The EPS System has been extensively tested against a variety of microorganism challenges, including the most resistant, bacterial endospores. Figure 3 shows efficacy results for a bacterial endospore challenge. Endospore killing is complete at airspeeds of 250 feet per minute to a distance of 24 inches downstream of the plasma generator, enabling full penetration of all filter media. Figure 4 shows the destruction evident of an anthrax endospore after exposure to OAUGDP®.
Figure 3. Success of EPS System in Neutralizing Endospores.
Figure 4. Electron micrograph of Bacillus anthracis endospores (a) Viable and (b) following lethal plasma exposure.
Market Opportunity
Societal objectives have created a compelling customer interest in air purification and filtration systems. As we live and work in more efficient buildings, the quality of the air we breathe is increasingly at issue. In fact, the EPA has ranked poor IAQ among the Top 5 risks to public health.
The market size for filters used in HVAC systems was $590 million in 2000 and is expected to continue increasing at a 4.9 percent annual growth rate to $960 million by 2010. This growth is driven by several market needs, one of which is the pursuit of higher IAQ. HVAC air filters have traditionally been used to protect equipment, but their purpose has evolved to the point where end-users expect the filter's main function to be cleansing and decontamination of the air. Air quality has also become the primary focus of most filter manufacturers, as they develop products directed at removing contaminants such as smoke, pollen, mold, pet dander and more recently bacteria, viruses and spores.
The term "sick building syndrome" is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience adverse health effects that are linked to time spent in a building. A 1984 World Health Organization Committee report suggested that up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to IAQ. The increasing time that people spend indoors has been linked to a dramatic increase in asthma and allergy related afflictions. The EPS System is a breakthrough system that specifically addresses and combats the contaminants responsible for sick building syndrome and associated illnesses through its unique plasma solution.
The HVAC air filtration market can be broken into two primary segments, commercial and residential. Within each segment, both new construction and retrofit systems exist. All building types can potentially benefit from EPS technology. Poor IAQ from causes like sick building syndrome is an ongoing problem and is accompanied by continuous costs in the form of absenteeism and poor productivity, and increased building maintenance. The release of attack agents can render an entire building and its contents completely unusable for an extended period of time. In this case, costs are very high. The EPS System is designed to mitigate both challenges.
Competition
Present technology for cleansing building air of microorganisms is limited to high grade filtration and, to a limited extent, ultraviolet (UV) light saturation. Filtration, as described previously, is not a complete solution, as microorganisms can penetrate, and even reproduce on air filter media. UV light has been used for many years for surface sterilization, but it is not effective at killing airborne microorganisms to necessary levels at a reasonable cost. In-flight sterilization is impractical via UV exposure because the required light intensity is exceedingly high, and not cost effective. Several companies have excelled in selling UV systems, most notably Steril-Aire and Honeywell, for restricting microorganism growth on the surfaces of air conditioning coils. Chemical removal from air streams is limited to filtration with gas adsorbants, and there is no current regenertion system marketed to the commercial or residential sector.
APP's EPS System fills a void in technology for killing microorganisms in the ducted air stream, including throughout the depth of filter media. There is not, at present, any direct competition with the EPS system and indeed the APP technology is complementary to many techniques of air filtration. It is an adaptable, flexible, and cost effective system that offers the unique ability to rid a building's air system of all manner of microorganisms.
For more information, please visit one of these Indoor Air Quality resources:
- American Industrial Hygiene Association
www.aiha.org/content - Air and Waste Management Association
www.awma.org - American Lung Association
www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33309 - American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers
www.ashrae.org - Indoor Air Quality Association
www.iaqa.org - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
www.acgih.org/home.htm
Page 3 of 3