www.PDHcenter.com PDH Course M143 www.PDHonline.

org

There are four basic mechanisms in which fibrous air filters remove contamination from the

airstreams.

1. Straining or Sieving: Particles larger than the clearances between fibers cannot pass

through and are collected on the media.

2. Inertial or Impaction: Particles due to their inertia leave the airstream’s around filters and

impact the fiber directly. Adhesives usually retain the particles.

3. Interception: Particles small enough follow the airstreams line around the filter fiber but

are intercepted by the fiber due to the dimensions of the fiber and the particle.

4. Diffusion: Particles are small enough and have sufficiently low mass so that air

molecules, which are continually in motion and are bombarding the particle, cause the

particle to acquire a vibration mode. Because of this vibration mode, the particles have a

good chance of coming in contact with the fibers. The smaller the particle, the stronger

this effect is. For large particles, over one micron in diameter, this filtration mechanism

has virtually no effect.

In the order list above, the mechanisms are increasingly important for decreasing particle sizes.

The most critical areas lie between interception and diffusion.

All air-handling systems serving clean room areas are provided with pre-filters to remove gross

contamination and protect the cooling coil and final filter from environmental conditions. The pre-

filters have a lower efficiency than the one they protect. System employing outside air and return

air should have an additional filter of 95% (ASHARE) minimum efficiency. 100% make up air

systems supplying air to clean areas should have HEPA filters on the fan discharge and 95% bag

filters on the inlet.

Both HEPA and ULPA filters are housed in units known as ‘Filter Modules’. The filter module units

are mounted into clean room ceilings, walls or workstation benches. Room lighting is often

incorporated into ceiling filter modules. Filter modules are perfectly sealed to prevent

contamination. Absolute filters must be handled and installed with the greatest care by trained

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