Atmospheric Clow Technologies
924 Corridor Park Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37922
(865) 573-7808 http^/www.atmosphericglow.com
DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY
With support from the Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program,
Atmospheric Glow Technologies (ACT) has developed and
commercialized a breakthrough air filtration system that
destroys all microorganisms—including biological warfare
agents such as anthrax and smallpox. In seconds, this sys-
tem captures microorganisms on standard filter media from
indoor air streams, preventing their circulation throughout
a building. The Enhanced Plasma Sterilized (EPS ™) Fil-
tration System is the first heating, ventilation, and air con-
ditioning (HVAC) filtration system to combine a high-cap-
ture capability with an effective sterilization technology. The
EPS™ System safely captures, neutralizes, and/or destroys
all airborne microorganisms with greater efficacy and at a
lower cost than previously possible.
To develop a more practical, economical filtration system
that significantly improves indoor air quality, ACT com-
bined the effects of electrically enhanced filtration with
the rapid, nonthermal sterilization capabilities of its pat-
ented One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma
(OAUGDP™) technology. Unlike other plasma technolo-
gies, OAUGDP™ generates plasma in air, under standard
pressure and at ambient temperature, without the need
for either a vacuum or a non-atmospheric gas, such as
compressed helium or argon. EPS™ Systems using
OAUGDP™ produce no harmful byproducts and have no
deleterious effects on sensitive materials.
The EPS ™ System, which works with installed commer-
cial and residential HVAC systems, can be retrofitted to al-
most any HVAC unit. It is placed in the return air stream, and
an electrostatic field is used to continuously apply charge
across the filter to increase capture of microorganisms. The
electrostatic field positively charges the filter and there-
fore attracts (and traps) negatively charged microorgan-
isms, while consuming less power than the standard night
light. The increased capture abilities achieved with the
electrostatic field allows a porous, non-high-efficiency par-
ticulate, low-pressure drop air filter to provide high effi-
ciency service. This results in less energy consumption for
the HVAC unit. Periodically, the electrodes are energized
with the power source, creating plasma on the filter sur-
face that kills and destroys all of the captured microorganisms.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TECHNOLOGY
In addition to providing an efficient, cost-effective, envi-
ronmentally friendly, and safe means of eliminating bio-
logical warfare agents, the EPS™ System also provides a
healthier environment for commercial buildings and in-
stitutions, such as schools and hospitals. Therefore, the
EPS ™ System offers tremendous economic and social ben-
efits by helping to reduce absenteeism, improve produc-
tivity, and provide for the better health of building occu-
pants. With only 30 seconds of exposure to AGT's atmospheric
plasma, bacterial cells are destroyed.
Extensive testing by ACT confirmed that:
+ The application of an electrostatic charge to the fil-
ter face results in enhanced capture for bacteria (450%
increase in capture for Staphylococcus aureus) and
representative viral particles (900% increase in cap-
ture for bacteriophage X174).
4- This novel system captures, neutralizes, and/or destroys microorganisms—including biological warfare agents
such as anthrax and smallpox—with greater efficacy and at a lower cost than previously possible.
4- It is the first heating, ventilation, and air conditioning filtration system to combine a high-capture capa-
bility with an effective sterilization technology. Bacterial cells are destroyed in only 30 seconds.
4- The EPS™ System provides a healthier environment for commercial buildings and institutions, such as
schools and hospitals.
4- AGT's technology combines the effects of electrically enhanced filtration with the rapid, nonthermal
sterilization capabilities of the OAUGDP™ technology.
4- In recognition of its technical innovation, AGT received one of R&D Magazine's prestigious R&D 100
Awards in 2002.
-------
EPS™ filtration system
in capture mode (presterilization).
EPS™ filtration system
in sterilization mode.
+ Filters loaded with 1 million bacterial cells and viral
particles are sterilized with only 15 seconds of
OAUGDP™ exposure.
+ The intermittent OAUGDP™ exposure does not re-
sult in a decrease in filter capture efficiency or in
electrode damage.
COMMERCIALIZATION SUCCESS
Since the initial product offering in November 2001, ACT
has been negotiating with federal agencies for incorpora-
tion of the EPS ™ into highly visible federal buildings and
mass transit facilities. The EPS ™ System is commercially
available in three categories. Category 1 provides maximum
protection to sensitive buildings and includes additional fea-
tures such as ionizers, ports for sensors, and enhanced elec-
trodes for chemical and biological warfare attacks. Category
2 is designed with specialty applications, such as airplanes,
schools, and office buildings in mind. The Category 3 EPS ™
System is marketed for the protection of high-value equip-
ment and is a simplified version of Category 2.
ACT is initially targeting high-value, indoor air quality sen-
sitive customers, such as government and hospital facili-
ties and the military. These EPS™ Systems will be equipped
with highly distinctive features, such as automated con-
trols and superior killing ability. Over time, ACT will
broaden its efforts to include more cost-sensitive markets,
such as office buildings, schools, and lastly, residential ap-
plications, with the more economical models having fewer
features. To execute this plan, ACT is focusing on identify-
ing and recruiting manufacturing, distribution, sales, and
product development partners.
The EPS ™ System in a fully instrumented version is be-
ing monitored in a local area building, and ACT is develop-
ing relationships with a utility company for a field test as
well as with distributors for hospitals and other medical fa-
cilities. In addition, ACT has had discussions with the Ten-
nessee Office of Homeland Security to place an EPS ™ unit
in a Tennessee State government building. Several EPS™
inquiries have been made by various parties experienc-
ing indoor air problems.
fi^-T
AWARDS AND COMPANY HISTORY
In recognition of its technical innovation, ACT
received one of R&-D Magazine's R&D 100
Awards in 2002. ACT also was awarded the U.S.
Small Business Administration's 2001 Tibbett's
^|^ Award for success in the SBIR Program. Based
in Rockford, TN, ACT was founded in 2000, to
develop and market an innovative method of
generating atmospheric plasma. With 12 employees, ACT
has become a leader in developing atmospheric plasma
technology for products to solve pertinent environmental
and health issues.
EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program was created to assist small businesses in
transforming innovative ideas into commercial products. The SBIR Program has two phases—Phase I is
the feasibility study to determine the validity of the proposed concept and Phase II is the development of
the technology or product proven feasible in Phase I. EPA also offers Phase II Options to accelerate the
commercialization of SBIR technologies and to complete EPA's Environmental Technology Verification
(ETV) Program. For more information about EPA's SBIR Program and the National Center for Environmental
Research, visit http://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir.
------- |