Plasma Clean
Plasma Clean is set to make a big impact in air purification. Its patented non-thermal plasma system for VOC abatement, odour and infection control is arriving. With global demands for efficiency and innovation in air purification systems, it’s no surprise that market forecasts for standard air filtering technologies are set to reach $7 billion by 2010[1] .
Plasma Clean solves air cleaning and filtration problems for a wide variety of customers, including manufacturing, healthcare, aerospace, food retailers and the hospitality industry. With a technology portfolio providing greater efficiency and lower costs Plasma Clean Ltd is set to be at the forefront of the clean, green revolution in air purification.
Technology
Plasma Clean Ltd provides technology-based air purification systems that use non-thermal plasmas. Think of non-thermal plasma as a ‘sea of energy’ through which polluted air passes. It is this energy which converts harmful airborne contaminants into harmless by-products.
When a pollutant gas is passed through plasma it is pulled apart, broken down, and converted into less harmful substances such as carbon dioxide and water. There is no build up of contaminants normally seen in activated carbon systems.
Plasma Clean founder Professor Christopher Whitehead in the School of Chemistry at the University of Manchester admits: ‘Plasma Clean energy demands are surprisingly low and unlike conventional air purification technologies, plasma energy efficiency actually increases as the pollutant concentration decreases. This is particularly important for applications requiring ultra-pure air where tolerances are in the sub-ppm to ppb range.’
Because the cartridges convert pollutants at source they do not create costly and regular landfill disposal problems,reducing environmental impact. And, unlike thermal oxidisers, plasma technology becomes more energy efficient at lower pollutant concentrations[2] .
Products
At the core of Plasma Clean technology is a simple cassette and power supply. “Rather than competing with conventional air purification technologies”, adds David Glover, ‘our systems operate best in the space where activated carbon and thermal oxidisers are inefficient. This is driving our strategy of partnering through licensing to bring Plasma Clean technology to customers”.
Plasma Clean’s Xtract system controls odour, grease and infection risk for commercial or healthcare premises requiring a deep clean of the room or ductwork. Following successful trials, Xtract is now being introduced into restaurants and fast food outlets throughout the UK, including high street food chains.
The company’s hybrid Plasma Catalyst VOC oxidizer system controls industrial VOC emissions and has been successfully trialed in a printed circuit board assembly plant to reduce emissions of isopropyl alcohol from individual soldering stations. Developed in response to a customer who was falling foul of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), emissions were brought well within permitted limits – with no costly landfill disposal of spent carbon. As a result the company has installed more systems into the customer’s plant.
Features of all Plasma Clean products include:
- High efficiency removal of target pollutants
- Low capital cost and running costs
- No build up of hazardous wastes
- Negligible maintenance
- A green footprint
- Absence of NOx which is generally common in plasmas
Plasma systems are easy to install, scaleable according to customers’ needs, and require very low maintenance. Plasma Clean systems avoid the need for regular maintenance and cartridge refills. And in a world increasingly aware of environmental responsibilities, these systems do not create costly disposal and landfill obligations.
1. [1] McIlvaine news release, August 2007, ‘high growth rates for air filters over next three years’, http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/
2. [2] Harling, A.M, Glover, D.J., Whitehead, J.C. and Zhang, K. Novel methods for enhancing the destruction of environmental pollutants by the combination of multiple plasma discharges. Environmental Science and Technology (in press)
Commercialisation and company growth
Plasma Clean’s core non-thermal plasma technology was conceived by Professor Christopher Whitehead of the School of Chemistry at the University of Manchester. The technology was patented and together with proof-of-concept funding and project management support from the university’s intellectual property company UMIP, a series of prototypes were made and tested. Over time a large number of potential applications were distilled into realisable products and a focussed business plan was developed, helping the business raise £500,000.
Since 2006 Plasma Clean has grown within the supportive environment created by the University’s incubator company UMIC. Plasma Clean’s strategy is to partner to bring its unique technology to the market-place. As a small innovative technology start-up, partnering is the best option to maximize market potential and Plasma Clean has recently signed the first of a series of distribution agreements with AAC Eurovent a Midlands-based manufacturer and supplier of VOC and odour control equipment.
After raising the investment, the first challenge for Plasma Clean was to find suitable, affordable and flexible business space which it did with the help of UMIC. UMIC has also helped Plasma Clean to build its networks both locally and nationally and have been responsive when Plasma Clean has needed help in sourcing staff, grant funding and general business advice.
“Any start-up, and especially a technology start-up, needs all the support it can in its early years” says managing director David Glover “and with the support of UMIP and UMIC Plasma Clean is looking forward to making a massive impact in air pollution control over the coming years”.
COMPANY INFO
Location: Broadstone Knowledge Mill
Contact: David J Glover PhD, Managing Director, Plasma Clean
Phone: +44 161 443 4125
Fax: +44 161 332 7813
Email: david.glover@plasma-clean.com