Retail Shopping Malls Air Treatment Solutions

Introduction

People favour to spend their time in shopping malls. Good indoor air quality is, therefore, very essential to shoppers. Unlike the popular perception that an enclosed air conditioned zone is free of all pollutants and dirt, it has been discovered that indoor air is more polluted than the outdoor air and is amongst the top five environmental risks as listed by the EPA. These malls do not offer the occupants any control over their environment, i.e. they cannot open windows if the store feels stuffy and unaired.

The only option us turn on the exhaust fans, or leave the room, if the space is filled with dust, tobacco smoke, fine carbon dust from copying machines, etc. Also these malls have a particular need to ensure that their premises are kept clean so as to allow a soothing ambiance to shoppers.

These problems are associated with symptoms that are particularly brought about by contamination of the indoor environment, by the growth bacteria, fungi, mold, viruses and mildew (collectively termed micro-organisms) spread through the circulation of air exhaled, as well as from food material, etc. These pollutants may result in health problems like irritation of eyes, blocked nose and throat, headaches, dizziness, lethargy, fatigue etc.

Use of Ozone Generator in Shopping Malls

• Ozone Generator for HVAC System to improve indoor air quality & also achieve Energy Efficiency.
• Ozone Generator to remove Food Court Odor.
• Ozone Generator to remove restroom Odor.
• Ozone Generator to remove garbage room Odor.

The Role of Ozone Generator in HVAC System in Shopping Malls

HVAC System consumes Upto 60% of electricity in Shopping Malls. Major Operating cost borne by the owner & users.

Major impurities in Multiplex/ Cinema Hall Indoor Air Environment are

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)

In Indoor Environment Toxic Gases are emitted from wide variety of sources:

• • Building Materials
• Cleaners, Plastics
• Wood Products
• Paints, Carpets
• Polishers
• Deodorants, etc.

Carbon - di - oxide - Co2

In an indoor environment human being Exhale Carbon dioxide it cannot be reduced or oxidized. It is not a toxic or carcinogen but a high level of CO2, causes:

• Headaches, Restlessness
• Difficulty Breathing, Sweating
• Tiredness, Increased Heart Rate
• Elevated Blood Pressure, etc

Odor

Odour is a major Irritants & it is cause from various sources:

• Food Odour
• Body Odour
• Mold, Fungi & Microbes
• Cleaning Chemical Odour, etc

This is a residual odor & difficult to dilute from conventional method.

These are collectively known as "SICK BUILDING SYNDROME"

To address Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) the AHU systems take "Outdoor Air" to dilute Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and reduce Carbon dioxide (CO2) within acceptable limits. Conventionally Fresh Air is used to improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

• Fresh air is not cheap!
• Hot and humid air needs to be cooled down to room temperature.

Hidden Cost of Fresh Air taken by Air Handling Unit in an HVAC System:

Load profile of fresh air

• 60% to cool moisture...wasted energy
• 28% to cool nitrogen...wasted energy
• 12% to cool oxygen...the only useful component in fresh air.

"Energy Consumption- 150 CFM of Fresh Air will require 1ton of cooling load. (Approximately)"

Position of ASHRAE on reducing fresh air intake:

"ASHRAE approves reduction in fresh air, if chemical contaminants in air are removed". We refer you to the following sections of ASHRAE62-99: "Procedure for use of cleaned recirculated air: The amount of outdoor air may be reduced by recirculating air from which offending contaminants have been removed or converted to less objectionable forms. Formaldehyde, for example may be oxidized to water and carbon dioxide. The amount of outdoor air depends on the contaminants generated in the space, etc....".

ASHRAE Standards

• ASHRAE Ventilation code no. 62-1999.
• Minimum 15 CFM per person fresh air is required.
• Minimum of 30 CFM fresh air is required if smoking is permitted.

Chemtronics' Solutions to minimize "Fresh Air Intake"
How to reduce "Fresh Air"

• By using controlled injection of ozone.
• Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) is performed by ozone and not by oxygen of the fresh air.
• Ozone is more powerful oxidizing agent than oxygen.
• In the presence of a more powerful oxidant, less powerful oxidant does not have the chance to perform oxidation, until no more of the former is available.
• Oxygen of the fresh air is preserved and not spent in performing the task of oxidizing the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), which is now transferred to ozone.
• Available oxygen is now used entirely to maintain Carbon-di-oxide.
• Intake of fresh air is reduced drastically. Thus fresh air requirement goes down to 5CFM or less per person.

Controlled Ozone is increasingly being used in Auditorium Indoor Air Treatment & also to achieve the energy efficiency of the Auditorium HVAC systems. Chemtronics has successfully designed and installed oxygen fed air Ozone Generator to integrate with the present Auditorium HVAC system. It achieves acceptable Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) while minimizing energy consumption, and fully complying with ASHRAE standards. It also helps in getting LEED rating points on Indoor Air Quality. This unique technology integration gives buy back of CapEx in less than 2 year.