The development and assessment of an aspiration efficiency reducing system of air pollution control for particulate matter in building ventilation systems

An air pollution control device, designed to restrict the amount of particulate matter passing through it, was developed on the principle of aspiration efficiency. The performance of this new form of air pollution control was subsequently assessed in terms of its remediation efficiency for PM2.5 at the ventilation inlet of a medium sized city centre office building. A physical prototype and 3D computational fluid dynamics model were both developed to assess the performance of the device. The results of the investigation indicated that the device was capable of restricting the passage of 5–87% of PM2.5 into the ventilation inlet of the commercial building depending on ambient conditions (50% on average). The performance of the device was found to vary significantly according to the magnitude of ambient wind speed and the ventilation flow rate through the building. This new device demonstrates the potential of aspiration efficiency as a mechanism of air pollution control offering two notable advantages, (i) no consumable material requirements and (ii) reduced energy consumption, over existing technology. The technology has the potential to reduce the operating costs of ventilations systems, reducing CO2 emissions in buildings as a consequence.

► Air pollution control device developed based on the aspiration efficiency concept.
► Reduced concentrations of PM2.5 entering a building by 54% on average.
► Potential to reduce the energy consumption in HVAC systems by 20%.
► Environmentally friendly solution to air pollution control in buildings.