As of last Tuesday, passengers on line 97 of the public transport in Lodz can spot a glowing green device above their heads. This is in fact a prototype air purifier capable of capturing almost 100% of the harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi in the air, the Polish local authority informed. Once captured, they are all disinfected to guarantee a safer environment for passengers.
On the path to coronavirus-free public transport?
The new device cleans the air while travelling and without interruption, which allows for a constant flow of clean air. According to the manufacturer STER Group, for one hour of operation, the air in the vehicle can be cleaned up to 10 times, or every 6 minutes, which is the usual time spent between stops.
It combines air purification through the use of HEPA filters and UV-C radiation with surface disinfection, thanks to the automatic process of ozonation. HEPA is used in vacuum cleaners, air conditioning and air purifiers. The efficiency of HEPA 14 filters is estimated at 99.995 per cent.
“This device is used to increase the safety of passengers while driving. Not only in the current epidemic situation, but also in all other seasons of the year. HEPA 14 filters installed in the device filter almost 100 per cent of all impurities.
Not only viruses and bacteria but also allergens and all other harmful factors” explained STER representative Marcin Szuławy quoted on the city website. “Inside, we have two ozone generators that work in the same way that ozone is naturally generated during a storm. Thanks to corona discharge [a process of electrical discharge caused by the ionization of a fluid, ed.], ozone is created from oxygen and, after the disinfection process, it naturally breaks down” – he added.
Later, when parked at the depot for the night, the automatic ozonation process starts and allows for the entire vehicle to be thoroughly disinfected and to be ready for work on the next morning.
The device will be tested for approximately 3 months. The cost of one such device is approx. PLN 2,000 (450 euros). If it proves effective, it will be installed on each vehicle where it is technically possible, explained the President of Lodz public transport operator MPK-Łódź Zbigniew Papierski.
In addition to the air filters, this week, MPK-Łódź has also started testing PIXEL hand disinfectors. These are non-contact devices that release disinfection liquid when someone puts their hands under them.
Source: TheMayor.EU
