Dyson launches new range of purification technology - including a purifier that destroys formaldehyde
Millions of people around the world are spending more time indoors, making clean indoor air a top priority. For the first time in Canada, Dyson launches formaldehyde destroying technology and upgrades existing purification technology to promote a cleaner home environment.
March 29, 2021
-
Today, Dyson unveils its latest generation of purification machines, including the new Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde featuring solid-state formaldehyde sensing technology, designed to capture ultrafine dust and allergens and destroy potentially dangerous formaldehyde.[1] Also included in the new range is the reengineered Dyson Purifier Cool and Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool.
Formaldehyde is a colourless gas pollutant that can enter indoor air though off-gassing or combustion. The Canadian government cites the following as potential sources of formaldehyde from off-gassing: particleboard, fibreboard, hardwood plywood paneling, wallpaper, carboard, paper products, permanent press fabrics like drapery, glues, paints, varnishes and floor finishes. Off-gassing, the process by which products release formaldehyde, can be a long process taking weeks – potentially even months or years – to disappear completely. Burning materials such as tobacco smoke, improperly vented gas or oil burning appliances and smoke from fireplaces or wood-burning stoves can also be a source of formaldehyde.
Being 500 times smaller than particles the size of 0.1 microns, formaldehyde is particularly difficult to capture. Health effects of formaldehyde can vary from high exposures resulting in burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, to long-term, moderate exposure having the potential to worsen asthma symptoms, according to the Canadian Government. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) also classifies formaldehyde as “carcinogenic to humans.”
"The off-gassing tendency of formaldehyde means that it can go undetected in a home for years. Dyson has engineered a machine that provides accurate and successful sensing, capture and destruction of the pollutant. Our solid-state sensor doesn’t dry out overtime, lasting the lifetime of the machine. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised global awareness about the air that we breathe and Dyson’s commitment to providing cleaner air through innovation and technology remains at the forefront of our mission.”
- Alex Knox, Vice President of Environmental Care
-
Precise formaldehyde sensing and destruction
In addition to the existing particle, NO2, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), temperature and humidity sensors, the integration of an intelligent formaldehyde sensor ensures precise sensing of the pollutant for the lifetime of the machine. Other gel-based formaldehyde sensors may deteriorate gradually over time as they dry out. Using an electro-chemical cell, the Dyson formaldehyde sensor does not dry out and its unique intelligent algorithm cross-checks data every second, selectively sensing to avoid confusion with other VOCs.
Featured in the filter system in the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde is a new Selective Catalytic Oxidization (SCO) filter. While the HEPA and activated carbon filters in the machine are designed to capture and trap air pollution, this filter is designed specifically to not just capture, but destroy formaldehyde at a molecular level.[2] The catalytic filter has a unique coating, with the same structure as the Cryptomelane mineral that was determined by Dyson chemists as the ideal catalyst. Its billions of atom-sized tunnels are the optimal size and shape to trap and destroy formaldehyde. The machine does this through a process of oxidation. An oxygen rich surface removes electrons during the chemical reaction causing the formaldehyde to break down into tiny amounts of water and CO2 . It then regenerates from oxygen in the air to keep destroying it continuously. This means that this filter never needs to be replaced.
Indoor pollution beyond Formaldehyde
Every day, humans breathe up to 9,000 litres of air[3], and even prior to 2020 spent as much as 90% of their time indoors[4]. As our homes increasingly become spaces where we work and exercise as well as sleep and play, the quality of the air we breathe in all aspects of our routine is non-negotiable.
There are a number of indoor pollution sources, which release pollutants like PM10, PM2.5, VOCs, NO2 and formaldehyde into the air. Sources of pollution are present in all aspects of our daily lives, whether that be PM2.5 emitted when cooking, VOCs released from cleaning products or the continuous off-gassing of formaldehyde from our living room furniture. Tirelessly improving and constantly iterating, Dyson’s new purification range reflects the latest technology in three core areas: sensing, filtration and acoustics.
-
Fully sealed to HEPA H13 standard
In Dyson’s new purifiers, it’s not just the filter that meets HEPA H13 standard, but the whole machine. The filter system captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. Dyson purifiers capture allergens, pollutants, bacteria, pollen, mould spores and gases. In addition, they have been scientifically tested to capture particles as small as allergens and viruses, including the H1N1 influenza virus. Dyson engineers took a forensic approach to achieving a fully sealed machine, creating high pressure seals at an additional 24 critical points to prevent dirty air from bypassing the filters and carrying pollutants back into the room.
Dyson Purifier Cool: Acoustically engineered to be 20% quieter
Dyson engineers increased efforts to further reduce the sound output of the Dyson Purifier Cool while maintaining purification performance. Through an iterative design, test, build process managed at the Dyson Malaysia Development Centre’s in-house acoustics chamber, the machine was re-engineered to be 20% quieter¹³. To achieve this noise reduction, Dyson engineers refined the overall airflow path by widening the aperture (slot in which the air exits the machine) and its geometry was improved. This reduced the amount of friction between the air and surface of the machine, resulting in less sound. Noise was reduced from 64 to 61 decibels at max fan speed.
Air Multiplier Technology
Using Dyson Air Multiplier™ Technology, the machine can project purified air to every corner of the room.[5] Auto mode enables the machine to maintain a preferred room temperature[6] and air quality level. Control and monitor air quality from anywhere using the Dyson Link app.[7] And control hands-free in with Google Home (English only), Alexa and Siri.
Engineered for real homes
Dyson Purifier machines are engineered for real spaces. The industry standard for testing air purifiers measures performance using a laboratory test conducted in a compact chamber 12m² in size, with a ceiling fan to circulate the air and one sensor inside the room measuring air quality. This test is used to determine a purifier’s CADR score. The CADR metric is a measurement of speed in an unrealistic setting. For more representative testing, Dyson’s POLAR test is based on a larger room size of 27m² with no added fan and uses eight sensors in the corners of the room and one sensor in the center to collect air quality data. This allows Dyson to take a holistic view of purification to ensure that the machine alone can complete the job of purifying a whole room, without relying on environmental factors. To learn more about purifier testing, please visit the Dyson Newsroom.
Press contacts
Canada
Email us at CAN.PR@dyson.com
Social media
Twitter: @askdyson
YouTube: youtube.com/Dyson
Facebook: facebook.com/dyson
Instagram: @dyson, @dysonbeauty
LinkedIn: Dyson
Discover Dyson
¹ Third party full machine testing based on GB/T 18801-2015 formaldehyde cumulative clean mass testing with continuous injection until plateau of formaldehyde CADR is achieved. Results may vary in practice.
² Tested to industry standard test EN1822 for particle capture and GB/T 18801 for formaldehyde destruction..
³ ‘How your lungs get the job done’ American Lung Association, 2017.
⁴ Combined or multiple exposure to health stressors in indoor built environments,’ World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Edited by Dimosthenis A Sarigiannis, pg 9, 2013.
⁵ 'Particle challenge by DEHS oil specified in EN1822 within a chamber specified in ASTM F3150. Tested in Max Mode at IBR US, for whole machine efficiency above 99.95%.
⁶ 20% quieter than Dyson’s predecessor machine, applies to Dyson Pure Cool and Dyson Pure Cool Formaldehyde only.
⁷ In maximum setting. Tested for air projection (DTM801) and purification coverage in a 2860 ft3 room (TM-003771).
.png){kind=icon}