What is HEPA?
High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA), also known as high-efficiency particulate absorbing and high-efficiency particulate arrestance. Filters meeting the HEPA standard must satisfy certain levels of efficiency. Common standards require that a HEPA air filter must remove—from the air that passes through—at least 99.95% (European Standard) or 99.97% (ASME, U.S. DOE) of particles whose diameter is equal to 0.3 μm; with the filtration efficiency increasing for particle diameters both less than and greater than 0.3 μm.
What is MESP?
Micro Electrostatic Precipitator is a new generation air purification technology. Intense field dielectric describes the mechanism by which the MESP filter can remove even the tiniest particles without the use of a high-pressure-drop fiber matrix. Airborne particles are first given an electrical charge, then passed into a honeycomb of hollow polymer flutes, 2-4 mm in diameter. Encased between rows of flutes are thin electrode sheets, which generate intense electrical fields. The polymer flute material is dielectric, which prevents current flowing between electrodes but does not inhibit the creation of an intense field within the flutes. Charged particles are pulled to the walls of the flutes, where they stick.
Antivirus
HEPA is good, but far from perfect!
True HEPA filter could purify the air, so they can also clean virus in air aerosol greater than 0.3 μm by capturing them with HEPA filter. But the virus is still alive, in some case, it could be released into the air and affect people again. Therefore, we need to pay attention to avoid virus leaking risks while replacing filters if considering the current COVID-19 pandemic situation.
MESP is a perfect air sterilizer!
A properly maintained MESP filter should be highly effective at capturing and trapping microbes such as germs, bacteria, viruses, mold, etc. Meanwhile, the MESP system will definitely disintegrate them with a high voltage (over 10KV) strong electrostatic field. The official test report in China claims that MSEP products could more than 99.99%+ disinfect the H1N1 virus. Safe and controllable!
Technical Comparison
| HEPA | MESP | |
|---|---|---|
| Table Data | Table Data | Table Data |
HEPA
MESP
Efficiency
(particle capture 0.3 microns)
Excellent
99.7%
Excellent +
99.7%
Pressure Drop (Resistance)
Poor
0.6 – 1.2″ wg (150 – 350 pascals)
>Excellent
>0.04 – 0.2″ wg (10-50 pascals)
Energy Cost (@ $0.10/kWh)
Poor
2′ X 2′ filter may add $400 or more per year in electricity costs.
Excellent
Comparable MESP filter will add only about $90/year in electrcity costs.
Maintenance Cost
Poor
Final and/or pre-filters require frequent replacement/disposal.
Excellent
Occasional Cleaning takes only minutes.
Service Life
Poor
Loads quickly unless configured with substantial pre-filtration.
Excellent
Properly maintained MESP filter is permanent. Never needs replacing.
Noise
Poor
High Pressure drop = high noise
Excellent
Low pressure drop = quiet air flow
