Grad Student Rigs Cheap Alternative To $1,000 Air Purifiers In Smoggy China 182
An anonymous reader writes "University of Virginia grad student Thomas Talhelm was living in Beijing on a Fulbright Scholarship during the winter of 2012-13, when air pollution was so bad scientists likened it to a nuclear winter. Those who could afford it were resorting to an expensive solution: air filters costing up to $1,000. Talhem built his own on the cheap, getting comparable particulate count results, and has started a company that both markets the product to middle class Chinese and shows others how to DIY."
Very original (Score:0, Informative)
He straps a filter on to a fan and this is noteworthy? Ok then.
Re: Very original (Score:5, Informative)
Probably could combine a HEPA filter with a charcoal filter to get both particles and volatile chemicals.
Like this:
http://www.instructables.com/i... [instructables.com]
Or:
http://www.amazon.com/Rabbit-A... [amazon.com]
Lots more here:
http://www.grainger.com/catego... [grainger.com]
Re:Very original (Score:5, Informative)
Re:assholes everywhere (Score:5, Informative)
Wouldn't it be simpler to strap the air filter to the smokestacks where the pollution is emitted? Nah, that'd never work.
part of the problem is that many homes burn coal for heat, so it isn't just industrial pollution, nor from automobiles, the latter two are present during most of the year, with the former being a problem concentrated in winter.
Re:Very original (Score:4, Informative)
If you take a look at his site, it has all the data, comparisons with commercial purifiers, timeframes, and all the other details you are saying are missing. http://smartairfilters.com/index.html#data
Re:Very original (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Youtube of this same idea (Score:4, Informative)
Yes, same thing but he uses a fancy looking fan instead of a cheap old (in the US) box fan. He even uses a particle counter to measure the result just like the MD in your second link "from a university" (the University of Michigan) did. I'm posting the UoM link below; it contains a link to the Youtube video you posted.
"Build a do-it-yourself air purifier for about $25"
http://www.uofmhealth.org/news/sinus-hepa-0630 [uofmhealth.org]
The difference in this case so far as I can tell is that instead of showing people how to make an air purifier for the price of a box fan and a furnace filter, he's trying to start a company to manufacture and sell the things.
I have a couple of these at home and yes, they work great.