Air Treatment Course

Lesson 1 • Air Contaminant Categories

Classifies contaminants as particulates, gases, vapours, bioaerosols, and odours. Understanding categories directs selection of appropriate treatment technologies.

Lesson 2 • Air Quality Metrics and Standards

Introduces concentration units, measurement indices, and regulatory threshold concepts. Provides the measurement language used throughout all subsequent treatment topics.

Lesson 3 • Composition of Atmospheric Air

Covers the major and trace gases in ambient air and their proportions. Establishes baseline understanding for recognising deviations that require treatment.

Lesson 1 • Industrial and Combustion Sources

Examines emissions from manufacturing, power generation, and combustion processes. Connects source characteristics to the contaminant profiles treatment systems must address.

Lesson 2 • Indoor Air Pollution Sources

Identifies building materials, occupant activities, and HVAC systems as indoor pollutant sources. Indoor sources often require different treatment strategies than outdoor sources.

Lesson 3 • Health Effects of Air Contaminants

Links specific contaminants to respiratory, cardiovascular, and systemic health effects. This knowledge justifies treatment performance targets and acceptable residual concentrations.

Lesson 1 • Specialised Filtration Applications

Addresses cleanroom, pharmaceutical, and high-temperature filtration requirements. Specialised contexts impose stricter performance and material compatibility demands.

Lesson 2 • Filtration Capture Mechanisms

Explains inertial impaction, interception, diffusion, and electrostatic attraction as capture modes. Understanding mechanisms enables correct filter selection for target particle sizes.

Lesson 3 • Filter Efficiency Rating Systems

Covers MERV, HEPA, and ULPA classification frameworks and their test methods. Ratings translate performance data into practical filter selection decisions.

Lesson 4 • Pressure Drop and Energy Considerations

Analyses how filter loading increases resistance and raises fan energy consumption. Balancing efficiency against pressure drop is central to cost-effective system design.

Lesson 1 • Catalytic and Thermal Oxidation

Covers catalytic oxidation, regenerative thermal oxidation, and direct-flame incineration for VOC destruction. Oxidation achieves high destruction efficiency for concentrated organic streams.

Lesson 2 • Wet Scrubbing for Gas Removal

Explains gas-liquid mass transfer, scrubbing liquor chemistry, and scrubber configurations. Wet scrubbing targets water-soluble gases and acid or alkaline contaminants.

Lesson 3 • Activated Carbon Systems

Details fixed-bed, moving-bed, and canister carbon configurations and their operational parameters. Carbon systems are the most widely deployed gas-phase treatment technology.

Lesson 4 • Adsorption Theory and Adsorbents

Covers physical and chemical adsorption, isotherm models, and common adsorbent materials. Isotherm data drives sizing of adsorption beds for specific contaminant loads.

Lesson 1 • Desiccant Dehumidification Systems

Covers solid and liquid desiccant wheels, regeneration cycles, and low-dew-point applications. Desiccant systems achieve moisture removal below the limits of refrigerant cooling.

Lesson 2 • Psychrometrics and Moist Air Properties

Introduces the psychrometric chart, enthalpy, wet-bulb temperature, and dew point. Psychrometric analysis is the calculation foundation for all moisture control system design.

Lesson 3 • Moisture Control in Critical Environments

Addresses humidity requirements for data centres, museums, pharmaceutical cleanrooms, and food storage. Critical environments demand tight tolerance control and redundant moisture management.

Lesson 4 • Humidification Technologies

Surveys steam, evaporative, and ultrasonic humidifiers and their hygiene and control requirements. Humidification prevents static buildup, product drying, and occupant discomfort.

Lesson 1 • Natural and Mechanical Ventilation

Compares wind-driven, buoyancy-driven, and fan-assisted ventilation and their design constraints. Hybrid strategies combine natural and mechanical modes for energy efficiency.

Lesson 2 • Demand-Controlled Ventilation

Introduces CO2 and VOC sensors, control algorithms, and energy savings from demand-based airflow modulation. Demand control reduces ventilation energy while maintaining acceptable air quality.

Lesson 3 • Ventilation Principles and Airflow Patterns

Explains dilution ventilation, displacement ventilation, and plug-flow concepts and their effectiveness. Airflow pattern selection determines contaminant removal efficiency and energy use.

Lesson 4 • Local Exhaust Ventilation Design

Details hood types, capture velocity, duct transport velocity, and fan selection for source capture. Local exhaust is the most effective strategy for high-concentration point sources.

Lesson 1 • Controls and Automation Architecture

Designs sensor networks, control loops, and building automation integration for air treatment systems. Automated control maintains performance across varying loads and conditions.

Lesson 2 • Treatment Train Configuration

Covers sequencing of pre-filters, gas-phase units, moisture control, and final filters in a treatment train. Correct sequencing protects downstream components and maximises overall efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Ductwork and Air Distribution Design

Addresses duct sizing, static pressure balancing, diffuser selection, and leakage control. Distribution design ensures treated air reaches all zones at design flow and velocity.

Lesson 4 • Energy Recovery Integration

Evaluates heat wheels, plate exchangers, and run-around coils for recovering energy from exhaust air. Energy recovery reduces operating costs and supports sustainability targets.

Lesson 1 • Troubleshooting and Fault Diagnosis

Applies systematic fault-tree analysis to diagnose airflow, filtration, and humidity control failures. Structured diagnosis reduces mean time to repair and minimises air quality exceedances.

Lesson 2 • Performance Verification and Reporting

Defines key performance indicators, reporting formats, and continuous improvement cycles for air treatment systems. Documented performance supports regulatory audits and operational optimisation.

Lesson 3 • Commissioning Protocols and Testing

Covers pre-functional checks, functional performance testing, and airflow verification procedures. Commissioning confirms that installed systems meet design intent before occupancy.

Lesson 4 • Air Quality Monitoring Programmes

Designs continuous and periodic monitoring plans using fixed sensors and portable instruments. Monitoring data triggers corrective action and documents regulatory compliance.