air filter

air filter [′er ‚fil·tər]

(engineering)

A device that reduces the concentration of solid particles in an airstream to a level that can be tolerated in a process or space occupancy; a component of most systems in which air is used for industrial processes, ventilation, or comfort air conditioning.

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Air filter

A component of most systems in which air is used for industrial processes, for ventilation, or for comfort air conditioning. The function of an air filter is to reduce the concentration of solid particles in the airstream to a level that can be tolerated by the process or space occupancy purpose. See Ventilation

Solid particles in the airstream range in size from 0.01 micrometer to objects that can be caught by ordinary fly screens, such as lint, feathers, and insects. The particles generally include soot, ash, soil, lint, and smoke, but may include almost any organic or inorganic material, even bacteria and mold spores. This wide variety of airborne contaminants, added to the diversity of systems in which air filters are used, makes it impossible to have one type that is best for all applications.

Three basic types of air filters are in common use: viscous impingement, dry, and electronic. The principles employed by these filters in removing airborne solids are viscous impingement, interception, impaction, diffusion, and electrostatic precipitation. Some filters utilize only one of these principles; others employ combinations. A fourth method, inertial separation, is finding increasing use as a result of the construction boom throughout most of the Middle East.