How Electronic Air Purifiers Work
Both types of electronic air purifiers give an electric charge to the polluting particles. Charged particles, or ions, are by nature attracted to other particles with the opposite charge. The end result is that charged particles will be drawn to and then stick to each other.
Electrostatic precipitators and ionizers differ from each other in how they charge the particles and what happens to the particles after they have been charged.
- Electrostatic precipitators draw air into the purifier. The polluted air passes through an ionizing mechanism which gives the particles a charge. After this, the now-charged particles continue through to the next section of the purifier, which contains plates that have the charge opposite to the charge just given to the particles (e.g., if the particles are positively charged, the plates are negatively charged). The particles therefore stick to the plates and are removed from the air. The plates must be cleaned periodically or will cease to capture the particles.
- Ion generators differ in that, instead of drawing the particles in and then charging them, they release ions into the surrounding air. These ions attach themselves to airborne particles, thereby charging them. The newly charged particles then become attracted to surfaces such as drapes or walls, or they combine with other particles and fall to the floor.
As indicated above, ion generators, unlike electrostatic precipitators, have no means of collecting pollutants inside the purifier itself. Instead, the particles settle elsewhere in the home, so that air pollution is reduced, but surfaces become dirtier. Some might not consider this a trade-off worth making.
It's nice getting something that you didn't expect! I was worried this was tied to the tech package or something like that - but on my base 60, June 14 build it has shown up in the settings now. Don't notice any difference though.
