The ionisation step of the electrofilter produces a micro-concentration of ozone, below the norms (100ppb), that will instantly reacts with negative air ions, so forming a “CoPlasma”, that has a bactericidal effect on micro-organisms.

The second step consists in forcing the ionised particles to flow between aluminium or stainless steel plates, alternatively grounded or positively charged. When a positively charged particle flows between 2 plates, the positively charged plate repels the positively charged particles on the grounded plate.

• a single stage electrofilter has the efficiency of an F9 filter

• a double stage electrofilter has the efficiency of an HEPA H13 absolute filter

Advantages of electrofiltration compared to mechanical filters:

• Lower pressure drop => lower fan power => more economical and silent system

• No pressure drop increase with time

• efficient micro-organisms and viruses abatement via particle filtration & electrocution of micro-organisms entrapped in water aerosols

1.2. Negative Air Ionization

 

High concentrations of negative air ions are produced by Negative Air Ion Generators (NAIG), consisting in gold coated needles blowing electrons in the electrofiltered air, that will instantly bind on oxygen molecules, so forming negative air ions (NAIs)

 

 

 

2. Air Purification Technologies designed with the "EFIS-CoPlasma" Concept

 

The EFIS-CoPlasma concept can be integrated in various systems.

 

2.1. Central Air Purification or Conditioning Systems

 

Advantages:

• Very high particle abatement efficiency (ISO 8 up to ISO 7) without mechanical filter

• Micro-organism control in the air handling unit and the downstream ducts

• healthy NAIs concentration in the ambience

• little system maintenance

• no duct maintenance

• no spare parts, except the needles that have to be replaced once a year
• low pressure drop - no pressure drop increase - low energy consumption
• can be integrated in classical air  conditioning systems

 

more info

 

2.2. Local Air Purification Systems, autonomous & Plug-in Play

 

 

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Advantages:

• Wide range of different models & sizes

• Very high particle abatement efficiency (ISO 8 up to ISO 7) without mechanical filter

• Micro-organism control in the air handling unit

• healthy NAIs concentration in the ambience

• little system maintenance

• no spare parts, except the needles that have to be replaced once a year

• low pressure drop - no pressure drop increase - low energy consumption

• Plug in Play – working with 220V

 

3. Validations

 

3.1. Validations on micro-organisms in laboratories

3.2. Validations in the health sector

3.3. Validations in the tertiary sector

3.4. Validations in the food industry

3.5. Validations in the electronic industry

 

3.1. Validations on micro-organisms in laboratories

 

In laboratories, Petri plates have been contaminated with different strains like Staphylococcus aureus, E. Coli, Legionella, Lysteria, Mucor, Penicillium,… and set in parallel in incubators or cold rooms, either treated with or without the CoPlasma effect.

 

For some strains, like Lysteria and Legionella, drastic abatements have been obtained after just a couple of hours.

 

For fungi like Penicillium, the CoPlasma effect inhibits the sporulation of its spores.

 

< p>< p> Strain	< p>< p> Abatement
Bacteria
E. Coli	< p>< p> 94% after 25h
Legionella	< p>< p> 98,4% after 4h
Lysteria	< p>< p> 96% after 8h	Lysteria  (t=0)           Lysteria  (t=8h)
Staphylococcus aureus
Fungi
Mucor Javanicus	< p>< p> 90% after 48h
Penicillium	< p>< p> sporulation inhibition after 24h	Penicillium spore        Penicillium spore     (t=0)                         (t=24h)

 

3.2. Validations in the health sector

 

In 1999, at the San Matteo hospital ( Pavia , I), the EFIS-CoPlasma system has been installed in an air duct leading to an operation chamber after an F7 filter and before an HEPA filter. The validation results are reported below:

 

Particle abatement:

 

 

Abatement higher than 99.9% for particles larger than 0.3µm

 

Bacteria abatement:

 

Abatement closed to 100% for micro-organisms in the air and on the duct surface

 

Since than, several EFIS CoPlasma systems have been installed in Italian hospitals and private practices.

 

3.3 Validations in the tertiary sector

 

The EFIS CoPlasma has been tested at the “Institut für Lufthygiene” ( Berlin , D) on bacteria (Micrococcus Luteus), fungi (natural spectrum in the air) and yeasts (Rhodotorula rubra).

 

The EFIS CoPlasma system has been integrated in a duct and has been challenged at different velocities and relative humidities. For each test, 3 measurements before and after the system have been performed.

 

 

Test	V	RH	Contaminant	Concentration		Efficiency
	(m/s)	(%)		before	after	(%)
				(cell/m3)	(cell/m3)
1	2.6	60	A	20086	46	99.77
2	2.6	60	B	6239	n.d.	> 99.96
3	2.6	60	C			> 99.96
4	2.6	60	Particle			99.48
5	4.6	90	A	14710	48	99.67
6	4.6	90	B	4133	n.d.	> 99.96
7	4.6	90	C			98.35
8	4.6	90	Particle			98.24

 

 

A:	bacteria:	Micrococcus Luteus
B:	yeast:	Rhodotorula rubra
C:	fungi:	natural spectrum in the air

 

The test report concludes that:

• the efficiency of the EFIS CoPlasma system matches the one of HEPA filters, type H12/H13
  
  

• for ISO6 down to ISO 3 class clean rooms, the EFIS CoPlasma can be used as single prefiltration system
  
  

• for ISO7 or higher class clean room, the EFIS CoPlasma can be used as such

 

3.4. Validations in the food industry

 

Production and filling rooms

 

In the food industry, the major risk of product contamination occurs via the air during the production and packaging process. If the air in contact with the product is pre-treated with the EFIS CoPlasma system, the risk of contamination is drastically reduced. The EFIS CoPlasma system has been successfully introduced in systems for packaging cheese, salad, meat,…

 

At the dairy company Alimentaria Molisdana (Campachiaro, I), in the production room at rest, the EFIS CoPlasma system has allowed to reach a class ISO 7 with less than 5CFU/m3

 

Cold rooms & Ripening rooms

 

Fungi & bacteria growth in cold rooms and maturation rooms are difficult to control. If they are detrimental for the product, the EFIS-CoPlasma system can successfully abate them.

 

The following picture shows 2 pieces of cheese that have matured at 15-17°C and 85% humidity during 6 days after inoculation of 15.000 spores of Mucor Javanicus; the piece on the left hand side has matured in a non treated maturation room and is covered with micro-organisms. On the right hand side, the piece has matured in a room treated with the HT-NS system and no spore growth has been noticed. Validation test performed by CRN (Padova, I) and Veneto Agricoltura (Thiene, I)

 

Tests at the Hygiene Institute in Parma (I) have shown that the EFIS-CoPlasma system has a positive impact on the organoleptic quality and the lifetime of fresh food products.

 

At the dairy company Alimentaria Molisana (Campachiaro, I), in the ripening room at rest, the EFIS CoPlasma system has allowed to reach a class ISO 7 with less than 5CFU/m3

3.5. Validation in the electronic industry

 

Fine airborne particles have dramatic consequences on the electronic product quality if their surfaces are not electrically neutralized. Negative air ions are able to electrically neutralize these surfaces. The EFIS-CoPlasma system introduced in a Nokia mobile phone manufacturing plant has helped to prevent 18% product waste.