New Device Developed To Tackle Pollution in High Traffic Zones

The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur-based laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has developed a device to address air pollution at high traffic zones like traffic intersections and parking areas.

The device, which brings together developments in chemistry, physics, and micro-meteorology on a single platform, consists of two stages. In the first stage, a fan sucks air around the device and pollutants like dust and particulate matter are separate using three filters of different dimensions.  After this, the air is led into a specially designed chamber where carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons content in the air is oxidized into less harmful carbon dioxide using activated carbon coated with titanium dioxide.

The oxidation is supported by two ultraviolet lamps. The purified air is then ejected with force into the atmosphere so as to help dilute pollutant content in the outside air.

Prototypes of the device, named WAYU, have been installed at the ITO Junction in central Delhi and Mukarba Chowk in north Delhi. Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan unveiled the prototypes on Tuesday. Over the next one month, 54 more units would be installed in other parts of the city, the minister said. The cost of the purifier is Rs 60,000 each.

NEERI Director Dr. Rakesh Kumar said filters were made of non-woven fabric and their removal efficiency for particulate matter was 80 to 90 percent and of the poisonous gases 40 to 50 percent. It is 5.5 feet tall and one foot wide. It can bring down the PM 10 values from 600 micrograms per cubic meter to 100 micrograms per cubic meter and PM 2.5 values from 300 micrograms per cubic meter to 60 micrograms per cubic meter in half an hour.  The device consumes half a unit of electricity for every 10-hour operation. It is capable of providing purified air for an area of about 500 sq. m around it.

The institute, he said, was working on scaling up the device so that it can cater to an area of 10,000 sq. m. over the next three months. In addition, efforts were underway to add on capabilities to treat other atmospheric pollutants including nitrous and sulfur oxides.

The National Institute of Designs, Ahmedabad, will work on aesthetic designs for the purifier. The current prototype has been designed with the help of Industrial Design Centre at IIT, Mumbai.

Most high traffic density zones have a lot of buildings in the neighborhood leading to restricted flow of air or what is technically called “Street Canyon” effect. Consequently, emissions coming from vehicle tailpipes do not get diluted and road dust remains suspended in the air. (India Science Wire)

By Sunderarajan Padmanabhan

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