In this study, a two-stage electrostatic precipitator (ESP) was developed using a novel automatic dry cleaning device to reduce the ultrafine particles in subway stations. Collection efficiency was evaluated with a pilot scale ESP (1.2m× 1.2m) and the scale of the test duct was half of the subway air handling unit. The maximum collection efficiency for 0.3 μm particles was 96.9%. In addition, we studied a method of automatic dry cleaning for maintenance of the ESP. The cleaning efficiency was analyzed according to the cleaning flow rate for each particle loading amount to achieve a recovery rate over 90%. In addition, we derived the equation to estimate the reduction in collection efficiency according to the particle loading amount. It was confirmed that the performance of the contaminated ESP was restored to the initial state by the automatic dry cleaning in this study and that the electrical energy consumption was 5 times lower compared to utilizing conventional water cleaning.

Indoor air quality management is essential for a healthy life. However, it is difficult to perceive, detect, and monitor the level of indoor air pollution and this means that it is possible to be exposed to more pollution indoors than outdoors. In this study, in order to derive effective indoor air quality management measures, public perceptions and behavioral characteristics regarding indoor particulate matter and air quality management methods were investigated through a survey of 1,000 people. Based on the survey, it was found that most of the respondents had a negative perception of the indoor air quality of their residence, and natural ventilation was the most used method for indoor air quality management. Although the frequency of use of air quality management devices such as air purifiers and mechanical ventilation systems was relatively low, their effect regarding air quality management was positively perceived. In particular, the results of survey indicated that respondents of families which included members with fragile health engaged in more active behavior regarding in indoor air quality management than those respondents whose family members had no health issues and that the former have used air quality management devices more frequently. Therefore, it is necessary to develop proper guidelines to encourage more people to actively participate in improving indoor air quality.

High concentrations of fine particles are increasingly being detected due to inflows from abroad and local emission sources in Korea. As most people spend about 90% of their time indoors, the use of indoor air cleaners has grown significantly as they are now thought to be essential items. In this study, the noise, power consumption, and clean air delivery rate (CADR) of commercial air cleaners were analyzed according to the structural shape of the air cleaners. Analyses were performed based on the experimental results of 249 cases for air cleaners certified by Korea Air Cleaning Association. The air cleaners with front inlet and upper outlet air flow direction, which currently account for the highest market share, were found to have the highest noise per CADR (dB(A)/(m3/min)). On the other hand, the air cleaners with the inlet and outlet air flow in the same horizontal direction were found to have lowest noise per CADR than other structures.

As indoor air cleaners have large sizes and high air flow rates, the test methods for particle cleaning capacity need to be reconsidered because the prescribed test chamber size becomes relatively smaller. In this study, air flow rate of air cleaners compared to test chamber size (Q/V) has been investigated by comparing the short-circuit factor which indicates the air mixed condition in the test chamber. The test method of Korea Air Cleaning Association (KACA) has been analysed and compared to that of Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) for clean air delivery rate (CADR) of two household air conditioners equipped with air cleaners having a maximum air flow rate of 15 m³/min in terms of initial particle concentrations, neutralized/non-charged particles, delay time before acquiring initial particle concentration, sampling positions. Constant short-circuit factor of about 0.9 was obtained in the range of Q/V less than 0.73 min^-1. CADR based on KACA test method was somewhat dependent on initial particle concentrations, delay time before acquiring initial concentration, sampling positions. However, CADR based on AHAM test method was less dependent. Two or three minutes of delay time before acquiring initial concentration was necessary to reduce the variation of CADR according to initial particle concentration and sampling position.

Particle collection efficiency and air cleaning capacity were tested for the two-stage electrostatic precipitator for use in indoor air cleaning systems. A wire-plate type ionizer was used as a particle charger and a dielectric film consisted of polypropylene (or polyethylene) coated metals and zigzagged metal electrodes was used as a particle collector in the electrostatic precipitator. Both particle collection efficiency and air cleaning capacity increased as increasing the applied voltage on the charger and the collector, and furthermore, as increasing the collector film width (i.e. collection area). Air cleaning capacities estimated by the product of particle collection efficiency and air flow rate were quite well consistent with the experimental ones with a proportional constant of 0.964. Ozone concentrations emitted from the charger at the applied voltages of 5.0 and 5.2 kV were less than 0.05 ppm, indoor ozone standards of UL 867-2002, KS C 9314 and SPS-KACA002-132. For the air flow rate of 11.7 m³/min, the applied floor area of 48.2 m² could be obtained when 5.2 kV and 6.0 kV were applied on the ionizer and the collector, respectively and the collector of two 15 mm polyethylene dielectric films was used.

Test methods of Korea Air Cleaning Association (KACA) and Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) for particle cleaning capacity performance of an indoor air cleaner were compared in terms of the conditions of the test particle generation, the range of particle measurement and the calculation methods for particle cleaning capacity, and types of the test particles. The performance test was conducted in a 30 m³ chamber with the same test specimen and the test particles of each test were generated until the number concentration of 0.3 ㎛ particles reached 2.2 × 108 #/m³. The performance test results showed that the cleaning capacity with the particles of higher surface area and volume density, regardless of the type of test particles, was higher than with those of lower and the capacity from calculation with 0.3～1 ㎛ particles was higher than with 0.3 ㎛ particles. Moreover, the cleaning capacity with the calculation of KACA method was lower than with that of AHAM method in spite of using the same test specimen.

A high efficiency roll-type electret polypropylene (PP) filter with an external electric field was developed and its particle collection efficiency and air cleaning capacity was investigated in a room when applied to an air cleaner having a fan. To enhance air cleaning performance of the cleaner, a wire-plate type ionizer was installed in front of the filter to enhance electric field to filter and one side of the filter was embossed by press of a pattern with a lot of circular projection. Performance test results showed that the newly developed electret PP filter with an ionizer becomes an appropriate filter to be applied to indoor air cleaner due to its low pressure drop and high air cleaning performance.

Ozone has become a significant pollutant not only outdoors but also indoors. The ozone emission test was conducted for the sum of forty five air cleaners selected in the online shops and department stores. Negative ion emission test was also conducted for the selected fifteen ones which had the function to generate negative ions. Filter-type and complex type air cleaners emitted ozone less than 0.05 ppm, the standard of indoor ozone emission of air cleaner. Wet type ones emitted no ozone. In the case of ionizer type, 66.7% in the nine ones emitted ozone about 1.4~10 times larger than 0.05ppm. Most of air cleaners used a pin corona discharge emitted large amount of ozone. Those which used carbon fiber emitted little ozone in spite of generating a lot of negative ions.

The removal efficiency of VOC was tested for five air cleaners selected in terms of type and cleaning performances. Toluene, representative VOCs, was selected and used as the test gas. In order to indicate toluene removal capacity, toluene removal efficiency in a chamber and a duct was investigated with different measurement devices such as gas detecting tubes and GC/MSD. Changes in toluene concentration in the chamber were measured with GC/MSD. The test results showed that the performances of the test models in the test chamber were superior to those in the duct, however, they did not differentiate the performances of test models. According to our test study, toluene removal capacity calculated from the changes in toluene concentration with time was a good indicator for VOCs removal performance.

The deodorization performances of ammonia, acetic acid and acetaldehyde were tested for each of all forty five air cleaners sold in the online shops and department stores. The removal performances of toluene and formaldehyde were also investigated and the results were compared to the deodorization performances for the air cleaners. Filter-type and complex type air cleaners which used activated carbon filters showed superior in odor removal performances to those of ionizer type and wet type air cleaners. Toluene and formaldehyde were readily removed for the most of filter-type and complex type air cleaners. Ionizer air cleaners had little removal ability for the toluene and formaldehyde.