HEPA (/ˈhɛpə/, high-efficiency particulate air),[1] also known as high-efficiency particulate absorbing and high-efficiency particulate arrestance,[2] is an efficiency standard of air filter.[3]
Filters meeting the HEPA standard must satisfy certain levels of efficiency. Common standards require that a HEPA air filter must remove—from the air that passes through—at least 99.95% (European Standard)[4] or 99.97% (ASME, U.S. DOE)[5][6] of particles whose diameter is equal to 0.3 μm; with the filtration efficiency increasing for particle diameters both less than and greater than 0.3 μm.[7] HEPA captures pollen, dirt, dust, moisture, bacteria (0.2-2.0 micron), virus (0.02-0.3 micron), and submicron liquid aerosol (0.02-0.5 µm).[8][9][10] Some microorganisms, for example, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Bacillus subtilis are captured by HEPA with photocatalytic oxidation (PCO). HEPA is also able to capture some viruses and bacteria which are ≤0.3µm. HEPA doesn’t require to filter smoke and fumes while it is important to know that all air purifier doesn’t have HEPA. An air purifier with HEPA captures 0.3µm particles while an air purifier without HEPA captures smoke and fumes.[11] HEPA is also able to capture floor dust which contains Bacteroidia, Clostridia, and Bacilli.[12]
HEPA was commercialized in the 1950s, and the original term became a registered trademark and later a generic term for highly efficient filters.[13] HEPA filters are used in applications that require contamination control, such as the manufacturing of disk drives, medical devices, semiconductors, nuclear, food and pharmaceutical products, as well as in hospitals,[14] homes and vehicles.
Mechanism
![Four diagram each showing the path of small particle as it approaches a large fiber according to each of the four mechanisms](https://web.archive.org/web/20210313051848im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Filter_collection_mechanisms.svg/220px-Filter_collection_mechanisms.svg.png)
HEPA filters are composed of a mat of randomly arranged fibres.[15] The fibers are typically composed of polypropylene or fiberglass with diameters between 0.5 and 2.0 micrometers. Most of the time these filters are composed of tangled bundles of fine fibers. These fibers create a narrow convoluted pathway through which air passes. When the largest particles are passing through this pathway, they behave like a kitchen sieve which is blocked physically passing through. However, when the smaller particles pass with air, as the air twist and turns, the smaller particles can’t keep the same motion of air up and they crush with the fibers. The smallest particles have very little inertia and they always move around the air molecules like they are bombarded by these molecules (Brownian motion). Because of their movement, they end up crashing into the fibers.[16] Key factors affecting its functions are fiber diameter, filter thickness, and face velocity. The air space between HEPA filter fibers is typically much greater than 0.3 μm. HEPA filters in very high level for smallest particular particles. Unlike sieves or membrane filters, where particles smaller than openings or pores can pass through, HEPA filters are designed to target a range of particle sizes. These particles are trapped (they stick to a fiber) through a combination of the following three mechanisms:
Diffusion
- Particles below 0.3µm are captured by diffusion in HEPA filter. An enhancing mechanism that is a result of the collision with gas molecules by the smallest particles, especially those below 0.1 μm in diameter, which are thereby impeded and delayed in their path through the filter; this behavior is similar to Brownian motion and raises the probability that a particle will be stopped by either interception or impaction; this mechanism becomes dominant at lower air flow.
Interception
- Particles following a line of flow in the air stream come within one radius of a fiber and adhere to it. Mid side particles are being captured by this process.
Impaction
- Larger particles are unable to avoid fibers by following the curving contours of the air stream and are forced to embed in one of them directly; this effect increases with diminishing fiber separation and higher air flow velocity.
Diffusion predominates below the 0.1 μm diameter particle size, whilst impaction and interception predominate above 0.4 μm.[17] In between, near the most penetrating particle size (MPPS) 0.21 μm, both diffusion and interception are comparatively inefficient.[18] Because this is the weakest point in the filter's performance, the HEPA specifications use the retention of particles near this size (0.3 μm) to classify the filter.[17] However it is possible for particles smaller than the MPPS to not have filtering efficiency greater than that of the MPPS. This is due to the fact that these particles can act as nucleation sites for mostly condensation and form particles near the MPPS.[18]
Gas filtration
HEPA filters are designed to arrest very fine particles effectively, but they do not filter out gasses and odor molecules. Circumstances requiring filtration of volatile organic compounds, chemical vapors, or cigarette, pet or flatulence odors call for the use of an activated carbon (charcoal) or other type of filter instead of or in addition to a HEPA filter.[19] Carbon cloth filters, claimed to be many times more efficient than the granular activated carbon form at adsorption of gaseous pollutants, are known as High Efficiency Gas Adsorption filters (HEGA) and were originally developed by the British military as a defense against chemical warfare.[20][21]
Pre-filter and HEPA filter
A HEPA bag filter can used in conjunction with a pre-filter (usually carbon-activated) to extend the usage life of the more expensive HEPA filter.[22] In such setup, the first stage in the filtration process is made up of a pre-filter which removes most of the larger dust, hair, PM10 and pollen particles from the air. The second stage high-quality HEPA filter removes the finer particles that escape from the pre-filter. This is common in air handling units.
Specifications
HEPA filters, as defined by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) standard adopted by most American industries, remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 micrometers (μm) in diameter. The filter's minimal resistance to airflow, or pressure drop, is usually specified around 300 pascals (0.044 psi) at its nominal volumetric flow rate.[6]
The specification used in the European Union: European Standard EN 1822-1:2009, defines several classes of HEPA filters by their retention at the given most penetrating particle size (MPPS). The averaged efficiency of the filter is called "overall", and the efficiency at a specific point is called "local":[23]
HEPA class | Retention (averaged) | Retention (spot) |
---|---|---|
E10 | > 85% | - |
E11 | > 95% | - |
E12 | > 99.5% | - |
H13 | > 99.95% | > 99.75% |
H14 | > 99.995% | > 99.975% |
U15 | > 99.9995% | > 99.9975% |
U16 | > 99.99995% | > 99.99975% |
U17 | > 99.999995% | > 99.9999% |
See also the different classes for air filters for comparison.
Today, a HEPA filter rating is applicable to any highly efficient air filter that can attain the same filter efficiency performance standards as a minimum and is equivalent to the more recent National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health N100 rating for respirator filters. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has specific requirements for HEPA filters in DOE-regulated applications.
Marketing
Some companies use a marketing term known as "True HEPA" to give consumers assurance that their air filters meet the HEPA standard, although this term has no legal or scientific meaning.[24] Products that are marketed to be "HEPA-type," "HEPA-like," "HEPA-style" or "99% HEPA" do not satisfy the HEPA standard and may not have been tested in independent laboratories. Although such filters may come reasonably close to HEPA standards, others fall significantly short.[25]
Safety
It’s proven that purifying the mid-size particles is the hardest one in HEPA (0.15 to 0.2µm).[26] HEPA filtration works by mechanical means unlike the ionic and ozone filtration which use negative ions and ozone gas respectively. So, the chances of potential pulmonary side-effects like asthma[27] and allergies is much lower with HEPA purifiers.[28] To ensure that a HEPA filter is working efficiently, they should be checked and changed at least every six months in commercial settings. In residential settings, they can be changed every two to three years. Failing to change a HEPA filter in a timely fashion will result in it putting stress on the machine or system and not removing particles from the air properly.[29] There is a controversy whether fiberglass is a cause of lung disease and cancer. Fiberglass might be caused of lung irritation; however, it causes irreversible damage or cancer. The fiberglass is known as nuisance dust which is much better than harmful bacteria, viruses, or other contaminated particles.
Applications
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20210313051848im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Portable_HEPA_filter.jpg/180px-Portable_HEPA_filter.jpg)
Biomedical
HEPA filters are critical in the prevention of the spread of airborne bacterial and viral organisms and, therefore, infection. Typically, medical use HEPA filtration systems also incorporate high-energy ultra-violet light units or panels with anti-microbial coating to kill off the live bacteria and viruses trapped by the filter media.[citation needed] Some of the best-rated HEPA units have an efficiency rating of 99.995%, which assures a very high level of protection against airborne disease transmission.
Pandemic of COVID-19
While filtration is being an issue in this COVID-19 pandemic, HEPA can be the solution. COVID-19 is approximately 0.125µm and is being captured by HEPA.[30] So it’s helpful to keep air purifiers containing the HEPA techniques near to patients to spread out COVID-19 viruses. HEPA is also able to capture viruses that are already on the floor surface. So theoretically droplets of SARS-CoV-2 can be captured by HEPA either from floor or air.[31]
Vacuum cleaners
Many vacuum cleaners also use HEPA filters as part of their filtration systems. This is beneficial for asthma and allergy sufferers, because the HEPA filter traps the fine particles (such as pollen and dust mite feces) which trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. For a HEPA filter in a vacuum cleaner to be effective, the vacuum cleaner must be designed so that all the air drawn into the machine is expelled through the filter, with none of the air leaking past it. This is often referred to as "Sealed HEPA" or sometimes the more vague "True HEPA". Vacuum cleaners simply labeled "HEPA" may have a HEPA filter, but not all air necessarily passes through it. Finally, vacuum cleaner filters marketed as "HEPA-like" will typically use a filter of a similar construction to HEPA, but without the filtering efficiency. Because of the extra density of a true HEPA filter, HEPA vacuum cleaners require more powerful motors to provide adequate cleaning power.
Some newer models claim to be better than the earlier ones with the inclusion of "washable" filters. Generally, washable true HEPA filters are expensive. A high-quality HEPA filter that can trap 99.97% of dust particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter. For comparison's sake, a human hair is about 50 to 150 microns in diameter. So, a true HEPA filter is effectively trapping particles several hundred time smaller than the width of a human hair.[32] Some manufacturers claim filter standards such as "HEPA 4," without explaining the meaning behind them. This refers to their Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating. These ratings are used to rate the ability of an air cleaner filter to remove dust from the air as it passes through the filter. MERV is a standard used to measure the overall efficiency of a filter. The MERV scale ranges from 1 to 16, and measures a filter's ability to remove particles from 10 to 0.3 micrometer in size. Filters with higher ratings not only remove more particles from the air, they also remove smaller particles.
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)[33] is technology that uses air filters, such as HEPA filters, to remove pollutants from the air either indoors or in vehicles. Pollutants include smoke, viruses, powders etc and can originate either outside or inside. HVAC is used to provide environmental comfort and in polluted cities to maintain health.[citation needed]
Vehicles
Airlines
Modern airliners use HEPA filters to reduce the spread of airborne pathogens in recirculated air. Critics have expressed concern about the effectiveness and state of repair of air filtering systems, since they think that much of the air in an airplane cabin is recirculated. Almost all of the air in a pressurized aircraft is, in fact, brought in from the outside, circulated through the cabin and then exhausted through outflow valves in the rear of the aircraft.[34] About 40 percent of the cabin's air goes through a HEPA filter and the other 60 percent comes from outside the plane. Certified air filters block and capture 99.97 percent of airborne particles.[35]
Motor vehicles
In 2016, it was announced that the Tesla Model X would have the world's first HEPA-grade filter.[36] Following the release of the Model X, Tesla has updated the Model S to also have an optional HEPA air filter.[37]
History
The idea behind the development of the HEPA filter was born from gas masks worn by soldiers fighting in World War II. A piece of paper found inserted into a German gas mask had a remarkably high capture efficiency for chemical smoke. The British Army Chemical Corps duplicated this and began to manufacture it in large quantities for their own service gas masks. They needed another solution for operational headquarters, where individual gas masks were impractical. The Army Chemical Corps developed a combination mechanical blower and air purifier unit, which incorporated cellulose-asbestos paper in a deeply-pleated form with spacers between the pleats. It was referred to as an "absolute" air filter and laid the groundwork for further research to come in developing the HEPA filter.[38]
The next phase of the HEPA filter was designed in the 1940s and was used in the Manhattan Project to prevent the spread of airborne radioactive contaminants.[39] The US Army Chemical Corps and National Defense Research Committee needed to develop a filter suitable for removing radioactive materials from the air. The Army Chemical Corps asked Nobel Laureate Irving Langmuir to recommend filter test methods and other general recommendations for creating the material to filter out these radioactive particles. He identified 0.3 micron size particles to be the "most penetrating size" - the most difficult and concerning.[40]
It was commercialized in the 1950s, and the original term became a registered trademark and later a generic term for highly efficient filters.[13]
Over the decades filters have evolved to satisfy the higher and higher demands for air quality in various high technology industries, such as aerospace, pharmaceutical drug processing, hospitals, health care, nuclear fuels, nuclear power, and integrated circuit fabrication.
See also
- Air purifier
- Clean air delivery rate
- Cleanroom – Room with is used for industrial or research processes that do not tolerate dust
- Electrostatic precipitator – trap particles with high voltage
- Hypoallergenic vacuum cleaner – vacuum cleaner with high efficiency air filter
- Minimum efficiency reporting value – Measurement scale for the effectiveness of air filters (MERV)
- Respirator – Device worn to protect the user from inhaling contaminants
- ULPA – Removes 99.999% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and particles larger than 120 nm (0.12 μm)
- Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation – Disinfection method using ultraviolet light
References
Footnotes
- ^ HEPA Company glossary of terms
- ^ Originally 'High Efficiency Particulate Arrestment - see thefreedictionary.com
- ^ "Efficiency of the HEPA air filter: HEPA filter quality and bypassing". www.air-purifier-power.com. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
- ^ European Standard EN 1822-1:2009, "High efficiency air filters (EPA, HEPA and ULPA)", 2009
- ^ American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME AG-1a–2004, "Addenda to ASME AG-1–2003 Code on Nuclear Air and Gas Treatment", 2004
- ^ a b Barnette, Sonya. "Specification for HEPA Filters Used by DOE Contractors — DOE Technical Standards Program". www.standards.doe.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
- ^ Guidance for Filtration and Air-Cleaning Systems to Protect Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks (PDF). Cincinnati, OH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. April 2003. pp. 8–12. doi:10.26616/NIOSHPUB2003136. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- ^ Godoy, Charlotte; Thomas, Dominique (2020-07-02). "Influence of relative humidity on HEPA filters during and after loading with soot particles". Aerosol Science and Technology. 54 (7): 790–801. Bibcode:2020AerST..54..790G. doi:10.1080/02786826.2020.1726278. ISSN 0278-6826. S2CID 214275203.
- ^ Payet, S.; Boulaud, D.; Madelaine, G.; Renoux, A. (1992-10-01). "Penetration and pressure drop of a HEPA filter during loading with submicron liquid particles". Journal of Aerosol Science. 23 (7): 723–735. Bibcode:1992JAerS..23..723P. doi:10.1016/0021-8502(92)90039-X. ISSN 0021-8502.
- ^ Schentag, Jerome J.; Akers, Charles; Campagna, Pamela; Chirayath, Paul (2004). SARS: CLEARING THE AIR. National Academies Press (US).
- ^ Chuaybamroong, P.; Chotigawin, R.; Supothina, S.; Sribenjalux, P.; Larpkiattaworn, S.; Wu, C.-Y. (2010). "Efficacy of photocatalytic HEPA filter on microorganism removal". Indoor Air. 20 (3): 246–254. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00651.x. ISSN 1600-0668. PMID 20573124.
- ^ Guo, Jianguo; Xiong, Yi; Kang, Taisheng; Xiang, Zhiguang; Qin, Chuan (2020-04-14). "Bacterial community analysis of floor dust and HEPA filters in air purifiers used in office rooms in ILAS, Beijing". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 6417. Bibcode:2020NatSR..10.6417G. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-63543-1. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 7156680. PMID 32286482.
- ^ a b Gantz, Carroll (2012-09-21). The Vacuum Cleaner: A History. McFarland. p. 128. ISBN 9780786493210.
- ^ "About HEPA". hepa.com. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
- ^ Gupta (2007). Modern Trends in Planning and Designing of Hospitals: Principles and Practice. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. p. 199. ISBN 978-8180619120.
- ^ Christopherson, David A.; Yao, William C.; Lu, Mingming; Vijayakumar, R.; Sedaghat, Ahmad R. (2020-07-14). "High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters in the Era of COVID-19: Function and Efficacy". Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 163 (6): 1153–1155. doi:10.1177/0194599820941838. PMID 32662746. S2CID 220518635.
- ^ a b Woodford, Chris. "HEPA Filters". Explain That Stuff. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ a b Roza, R. A. (1982-12-01), Particle size for greatest penetration of HEPA filters - and their true efficiency, California: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, OSTI 6241348, 6241348
- ^ Khan, Faisal I; Kr. Ghoshal, Aloke (November 2000). "Removal of Volatile Organic Compounds from polluted air" (PDF). Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries. 13 (6): 527–545. doi:10.1016/S0950-4230(00)00007-3. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ Glover, N. J. (2002). "Countering chemical and biological terrorism". Civil Engineering. 72 (5): 62. ProQuest 228557557.
- ^ "Air Purifier Acronyms – Stripping Out The Tech Jargon". AirEnhancing.
- ^ "Air Purifier Pre-Filter Replacement: The Prefilter Experiments". www.air-purifier-power.com. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
- ^ "INTERNATIONAL ISO STANDARD 29463-1—High-efficiency filters and filter media for removing particles in air". International Organization for Standardization. October 15, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ Hyde, Ethan. "Air Conditioners HEPA Filters And Airborne Allergens". Pulse Electrical.
- ^ "HEPA-type filter: The Great Pretender". www.air-purifier-power.com. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
- ^ Christopherson, David A.; Yao, William C.; Lu, Mingming; Vijayakumar, R.; Sedaghat, Ahmad R. (2020-07-14). "High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters in the Era of COVID-19: Function and Efficacy". Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 163 (6): 1153–1155. doi:10.1177/0194599820941838. PMID 32662746. S2CID 220518635.
- ^ "HEPA Filter Benefits for Allergy Relief". Retrieved 2016-08-12.
- ^ Ryback, Emily (12 August 2016). "Guide to HEPA Air Purifiers". Pure Air Hub. Kurt Morgan.
- ^ "How Often Should A HEPA Filter Be Changed | Janitized". Janitized Vacuum Cleaner Bag Manufacturer. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ "Can HEPA Air Purifiers Capture the Coronavirus?". Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World. 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
- ^ Elias, Blake (March 9, 2020). "Could Air Filtration Reduce COVID-19 Severity and Spread?" (PDF). New England Complex Systems Institute.
- ^ "HEPA Air Filtration System for Home & Office - Types of HEPA Filter". www.honeywellsmarthomes.com. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ "HVAC". Merriam–Webster Dictionary.
- ^ "The truth about cabin air". Ask The Pilot.
- ^ "How clean is the air on planes?". Travel. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Putting the Tesla HEPA Filter and Bioweapon Defense Mode to the Test". Tesla Canada. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- ^ John Voelcker (12 April 2016). "2016 Tesla Model S gets styling update, 48-amp charger, new interior options, $1,500 price increase (updated)". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ First, Melvin W. (1998). "HEPA Filters". Journal of the American Biological Safety Association. 3 (1): 33. doi:10.1177/109135059800300111. S2CID 207941359.
- ^ Ogunseitan, Oladele (2011-05-03). Green Health: An A-to-Z Guide. SAGE. p. 13. ISBN 9781412996884.
- ^ "The History of HEPA Filters". APC Filtration Inc. Retrieved 9 December 2019.