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Why Use Filtration Enhancement

The generic term “tobacco smoke” is generally (unknowingly) used in reference to two types of physical matter: 1) visible smoke, which is actually clouds of billions of dust particles in the .01 to 0.5 micron range; and 2) gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gas phase, of which there are literally hundreds.The latter is what creates the strong tobacco odors present in most casinos, odors which affix themselves to the customers’ clothes and create the majority of complaints casinos receive. The former is the focus of this article.The conventional approach, “dilution is the solution to pollution,” works well on particulate matter. As displacement with fresh air disperses the smoke particles, they become less visible under the intense lights of the casino. Because of the size of the particles relative to their mass, it is also possible to “push” them out of the casino to be vented or exhausted into the atmosphere with the force of the airflow created by the HVAC system.This same effect can be observed on a micro level by blowing air at the stream of smoke coming off the end of a lit cigarette. The smoke trail is seen to move with the direction of the airflow, and then disappear.Most modern casinos are equipped with heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems which supply elevated levels of ventilation with fresh air which dilutes the visible smoke and carries the smoke particles out of the building. While some casino HVAC systems are designed to run with 100 percent outside air constantly, most are designed to run with 100 percent outside air only during times of “free cooling,” when the outside air can be brought into the casino without being cooled or heated.(Although by definition there is no recirculation in true 100 percent outside air HVAC systems, enhanced particle filtration is still beneficial. The energy recovery devices used to augment the cooling/heating capacity typically sit directly in the return airstream, which is loaded with tobacco-related pollutants. Without enhanced filtration to protect these devices, they become fouled with tar, nicotine and paper ash. This creates a significant burden on the maintenance department as well as long-term deterioration of the heat-transfer surfaces and their energy-transfer performance.)Conventional HVAC systems run with as little as 30-40 percent outside air during peak load conditions, when the casino is at its most crowded and the outside temperature is at its highest or lowest. Integrated particle filtration becomes critical during times of medium-to-peak loads, when most of the return air is recirculated after mixing with outside air.Without enhanced small-particle filtration capability, the combination of diminished dilution with fresh air, inability of conventional filters to remove tobacco smoke-sized particulate, and the constant loading with more smoke by the 50 percent or more of regular casino customers who are smokers results in a substantial accumulation of visible smoke inside the casino.HEPA filters are designed to capture 97 percent or more of particulate matter 0.3 microns and larger. But the pressure drop prohibits equipping airhandlers of the size and airflow of large casino units with the HEPA filters required to capture tiny tobacco smoke particles by impingement.Ceiling-mounted, self-contained, HEPA-equipped air filtration units are appropriate for isolated areas with visible smoke problems within a casino, for example a poker room or high-stakes area. But due to architectural, maintenance and mechanical considerations and replenishment expense, large numbers of self-contained HEPA air cleaners aren’t the solution for smoking areas larger than 5,000 to 10,000 square feet.ASHRAE-rated filters are the most common conventional filters found in casino airhandlers. However, ASHRAE filters are rated on their ability to capture 10-micron particles, so more than 95% of tobacco smoke particles (.01 to 0.5 microns) fly right through even a 95 ASHRAE filter to be returned to the occupied space.Charging the particles with electromagnetic energy, a process technically known as "particle ionization," is the only way to remove a visually observable number of them from the airstream during periods of high occupancy and elevated air recirculation.There are several alternatives on the market which produce the ionization effect. The ideal system possesses the following characteristics:1) Performance. Simply, it has to significantly increase the ability of standard HVAC filters to capture tobacco smoke-sized dust particles.2) Flexibility. Casino HVAC systems come in all shapes and sizes, and no two are alike. There is no “one size fits all” solution, so ionization technology which only comes in “standard” sizes which require significant sheet metal work for adaptation, whether for retrofit or new construction, isn’t suitable.3) Simple to own and operate. Casino facilities and maintenance departments are usually stretched very thin due to limited staffing and the thousands of tasks that accrue to their area of responsibility. Adding an air purification system which requires a high level of maintenance to sustain operating efficiency adds to this already-large burden, thus solving one problem (reducing visible smoke) but adding another (finding the man-hours required to keep it operating effectively).4) Power consumption. Some ionization technologies require high-voltage, high-amperage power sources to create the ionization effect. This not only complicates installation in retrofit situations, it also adds a potential safety hazard for the workers who clean, maintain and repair the technology.The Casino Air Filter Enhancer possesses all four desirable characteristics.Clean Air Systems has 35 years of experience in all types of integrated and self-contained air purification technology. The Casino Air Filter Enhancer is vastly more effective than any other ionization strategy we’ve ever seen or offered to our customers. We’ve been using the Filter Enhancerer successfully in the gaming environment to eliminate visible smoke problems for over ten years.The Filter Enhancer is infinitely flexible and adaptable to all commercial HVAC systems of all sizes. It can be supplied in every configuration from a single piece to multiple pieces in sheet metal racks, custom-fabricated to your HVAC system specs, prewired and ready for mounting.It is simple to own and operate. No moving parts; just power it up and it goes to work. Maintenance consists of a quick wipe with a denatured alcohol-soaked rag during regular filter changes in the main HVAC units.The Filter Enhancer is a low-voltage device which draws .05 amps at 24V. Up to 12 Filter Enhancers can be operated on one power supply. Stepdown transformers are available for all commonly available power supplies.The Casino Air Filter Enhancer – tomorrow’s filtration technology, available exclusively from Clean Air Systems today.