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How To Know When To
Change Air Conditioning
Filters
Although we don't usually realize it, we
can actually reduce the running cost of a building by
removing the dust from the atmosphere. The furniture,
walls and fittings are preserved longer. It also
improves the health of the occupants.
Removing dust is usually done by installing filters in
the incoming air stream or the circulating air stream.
In air-conditioning systems, these filters are installed
at the air handling units or AHU's.
How do we know when to replace the filters?
As more and more dust accumulates at the filters, the
differential pressures between the inlet and the outlet
will increase. By measuring the differential pressures,
we will have a very good indication of how much the
filter has been choked by dusts. Persons maintaining the
air-conditioning plant should know at what differential
a filter should be replaced. Some of the dust particles
are so minute, that they cannot be seen by the naked
eye. In all appearances, the filter looks as good as
new.
These are some factors to consider when determining when
to change the filter:
Mechanical strength of the filter
The final pressure of a filter is usually stated in the
product. That is the strength of the filtration medium.
However, other factors need to be considered - the
strength of the filter walls, frames and holders if not
adequately designed can result in the sagging of the
filter housing that will result in leaks.
Changes in efficiency of the filter
This is particularly important in low efficiency
filters. Their efficiencies can be radically impaired as
a result of high final pressure losses. Particles that
have been collected by the filter can become detached
and accompany the air stream. Fibrous particles are less
likely to become detached compared to granular
particles. Because of this, higher final pressure drops
are permissible for the former, although this should not
exceed about 200 Pa in a pre-filter.
With granular particles, the final pressure loss should
not be allowed to exceed 100 to 150 Pa.
Fine filters and HEPA filters are less sensitive to
changes in quality. In principle, they can be allowed to
have a final pressure loss up to the limit of their
mechanical strength.
Economic considerations
In terms of operating costs, there is an optimum final
pressure point to balance. By having longer intervals
between filter replacements, we do achieve lower filter
replacement costs. On the other hand, this will increase
the operating energy costs due to inefficiency.
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