EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF NITROGEN DIOXIDES ADSORPTION FROM CABIN AIR BY ACTIVATED CHARCOAL AIR FILTERS

Abstract

The popularity of combination filters of cabin air has increased considerably in last decade. The main goal of such filters is to eliminate particles and gaseous pollutants from the cabin air. The removal of the noxious gases takes place by adsorption in a layer of activated charcoal granules. According to international standards these cabin air filters are tested at a temperature of 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity. But in practice they are exposed to temperatures, humidities and input concentrations varying over a wide range. Due to the strong effect of these parameters on adsorption, the adsorption capacity of cabin air filters are affected significantly. Experiments were performed at the filter test rig of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Duisburg with varying temperature, relative humidity and input concentrations. The experiments have shown that adsorption capacity is reduced significantly at higher temperatures and higher relative humidities. Additionally a further increase in temperature and the relative humidity results in an inversion of the process, namely desorption of previously adsorbed pollutants

Keywords

• Cabin Air filters, Activated Charcoal, Nitrogen Dioxides Adsorption, Noxious Gases