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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S77875/01
Title: A Photocatalytic Mop Fan for Air Cleaning
Principal Investigator: Riffat, Professor S
Other Investigators:
Li Puma, Professor G Etheridge, Dr DW
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Baxi
Department: Sch of the Built Environment
Organisation: University of Nottingham
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 2004 Ends: 31 May 2007 Value (£): 269,390
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Building Ops & Management Energy Efficiency
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Construction
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The proposed research is to develop a novel fan/air cleaning device that could be used in buildings and industrial applications for the removal of gasesous, particulate and odorous pollutants. The proposed system will consist of a flexible fibre impeller coated with the photocatalyst titanium dioxide (Ti02). The fibre impeller will be mounted on a shaft within a centrifugal fan casing and will be rotated by a direct drive, high efficiency motor. Using this arrangement, the flexible fibre fan has been shown to work efficiently as an air impeller. The device will provide both ventilation and air cleaning. Air cleaning will be achieved using the process of photocatalytic oxidation (PCO). PCO has strong potential to be a highly effective process for destroying air pollutants. A photocatalytic reactor operates at room temperature and chemically oxidises volatile organic pollutants, converting them primarily to carbon dioxide and water. To facilitate photocatalytic oxidation, the flexible fibre impeller will be bathed in ultraviolet light provided by a low energy, low cost, fluorescent UV-lamp. Furthermore, the system itself would have low energy consumption, as, unlike conventional air cleaning devices, there would be negligible pressure drop involved in its operation. It would therefore be energy efficient, compact and require little, or no maintenance. Its deployment would result in lower heating/cooling costs, improved indoor air quality and reduced emission of C02 to the environment.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Summary
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk