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 Photograph courtesy of Tetra Tech EM, Inc., of Lenexa, Kansas. |
NREL is developing its unique liquid desiccant dehumidifiers to provide dual-use, regenerative chembio filtration functionality. The U.S. Department of Defense R&D community has identified these features as important to the next generation of Collective Protection air filters. NREL's patented HVAC filtration concepts are low-maintenance, low-cost, and can be operated continuously with low energy consumption. As such, they have the added potential to extend air protection beyond military and government applications to schools, hospitals, and office buildings to benefit us all.
The need to control our indoor environment is more critical now than ever. While our homes and buildings are built ever tighter for maximum energy efficiency, terrorist attack by weaponized airborne agents is a credible threat. Buildings and their HVAC systems are effective means of delivery of deadly airborne agents. Because chemical and bio-aerosol threats may be launched through HVAC systems, air supply protection is critical for Homeland Security.
NREL's liquid desiccant HVAC innovations allow direct contact between any liquid and an airstream while avoiding the onerous maintenance and airflow resistance associated with traditional industrial "air washers." This new functionality enables chembio agent deactivation strategies that were previously unavailable. Because the wet filter continuously flushes its collection surfaces, harmful substances are sequestered in the sump—out of the airflow—where a number of techniques can be brought to bear on their ultimate destruction. The powerful drying solution is a known biocide so any living bacteria cell will quickly die. It is also likely to be highly effective against viruses and has even demonstrated complete kill of anthrax spores, a notoriously difficult class of bioterror weapon to breach.
Sorption-based air-conditioning technologies and their constituent disciplines address current and developing needs in adequate ventilation, waste-energy recycling, thermal and chemical indoor air quality, and ultimately occupant health, productivity, and Homeland Security. HVAC systems must strike a balance between energy use, indoor environmental quality, and security functions. Next-generation HVAC will need to provide energy-efficient ventilation, including the incumbent moisture control associated with fresh air loads, removal of mundane pathogen/contaminants on a continuous basis, and a level of security either on-demand or continuously based on risk assessment and sensor availability. Sorptive technologies offer an excellent platform that can be adapted to fill the indoor air quality/security gaps left by current approaches.
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