.

6. Key Concepts

- Size of Particles Removed? - Down to 0.1 micron

- Removes Allergens (Dust, Pollen, Mold Spores)? - YES

- Removes Bacteria? - YES

- Removes Viruses and Germs? - Removes viruses only

- Removes Odors? - NO

- Removes Cigarette Smoke? - NO

- Removes Chemical Fumes? - Removes some chemical fumes