Coronavirus Technology Solutions
July 10, 2020
Interview with
Nathaniel Nance
on Holistic
Solution for
COVID
__________________________________________________________________________
Interview with
Nathaniel Nance
on Holistic
Solution for
COVID
Nathaniel Nance
is now AAF
Flanders
Vice President
of Global
R&D-HVAC
Nathaniel has
been with AAF
Flanders since
2008.
Prior to joining
AAF Flanders, he
held various
positions in
media
manufacturing
companies,
including
product
engineering,
process
engineering, and
research and
development for
microglass and
synthetic media.
Nathaniel holds
a M.S. in
Industrial
Engineering from
Auburn
University.
Nathaniel was
interviewed by
Bob McIlvaine
and Ross Ardell
from the
McIlvaine
Company.
Nathaniel
espouses a
holistic concept
which encourages
collaboration
among filtration
experts,
universities,
HVAC companies,
contractors,
regulators and
local
governments to
mitigate COVID
and improve the
air we breathe.
He points out
that a glass of
dirty air and a
glass of clean
air look the
same. What we do
not see are the
range of
pollutants which
exist. COVID
adds to the
challenge. There
are good, better
and best filter
options at every
efficiency
level. The best
have the lowest
energy
consumption and
longest life.
Membranes have
efficiency and
strength
advantages over
micro fiber
glass. He calls
for a city wide
filtration
concept to
harness the
local winds. As
part of Daikin,
the largest air
conditioning
company in the
world, AAF
Flanders is in a
unique position
to provide
holistic
answers.
The early part
of discussion
focused on
comments
Nathaniel made
in an IFN
article.
Nathaniel
states that the
key to any
drivers of
change in this
industry should
be a mindset
change of the
entire industry.
The industry is
currently
disjointed
between
filtration
experts,
universities,
HVAC companies,
contractors,
regulators and
local
governments.
The future of
filtration that
will evolve from
this is these
groups coming
together to
design, develop,
and deliver real
solutions.
Nathaniel says
the entire world
is coming
together in this
time of crisis
to develop
innovative
solutions in the
face of critical
shortages of
crucial
materials from
facemasks to
gowns to gloves.
These are
collaborative
filtration
solutions for
focused areas,
and this will be
expanded to a
broader scope of
the filtration
world. The what,
how, when, and
why of what
makes a filter a
filter will be
reevaluated.
Nathaniel points
out that Daikin
is uniquely
capable as the
world’s largest
air conditioning
company as well
as with its
leading position
in HVAC,
industrial and
cleanroom air
filtration.
Nathaniel
believes these
changes to
collaborations
will lead to
broader focused
solutions. This
will be
everything from
passive and
on-demand
filtration in
hospitals and
commercial
buildings, where
levels of
filtration are
selected and
monitored in
real time, to
better
filtration in
the home for
split systems,
AHUs (Air
Handling Units),
and room air
cleaners. All
these will be
held to a
standard that
confirms
performance of
the system for
the application,
not just a
component-level
qualification.
This will
require
technology
development to
see the problem
and monitor the
solution from
sensors and
filter design
changes, to
system revamps
that allow the
consumer to
select the level
of filtration
desired or
required.
The indication
of this change
will be the
increased
reliance and
public agreement
on age old
principles
sorely forgotten
and cast aside,
such as proper
gasketing to
seal the system,
solution by
dilution,
charged
principles vs.
mechanical
filtration, and
what is the true
performance in
the real system.
The products
that will come
from this
exercise will
range from
simple to
complex, but
what is clear is
the future is
bright for the
filtration
industry.
For instance, a
system that has
technology
integration to
the point where
the fans,
humidity, UV,
recirculation,
and filters are
adjusted to a
virus capture
mode where
maximum airflow
and filtration
is reached until
biosensors
within the
system determine
the
predetermined
air quality is
reached. Filters
that can change
performance on
demand to
provide energy
savings in clean
environments and
critical
protection.
Diagrams of fan
filter units
above a cashier
and checkout
line were
displayed as
Nathaniel
emphasized the
importance of
controlled air
flow and
filtration.
AAF has good,
better, and best
filters for each
efficiency
range. The best
have the lowest
energy and
longest life.
Gas phase
filters use
activated carbon
or potassium
permanganate.
AAF believes in
barrier
filtration and
does not offer
ionizers.
A whole
connected city
filtration
system can work
in unison to
push the virus
out of the city
or prevent the
contaminant from
even entering
the area.
Nathaniel points
to the potential
of directing the
air flow through
a city rather
than relying on
whatever
turbulence and
other conditions
occur without
planning and
design. The
details on an
ambient air
purifier to be
located at
traffic
intersections
was briefly
reviewed
“The hope of the
industry says
Nathaniel is
that the world
comes through
this crisis with
a better
understanding of
how using
filtration can
protect and
enhance the
lives of the
global
population. We
as an industry
raise the bar
and continue to
exceed the
expectations of
the world’s
customers to
breathe clean
air.”
To view this
YouTube
recording click
here: https://youtu.be/3nqNhOwBHuQ
Armbrust
American scored
a big win in its
mission to
address PPE
shortages with
quality,
American-made
masks with the
announcement
that it has
signed a
contract to
supply millions
of masks to Texas's more
than 320,000
public school
teachers.
Armbrust
American's
Austin-TX area
medical mask
production
facility
The lack of
domestic
manufacturing
has forced
essential
organizations
like public
schools to rely
on a global
supply chain for
PPE at much
higher costs
during a time of
unprecedented
demand. And with
the vast
majority of
surgical masks
being
manufactured out
of China,
state
governments have
the added burden
of determining
if those masks
meet adequate
quality and
safety
standards.
Combined with
recent reports that
non-medical
masks from China are
being repackaged
and sent to
essential
workers, having
trusted
American-made
PPE has never
been more
important.
"It's taken
almost two
months, but I'm
happy to share
that our masks
have passed
everything
needed for ASTM
Type-II
certification
with bacterial
and particulate
filtration at
99%," said Armbrust
American founder
and CEO Lloyd
Armbrust.
"Our mission is
to supply our
fellow citizens
with superior
quality
equipment, made
right here in Texas.
No one should
have to worry if
the mask they're
wearing will
keep them safe,
especially the
people doing the
important work
of educating our
children."
ViralBarrier was
designed with
input from
instructors.
It's durable,
easy to maneuver
and very
affordable.
ViralBarrier is
adaptable to any
school setting -
in the
classroom,
learning labs,
library,
administrative
areas, and
cafeteria. It
creates safe
social distance
whether
standing,
sitting in a
chair or sitting
on the floor.
"We are proud to
bring this
unique ViralBarrier to
schools so they
can get back to
doing what they
do best, which
is educating our
next generation
of leaders,"
said Don
Dumoulin,
CEO / Owner. "We
hope to help
keep
instructors,
students and
staff healthy as
schools reopen
in a few weeks."
Privately held
Precise Tooling
currently
employs 40+
craftsmen at its
state-of-the-art
manufacturing
facility
outside Columbus,
IN.
Looking to help
meet the
critical need
for Personal
Protective
Equipment for
healthcare
workers during
the COVID-19
pandemic, global
manufacturer
Hollingsworth &
Vose has, on a
rapidly
accelerated
timeline,
developed a new
material for
non-surgical
medical gowns.
Using standard
construction
methods, this
new material can
be converted
into medical
gowns for
healthcare
workers in
hospitals,
nursing homes
and other
medical
facilities. The
material meets
stringent
testing
including the
AATCC 42 impact
penetration and
AATCC 127
hydrostatic
pressure tests.
Its origin stems
from a COVID-19
related task
force that H&V
convened at the
start of the
pandemic to see
how the company
could expand
production and
help meet the
shortage of
medical grade
PPE. H&V works
across
industries,
including in
medical,
automotive,
energy, power
generation, and
air quality.
“H&V had already
been
manufacturing
critical
materials used
in the fight
against
COVID-19,
including
filtration media
for N95
respirators,
ventilator
filtration media
and the
materials used
in surgical
hoods, so it
made sense for
us to see how
else we might be
able to meet the
needs of
healthcare
workers on the
frontlines,”
Jeff Crane,
Segment Leader
at H&V.
“Accelerating
our research and
development
process,
partnering with
companies that
provide third
party testing
and pulling
expertise from
different
industries we
serve allowed us
to quickly
develop this new
material in just
a matter of
weeks and begin
supplying it to
gown
manufacturers
that are facing
shortages due to
the pandemic,”
added Crane.
Customers for
the new material
include a mix of
existing H&V
customers as
well as new
customers who
are helping to
meet demand for
medical gowns.
H&V is
manufacturing
the material
entirely from
its
manufacturing
facility in
Easton, New
York.
“We will
continue putting
our expertise in
the
manufacturing of
advanced
materials to use
for a wide range
of applications
while also doing
everything we
can to help
those who are
out there in
hospitals,
clinics, nursing
homes and
elsewhere taking
care of others,”
commented
Crane.
As a global
manufacturer of
advanced
materials for
filtration and
battery
separator
materials, H&V
provides
products that
are critical to
responding to
the COVID-19
(the coronavirus)
emergency.
H&V is at the
front end of the
supply chain for
several critical
healthcare
related
materials,
including
filtration media
for N95
respirators,
ventilator
filtration
media, materials
used in the
production of
medical gowns &
surgical hoods,
and consumables
for COVID-19
test systems.
H&V also
supplies
products into
other air
filtration
applications in
medical,
industrial,
residential and
transportation
settings. H&V
battery
separator
materials are
being used in
batteries which
support
life-critical
medical
equipment and
first responder
vehicles, as
well as
emergency backup
power for
telecommunications,
hospitals and
data center
infrastructure.
This power is
critical for
hospitals,
governments, and
financial
institutions.
In 2011 H&V set
up a
global
technology
center in China.
It provides
advanced global
testing and
development of
fibrous media
and elements
used within
filtration,
separation,
battery
separator and
other industrial
specialty
markets.
“Setting up a
production, R&D,
and test center
in Suzhou is a
commitment to
our market
development
strategy in
China and the
Asia Pacific
region,” said
Hollingsworth &
Vose CEO Val
Hollingsworth.
Because of its
global reach and
level of
participation in
products to
battle COVID the
company can be a
leader in a
proactive
collaboration as
suggested by the
McIlvaine
Company.
Here
are articles on
H&V which can be
accessed in
previous Alerts
McIlvaine
Coronavirus
Market Alert
... PM
Develops
Technology to
Help Meltblown
Fabrics Maintain
Electrical
Charge Midwest
Textiles,
Hollingsworth & Vose Partner
to Develop
Homemade
Facemask Kit
Bondex Ramps up
Production of
Material for PPE
& ...
Terms matched: 1
- Score: 22
- 18 May 2020
- URL:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/coronavirus/subscriber/Alerts/2020-05-18/Alert_202005018.html
McIlvaine
Coronavirus
Market Alert
... Near
Zero Airplanes
are Relatively
Safe with the
Following
Guidelines
Midwest
Textiles,
Hollingsworth & Vose Partner
to Develop
Homemade
Facemask Kit
Bondex Ramps up
Production of
Material for PPE
& ...
Terms matched: 1
- Score: 16
- 10 Jun 2020
- URL:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/coronavirus/subscriber/Alerts/2020-06-10/Alert_20200610.html
McIlvaine
Coronavirus
Market Alert
... Paul
Marold,
president of
Lydall, and Val
Hollingsworth,
CEO of
Hollingsworth & Vose.
Bob McIlvaine
was also a
speaker. Details
are found at
https:/ ...
Terms matched: 1
- Score: 6
- 12 May 2020
- URL:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/coronavirus/subscriber/Alerts/2020-05-06/Alert_20200506.html
McIlvaine
Coronavirus
Market Alert
... isolation
gowns. H&V
Continues to
Expand Capacity
to Mitigate
COVID
Hollingsworth & Vose,
has shifted its
focus beyond its
traditional
markets like
medical,
automotive and
filtration ...
Terms matched: 1
- Score: 6
- 25 Jun 2020
- URL:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/coronavirus/subscriber/Alerts/2020-06-24/Alert_20200624.html
McIlvaine
Coronavirus
Market Alert
... DOD
The Department
of Defense has
signed a $2.2
million contract
with
Hollingsworth
and Vose to
produce 27.5
million N95
ventilator
filters and 3.1
million N95
respirators per
month starting ...
Terms matched: 1
- Score: 5
- 1 Jul 2020
- URL:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/coronavirus/subscriber/Alerts/2020-06-30/Alert_20200630.html
Unlike the
crisis that
caught a handful
of big city
hospitals off
guard in March
and April, the
soaring demand
for protective
gear is now
affecting a
broad range of
medical
facilities
across the
country, a
problem public
health experts
and major
medical
associations say
could have been
avoided if the
federal
government had
embraced a more
aggressive
approach toward
procuring and
distributing
critical
supplies in the
early days of
the pandemic.
Doctors at
Memorial City
Medical Center
in Houston who
treat Covid-19
patients have
been told to
reuse single-use
N95 respirator
masks for up to
15 days before
throwing them
out. The
country’s
largest
organization of
registered
nurses found in
a survey
of its members
in late June
that
85 percent had
been forced to
reuse disposable
N95 masks while
treating
coronavirus
patients. In
Florida, some
hospitals are
handing out only
loose fitting
surgical masks
to workers
treating newly
admitted
patients who may
be asymptomatic
carriers.
The inability to
find personal
protective
equipment, known
as P.P.E., is
starting to
impede other
critical areas
of medicine too.
Neurologists,
cardiologists
and cancer
specialists
around the
country have
been unable to
reopen their
offices in
recent weeks,
leaving many
patients without
care, according
to the American
Medical
Association and
other doctor
groups.
The crisis has
reinvigorated
calls for
President Trump
to invoke the
Defense
Production Act
and order
American
manufacturers to
step in and
help. The
presumptive
Democratic
presidential
nominee, former
Vice President
Joseph R. Biden
Jr., said this
week that he would
use that law to
boost domestic
protection of
medical gear if
elected.
Carrier Now has
a 1500 CFM Room
Purifier for
Schools
The Carrier
OptiClean air
scrubber is
ideal for
maintaining
clean and
healthy indoor
air quality in
K-12 schools.
The 1500-cfm
unit is perfect
for larger
spaces including
libraries, gyms
or cafeterias.
"Schools and
school districts
around the
country are
making very
difficult
decisions about
how to
adequately
prepare to
reopen in the
fall while
keeping their
students and
teachers safe,"
said Chris
Nelson,
Carrier's HVAC
President. "Our
new OptiClean
technology will
provide one
piece of the
puzzle to help
protect the
health of
students and
teachers when
they return to
school. The new
units can be
plugged into a
standard wall
outlet in any
room where
students and
teachers
congregate
during the
school day to
help reduce
contaminants
like the
coronavirus,
improve indoor
air quality, and
slow the spread
of disease." |