Comparison of Portable and Large Mobile Air Cleaners for Use in Classrooms and the Effect of Increasing Filter Loading on Particle Number Concentration Reduction Efficiency

This study focuses on the effect of portable and large filter-based air cleaners (HEPA filters), which became popular indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their suitability for classrooms (here 186 m³). The decay rates of the particle number concentration (PNC) were measured simultaneously at up to four positions in the room. It was found that the different air outlet configurations of the units have an effect on the actual PNC removal in the room when operated at the same volume flow rates. This effect of the airflow efficiency of the air cleaners (AP) in a classroom is quantified with an introduced Air Cleaning Efficiency Factor in this study to identify beneficial airflows. In this context, the effect of filter loading in long-term operation on the cleaning effect is also investigated. The emitted sound pressure levels of the APs are given special attention as this is a critical factor for use in schools, as well as power consumption. A total of six different devices were tested—two portable APs and four large APs. In order to achieve the necessary volume flow rates, three or four of the portable units were used simultaneously in one room, while only one of the large units was used per room. When used at the same air circulation rates in the room, the portable APs exhibit higher sound pressure levels compared to the large APs. At air circulation rates of 4–5 h⁻¹, the portable APs exceeded a value of 45 dB(A). Two of the four large units reach sound pressure levels below 40 dB(A) at air circulation rates of 4–5 h⁻¹, whereby both large units, which are positioned on the rear wall, realize a homogeneous dilution of the room air. This is achieved by an air outlet directed horizontally at a height above 2 m or diagonally towards the ceiling, which points into the room and partly to the sides. On the other hand, an air outlet directed exclusively to the sides or horizontally into the room at floor level to all sides achieves lower particle decay rates. To investigate the influence of the filter loading, three large APs were operated in a school for a period of one year (190 days with 8 h each). For the three APs, long-term operation leads to different changes in PNC reduction efficiency, ranging from −3% to −34%. It is found that not only the size of the prefilter and main filter has a significant influence, but also whether there is a prefilter bypass that negatively affects the loading level of the main filter. At the same time, it was shown that one type of AP, measuring the pressure drop across the filters and readjusting the fan, kept the circulation rate almost constant (up to −3%) over a year.