Air Purification Systems
There are a few main types of air purification systems. Until recently, small and inexpensive table-top air purifiers have been quite popular in terms of sales. They generally contain small panels of dry, loosely packed, fiber filters upstream of a high-velocity fan. Table-top units may also consist of a fan and an electronic or other type of filter.
Another major type of residential air purification systems is the large yet portable device designed to remove pollutants in a specific room. Due to their larger and more effective filters, these filters are considerably more effective in removing pollutants in a room than the table-top units and have become increasingly popular in the past several years. Room air cleaners are excellent for bringing pure air to a small apartment or single-story house. Portable room units are much more effective in rooms where all doors and windows are closed.
Central Filtration in Air Purification Systems
Filtration systems can also be installed in the central heating or air-conditioning systems of a residence, or in an HVAC system. These units are usually called "induct" units, although they aren't located in a duct. They are usually located in unducted return circulation grills. Central filtration systems are wonderful for multi-story office buildings, hospitals, university buildings, etc., which require powerful generators to clean the air from multiple levels.
However, central filtration may not be the best sort of air purification system. If you've got a room with persistent pollution or odor, the best way to handle it is with an air purification system room unit. A central filtration system will only be able to do so much in a heavily polluted room (such as a smoker's room).
