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“Clean Air with a Clear Conscience”
Vitec Air Purification System Technical Specification
VAPS Product description
The Vitec Air Purification System is the first major innovation in IAQ technology for eliminating airborne pathogens and odours in over 45 years. The Vitec Air Purification System (VAPS) range are duct mounted units utilizing a matrix coated with Vitec’s antimicrobial nanotechnology combined with multi stage ultra violet chambers to eliminate odors, residual bacteria and airborne pathogens for the treatment of supply, re-circulated and exhaust air.
Principle of Operation of the Vitec Air Purification System:
The VAPS unit has been manufactured to the highest standards and is designed to be mounted within ventilation ducting under positive pressure by using the existing ventilation system’s fan’s to push the airflow through.
The VAPS Utilises 4 Main Components
The System employs an innovative four-stage process to kill 99.997% of all airborne pathogens including fungi, moulds and yeasts and completely removes all noxious odours.
The System employs an innovative four-stage process to kill 99.997% of all airborne pathogens including fungi, moulds and yeasts and completely removes all noxious odours.
First Phase - as air enters the unit it passes over a ‘turbulator’ which acts to “spin” the air. This serves two purposes; it increases the dwell time of the particles of air in each UV chamber, thereby ensuring the air achieves maximum dosage of UV which oxidises the odour forming compounds in the airflow and secondly, maximises the chances of all the air particles coming into contact with the treated filter.
Second Phase - The air is exposed to safely generated and contained ozone. In this chamber are a series of special UV tubes producing UV light at a frequency of 184nm. This UV breaks down the oxygen into single oxygen atoms which form a bond with normal oxygen molecules (O2) to form ozone (O3). This process is known as “UV enhanced oxidation”, promoting the production of ozone and hydroxyl radicals. Ozone and hydroxyl radicals are highly reactive free radicals which attack the odorous molecules in the chamber, breaking them down into harmless, odourless compounds. The result is the destruction of odours by oxidation of the odour-causing compounds before passing into the next chamber.
Third Phase – The air passes through a loose bio-matrix coated with Vitec’s Antimicrobial Nanotechnology solution. This nanotechnology is a unique environmentally friendly antimicrobial that uses charged elements to attract microbes and then physically ruptures their cell membranes, and lipid envelopes, and then electrocute the cell of the micro-organisms using a biostatic discharge rendering them harmless. The matrix attracts only living particles. Non-living matter passes through the system bouncing off the “intelligent” antimicrobial surface leaving the matrix free from clogging. Often viruses travel in lumps of living matter and “hide inside” them similar to a Trojan horse. The matrix kills the living matter and separates the much smaller viruses. The Vitec matrix eliminates the vast majority of the micro-organisms before the air continues on its journey into the third chamber
Fourth Phase – The turbulating air now passes through a high intensity UV light chamber which contains a series of lamps producing UV light at a frequency of 254nm. This UV chamber has a duel function:
- First the destruction of any surviving single microbes by the disruption of their DNA/RNA.
- Secondly the neutralization of any remaining ozone (O3)into harmless oxygen molecules (O2) which can be safely returned to the atmosphere. This ensures that no ozone is discharged to atmosphere.
How Ozone works:
Natural Ozone is created electrically during active thunderstorms. The electrical discharge creates the sweet smell that we recognise as clean air and that fresh smell of laundry hung outside to dry.
Ozone is a strong oxidising agent and it has the capacity to break down most of the organic chemicals that foul our environment.
When diatomic oxygen (O2) is irradiated by ultra violet light with a wavelength below 242nm (we use 185nm) it splits into nascent oxygen (a.k.a. oxygen radicals consisting of a single atom). These will then react with O2 to produce ozone (O3).
Ozone (O3) contains one more atom than pure oxygen (O2). Purification occurs when this third atom attaches itself to a pollutant, causing a breakdown of the polluted molecule.
Low level ozone effectively eliminates unpleasant odours and can kill bacteria in the air.
How the Vitec Antimicrobial Nanotechnology Works
Vitec’s Antimicrobial Nanotechnology is an unique environmentally friendly biocide which when applied to a matrix, renders the treated surface to have an exceptional, non-leaching, long lasting, germicidal property capable of killing airborne micro-organisms on contact.
Vitec’s Antimicrobial Nanotechnology has been carefully evaluated and thoroughly tested according to the highest standards by independent institutes. The activated matrix is highly bacteriostatic and is safe to man and the environment.
When dry, Vitec’s Antimicrobial Nanotechnology forms a microscopic active spike-like structure 20 nanometers high creating a deadly pathway within the fabric of the matrix upon which the micro-organisms are impaled.
A simplistic view of Vitec Anti Microbial chemical in action:
The diagram shows the action of Vitec’s Antimicrobial Nanotechnology disrupting and puncturing the cell membrane.
How does ultra violet work
Strong sunlight purifies by permanently de-activating bacteria, viruses, moulds and spores. The tubes used in the second UV chamber are germicidal and generate a similar ultraviolet germicidal ray to that of sunshine but many, many times stronger. The second UV chamber within the VAPS unit uses high intensity, low pressure ultra violet light to destroy pathogens present in the air being treated and also break down any remaining ozone ensuring clean odour free air is discharged into the atmosphere.
The Cost Benefits
The VAPS range has two main cost advantages, these are:
- The pressure drop as opposed to other filtration units (i.e. HEPA) is negligible; thereby reducing the costs as the fan size needed in the AHU can be reduced.
- The heating and cooling costs can be reduced, as less fresh air will need to be drawn into the HVAC system as the re-circulated air will be of a higher standard.
The Engineering
- 20 GA galvanised unit body.
- Turbulator.
- Ozone producing/deodorizing first UV chamber.
- Vitec’s Antimicrobial Nanotechnology Coated Matrix.
- Germicidal second UV chamber.
- Both UV chambers designed to give a dosage of 20mWscm².
- Separate control box.
- Ozone sensor, to cut out the unit in case of fault and to prevent any ozone being discharged to atmosphere.
- Indicator lamps to allow easy indication of bulb failure.
- Cut outs to ensure no accidental exposure to harmful UV during maintenance.
- Flanges designed to be removed so more than one unit can be fitted together to cater for all air-flows.
Placement of VAPS
The versatility of the VAPS range enables it to be placed into the HVAC system in up to 4 locations, solving the associated problems. These are:
- In the air intake system, prior to the Air Handling Unit (AHU) to treat poor quality or odorous outdoor air before it is bought in to the HVAC system.
- After the AHU, as this will treat air bought in from the outside, and also any re-circulated air.
- In the re-circ line before it joins with fresh/other re-circulated air prior to the AHU to treat a certain rooms/area’s problem air, i.e. the re-circ line from a cigar bar.
- The exhaust/discharge line can also be treated before it exhausts to atmosphere, thereby eliminating the risk of any pathogens/odours being discharged into the surrounding area, i.e. on a galley/kitchen exhaust vent.
Installation
The VAPS unit is designed to be installed as part of an air handling system, replacing a section of ductwork; either on the supply line, re-circulation line or the discharge line, depending on specific application. The VAPS unit does not have its own fan, therefore relies on the airflow produced by the AHU, and as the unit doesn’t have an integral dust filter, relies on the air being filtered prior to entry.
The control panel can either be fitted to the side of the unit, or up to 2m away to enable ease of operation.
The ozone sensor is supplied with an 8m cable, and should be situated between 1 and 2m downstream of the VAPS unit, but prior to any discharges. This can be calibrated to suit the application, but Vitec Air Systems recommend a setting of 0.3ppm in accordance with OSHA limits.
The VAPS units come in a range of sizes, and have the capability to be mounted together, to suit all airflows, and at an additional cost, can be supplied with transition pieces to mount into existing ductwork.
The VAPS range is designed to be powered by 115v, 1ø, 60Hz, but can be supplied with step down transformers to suit any available power supply at an additional cost.
Servicing
The VAPS range is designed for ease of maintenance, with servicing being required just annually. The UV bulbs are rated at 10,000 hours which is just over a year’s constant operation, the chemically treated filter has been tested to ensure there is no degradation within a year and it is recommended that the ozone sensor is recalibrated annually for peace of mind.
Any trapped pathogens in the filter are dead, thereby eliminating the worry of hazardous waste disposal problems.
Vitec Air Systems can supply an annual spares package to enable ease of servicing, and the VAPS units are designed such that the bulbs and filters can be easily replaced.
VAPS Range Technical Details
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Note:
Any volume of air can be purified with the VAPS system as:
- Bespoke units can be designed and built as required.
- Standard units can be in parallel as required.
- Standard units can be in series as required