
2 February 2023
Sound quality test of air cleaners
It is well known that noise in the home environment is an important issue, and requirements and marketing of products often refer to the product's sound power, which must be documented. An example of this aspect is visible in the marketing of so-called air purifiers.
The newspaper Villalivet recently published a test of the seven best-selling air purifiers on the Swedish market. The result was that an air purifier from the Luleå company OzoneAir was recognized as the best. This is a product where researchers from the subject of engineering acoustics at Luleå University of Technology have been involved as advisors on how to create a quiet product with good sound quality. The test covered the purification capacity, the noise level and the total price for purchase and use, which are considered to be the qualities that are valued the most. Since air purifiers are constantly running in offices and homes, where people stay there, low noise levels are a prerequisite for rest, concentration and well-being.
"The least disturbing are the air cleaners that have a low sound level with a neutral character, without elements of tones," says Örjan Johansson, professor in Engineering Acoustics at Luleå University of Technology.
All of the tested air purifiers use filters of the hepa, carbon or combo filter types. The air is cleaned when the fan forces the air through the filter. Thus, the cleaning effect is dependent on the fan's speed and noise level. But the Ozoneair Purify air purifier has an additional self-patented purification technology, parallel to the HEPA filter, which makes its purification effect less dependent on the fan speed.
Since 2022, the research subject engineering acoustics is involved in Precision Health, one of three future areas at Luleå University of Technology. Within the framework of that project, a question concerns how sound affects individuals with neuropsychiatric impairment. There are also other research projects going on that deal with the sound environment in the home and work environment. A common denominator for many disturbing sounds is their uneven frequency spectrum. Disturbing sounds often have a tone-rich character with single tones appearing clearly. A common character for sounds perceived as pleasant is a neutral noise character with a low level and no audible tones. This is reflected to some extent in the requirements for our bedroom environment, where the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning prescribe a noise level of less than 30 dBA at night.
- Air purifier test 2023: Best in test
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Villalivet Magazine
Engineering acoustics at Luleå University of Technology has been researching sound quality since the mid-90s, which relates product sound with a sound character that is adapted to a specific situation, activity and location.
Contact
Örjan Johansson
- Professor and Head of Subject
- 0920-491386
- orjan.johansson@ltu.se
- Örjan Johansson
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