A measuring apparatus includes an input to receive an aerosol sample, a modifier unit to provide a modified sample by removing particles of the aerosol sample, and a sensor unit to measure a spectral profile by detecting molecules of the gas phase of the modified sample, wherein the spectral profile is a mobility spectrum or a mass spectrometer spectrum, the modifier unit is arranged to generate a corona discharge, to form charged particles by charging particles of the aerosol sample with the corona discharge, and to provide the modified sample by removing the charged particles with an electric field, the particle removal efficiency of the modifier unit has a cutoff size to prevent propagation of particles larger than the cutoff size to the sensor unit, and the cutoff size is in the range of 1 nm to 20 nm.

An ion filtration air cleaning device for cleaning air by use of electrostatic ion attraction. Air having suspended particles is drawn into the device through an inlet by a fan. An ionization source near the inlet generates ions. Electrical charge transfers from the ions to the suspended particles. The fan pushes the air and suspended charged particles toward an outlet. A filter located adjacent to the outlet operates by electrostatic attraction and filters the charged particles from the air, allowing cleansed air to be released from the device, with a reduced level of charged particle emission

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cleaning outside or inside air that is polluted by solid particles. The method comprises a specific sequence of measures for promoting agglomeration and/or coagulation of the particles, including ionization, followed by a series of filtrations. This lead to a surprising removal of ultra-fine particles of 1-100 ?m with a great efficiency. The invention includes an apparatus for the application of the method.

An air purifier device is disclosed. The device includes at least one first collector, an ionizing device configured to ionize fine particles in the air, an agglomeration chamber configured to aggregate the ionized fine particles, and a frame configured to enclose the ionizing device, agglomeration chamber, and first collector. The first collector includes a non-insulating material first surface of a size greater than 1 square meter, a non-insulating material first reference surface, and a first electric generator configured to apply to the first surface a potential relative to the reference surface between 5 kV and 500 kV. The at least one first collector is configured to collect at least some of the aggregates of the fine particles. The ionizing device includes multiple spikes, a grating, and an electric generator configured to apply to the spikes a predetermined potential relative to the grating of at least 100 kV/m.

Provided are purification systems and methods of using such systems for purifying various environments, such as indoor air, outdoor air, vehicle emissions, and industrial emissions. A purification system comprises an ionizing purifier having a substrate and an active coating. The active coating comprises a pyroelectric and/or piezoelectric material. During the operation, an incoming stream is directed toward the active coating while controlling the average pressure exerting on the active coating. This contact between the incoming stream and the active coating generates negative ions from components of the incoming stream via change in temperature and pressure/force/vibration, etc. The negative ions then interact with pollutants, transforming them into safe, purified materials of the outgoing stream. Unlike the pollutants in the incoming stream, the purified materials are non-harmful, and/or can be easily removed from the outgoing stream, e.g., by filtering and/or other separation techniques.

An air purifier having an electret module for capturing airborne particles, the electret module includes an electret element which generates a static field for capturing airborne particles. The electret module is positioned incorporated into the air purifier such that the static field helps prevent the inhalation of the airborne particles.

A method for filtering air includes: passing air through a prefilter disposed in a housing to remove at least a portion of particulates suspended in the air to thereby create prefiltered air; passing the prefiltered air by an ionizer disposed in the housing to ionize at least a portion of the particulates suspended in the air to thereby create ionized particulates in the prefiltered air, the ionizer downstream from the prefilter and upstream from the fan positioned to create an airflow within the housing; and prior to the prefiltered air exiting the housing with ionized particulates, causing the ionized particulates to pass through an electrostatically charged main filter disposed within the housing downstream from each of the ionizer and the fan.

The present invention is an air purification method and device. Due to the lower airflow resistance that the present invention induces, an exhaust fan or blower with motor of lower torque is adopted. Consequently, the whole air purification is operated at a lower noise level. Lower operational voltage is applicable for the high-voltage electrostatic precipitator device and provides a similar or superior performance and effectiveness for dust removal. The air purification device/system is designed with higher flexibility and of more compact in dimension and size. Dust is removed from the environment by a high voltage electrostatic precipitator. The airflow stream within a high-voltage electrostatic precipitator is such that the direction of the path of the airflow is changed at least twice.

An air purifier having an electret module for capturing airborne particles, the electret module including an electret element disposed within a housing and an adhesive layer coupled to the housing to capture airborne particles, whereby the static field of the electret attracts the airborne particles, which subsequently adhere to the adhesive layer.

A method for filtering air includes: passing air through a prefilter disposed in a housing to remove at least a portion of particulates suspended in the air to thereby create prefiltered air; passing the prefiltered air by an ionizer disposed in the housing to ionize at least a portion of the particulates suspended in the air to thereby create ionized particulates in the prefiltered air, the ionizer downstream from the prefilter and upstream from the fan positioned to create an airflow within the housing; and prior to the prefiltered air exiting the housing with ionized particulates, causing the ionized particulates to pass through an electrostatically charged main filter disposed within the housing downstream from each of the ionizer and the fan.