A company was contracted to clean electrostatic filters used in a commercial building. Electrostatic filters are designed to capture airborne particles to improve indoor air quality. They are washable and reusable. The capturing mechanism is a bit different than a typical furnace filter. It is done by using an Ionizing wire to place a positive charge onto the particles as they pass by. Then, the charged particles are collected on collection plates that are negatively charged. Like magnets, opposite charges attract. Over time, the particles will build up on the plates. The electrostatic filters generally need to be cleaned monthly to remove the grime of smoke, dust, and allergens. Once they are washed and dried, they can be placed back in the air ducts to start filtering again.
The contractor above used a cleaning solution to break down the contamination prior to rinsing and drying. They had to be careful with the electrostatic filters as the ionizing wires that are used to charge the particles are very thin and prone to breaking. If an ionizing wire breaks, it will not properly charge the particles and the filtration is reduced. So, manually cleaning was very difficult to perform. They contacted EXAIR to provide a solution.
When it comes to liquid spraying, EXAIR has a new line of liquid atomizing spray nozzles; FullStream™ and HollowStream™ Cone Nozzles. They are engineered to spin the liquid in order to break the surface tension. Passing through a precision orifice; the liquid will break into fine particles. Increasing the surface area will increase the liquid coverage on to a surface and reduce the amount of liquid required. For this application, I recommended the model HL1011SS; HollowStream Cone Nozzle. They were able to pass the electrostatic filters under the HL1011SS to clean the collection plates and ionizing wires. The force of the liquid was enough to clean the surfaces without damaging the thin wires. The contractor was so impressed by the effectiveness of the nozzle; he added the same nozzle to his rinsing system. With the EXAIR HollowStream Cone Nozzle generating small water particles, he was able to save money by using less water.
Here is a video with a residential electrostatic filter.
If you use liquids for washing, cleaning, or quenching; EXAIR has an effective and economical way to apply that material. We offer different flowrates and port sizes. The Liquid Atomizing Nozzles can handle liquid pressures up to 250 PSIG (17Bar) to get a hard-hitting force. They are made from 303 stainless steel which is durable and corrosion resistance; and, they can withstand temperatures up to 800oF (427oC). If you would like to discuss further the details of your liquid applications with an Application Engineer, we will be happy to hear from you.
John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb
Video by Grayfurnaceman on YouTube: Cleaning the electronic air cleaner
