No other automotive brand has shaped the development of innovative safety technology as much as Volvo. The name Volvo continues to be synonymous worldwide with exemplary passenger safety and innovative technology. Admittedly, the novel TAC V+ air purifier from Trotec is still at the beginning of its success story. But we are certain that the mobile TAC V + air purifier is already playing just as important a role in the fight against the coronavirus as the technical innovations of Volvo to reduce the number of road accidents.

Unique H14 filter technology (DIN EN 1822) – extra safety and protection

As the world’s first air purifier, the TAC V+ high performance air purifier was developed exclusively to reduce infectious aerosol concentrations. A new type of filter technology (H14 certified according to DIN EN 1822), developed by Trotec, provides a completely new level of protection against airborne viruses that endanger our daily lives, familiar togetherness and health. In contrast to conventional air purifiers, which usually only offer protection against bacteria, dust and allergens, but do not protect against airborne viruses due to their lower filter performance, the focus of research and development when designing the TAC V+ was on a visionary purifier, providing multiple layers of protection against airborne viruses and aerosols.

The effectiveness of the TAC V+ in the fight against the coronavirus and infectious aerosol particles surpasses even the groundbreaking protective effect provided by Volvo’s 3-point safety belt, used as standard for the first time. While the introduction of this safety belt has reduced the number of injuries and deaths in road accidents by up to 70 percent, the TAC V+ air purifier has proven to reduce the airborne risk of Corona infection in schools, public institutions, medical practices or in the hotel and catering industry to almost 0 percent.

A study led by Professor Dr. Christian Kähler at the Bundeswehr University Munich shows that the virus load in a 80 m² room can be reduced within 6 minutes by using the TAC V+. In smaller rooms the viral load is even halved after just 3 minutes.

Based on these performance data, Prof. Christian Kähler came to the following conclusion in his evaluation of the research results: “If you run this system continuously, it will be impossible for an infectious aerosol concentration to build up in the room”.

FlowMatic – Control: The cruise controller for safe air change rates

Prof. Dr. Kähler, Head of the Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics of the Bundeswehr University Munich as well as BZH (the German Consulting Centre for Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control), describe an air change rate of at least 6 times per hour as absolutely necessary for the removal of infectious aerosols and for minimising the indirect risk of infection. If the air change rate falls below this level – often without anyone noticing – due to the pre-filter becoming increasingly contaminated with coarse particles or fine dust, for example, this inevitably lowers the desired level of protection.

The TAC V+ air purifier with its intelligent FlowMatic control enables stable air change rates in the range of 6-16 air changes per hour. Comparable to a driver assistance system, the sensor-supported control system dynamically regulates the system performance required to safely provide the pre-set air change rate. Even with increasing filter contamination due to coarse or fine dust, you do not have to worry about decreasing air performance or air change rates falling below the required level. For more safety, longer filter service life and significantly higher system efficiency.

Thermal filter decontamination: the airbag for worst-case scenarios

The second major safety innovation of the TAC V+ room air purifier is its integrated filter decontamination, which kills off separated viruses and bacteria in the heat-resistant H14 HEPA filter by programme-controlled filter heating. No other air purifier has this filter decontamination developed by Trotec for which a patent application has been filed. The protective effect is comparable to that of the airbag system in a car, which we all hope never activates in the event that something unexpected occurs. If the worst comes to the worst, however, it protects our physical well-being and prevents us from becoming seriously injured. The thermal filter decontamination of the TAC V+ is comparatively safe. Viruses, bacteria and other pathogens separated in the room air are separated in the filter 99.995 % of the time and do not enter the room air again when the unit is used properly. However, with conventional air purifiers, there is always the risk of bacteria, biofilms or fungi developing in the filter as a result of the permanent moisture in the filter caused by high aerosol concentrations. Not in the TAC V+! The fully automatic filter decontamination destroys separated viruses, bacteria and other potential pathogens in the filter, so that these pathogens can neither enter the room air in the event of mechanical damage to the filter nor through improper filter replacement. Safety just when you need it.

Thermal filter regeneration: More hygiene, longer filter service life, lower operating costs 

The third most important safety innovation is thermal filter generation, which takes place during the decontamination cycle. It is a type of filter self-cleaning function and guarantees the consistent effectiveness and high performance of the virus filter. The regeneration cycle actively counteracts the formation of bacteria, biofilms and fungi in the filter by evaporating the liquid portion of the aerosol particles. This safely prevents filter odour even during long periods of use and significantly prolongs filter life, resulting in considerably shorter maintenance intervals and lower operating costs.

High air quantities with performance reserve: fast safety in every situation

Expect more than adequate safety and optimal hygiene from an air purifier when it comes to protecting the health of your employees, customers, pupils or family. The learning curve in coronavirus research is exponential. There are still many uncertainties as to how the virus will behave in autumn and winter and how the infection transmission will develop in Europe. But one thing is for sure: Time is the most important factor in reducing the indirect risk of infection. In fact, the shortest possible time to dilute the infectious aerosol clouds quickly and effectively, directly at the point of origin, before the virulent aerosol mixtures are separated in the filter. The TAC V+ already generates the quantities of clean air required for this, which according to the latest research, should be at least 6 times the volume of the room, with less than half its power. This provides sufficient safety reserves to increase the air change rate to 10-12 air changes per hour if required. For example, to allow occupants to enter and leave a room as quickly as possible by means of “technical intermittent ventilation/air cleaning”. Or in the event that further research into the infection pattern of the virus requires higher air change rates to protect against indirect infection. Well prepared for all developments in aerosol research.

According to Prof. Christian Kähler, it is important that an air purifier meets certain requirements regarding air performance and filter quality when it is being used:

• The volume flow of the air purifier must be sufficiently dimensioned to allow at least 6 air changes per hour. This is the only way to ensure that the aerosol concentration in the room is reduced within minutes. High performance air purifiers such as the TAC V+ even enable up to 16 air changes per hour and thus offer en even higher level of protection, for example for high-risk patients in medical practices, at hospital wards or in nursing homes.

• The filter used must be certified according to DIN EN 1822. Only H14 HEPA high-performance filters certified according to EN 1822, such as those used in the TAC V+, can filter 99.995% of small, virus-laden aerosols (0.1-0.2 µm) from the room air. This means that H14 HEPA filters already have a filter performance 10 times higher than H13 HEPA filters, whose filter performance is still comparably good in the size range of bacteria. However, there are significant differences in the so-called MPPS range (Most Penetrating Particle Size), i.e. when filtering out viruses and aerosols. Here, the Laboratory Technology Project Group (ELATEC) of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health expressly advises in its statement on the topic “Use of HEPA filters in ventilation systems (Resolution 16/2010)”: “The HEPA filter should correspond at least to class H14 according to DIN EN 1822-1.”

Size comparison of bacteria/viruses

• The air purifier should be as quiet as possible so that it doesn’t disturb businesses. For this reason, the TAC V+ high performance air purifier has a noise-insulating sound-absorbing hood, making it the quietest unit of its performance class.

These criteria defined by Prof. Kähler are currently only exceeded by the mobile TAC V+ high performance air purifier. The unit is developed and manufactured in Germany (Heinsberg). By increasing production capacities at an early stage, it was ensured that there would be no supply bottlenecks during delivery.

A safe investment in health and productivity

The TAC V+ high-performance air purifier enables a safe and uncomplicated return to normality in daily interaction – despite Corona. The high performance air purifier can effectively protect against aerogenic infection with influenza viruses during the annually recurring waves of influenza too. The comparatively low investment costs are offset by the advantages of having the highest possible protection against infection.

Please do not hesitate to contact us personally: 

Trotec STORE
Grebbener Straße 7
52525 Heinsberg
Germany

Tel. +49 2452 962-400
E-Mail: store.heinsberg@trotec.com