Air Purification in Building Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems by a Combination of Plasma Chemistry and Photocatalysis

Existing supply and exhaust systems of centralised heating, ventilation, and air conditioning under certain conditions not only do not protect against infection, but also serve as a source of accumulation and spread of pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, etc.). The aim of this work was to develop a method for cleaning and disinfecting air from aerosolised pathogenic microflora in centralised building ventilation systems with out significant reconstruction and changes in technological parameters. For this purpose, a complex of complementary physical and chemical methods was used, including analytical and experimental studies using the theory of electro-gas dynamics of dispersed systems and involving methods of raster scanning microscopy, methods of comparing the same quality indicators of samples, and initial samples. The optimal technological parameters of the processes to increase the efficiency of air disinfection and purification by plasma photocatalysis were determined. The authors propose technical solutions to improve the energy efficiency of a pilot experimental installation for complex air purification and disinfection of a wide class of air pollutants in building supply and exhaust ventila- tion systems. The proposed solutions are aimed at reducing the energy consumption for air purification and disinfection while maintaining the required air quality in the premises.