What else can electrostatic air cleaners remove besides oil mist particles?

In commercial kitchen fume treatment, the core advantage of electrostatic air cleaners is often centered around oil mist particles, but their range of pollutant treatment is not limited to this. Based on the physical purification principle of a high-voltage electrostatic field, it can also play a role in treating other common pollutants in kitchen exhaust fumes. These can be categorized as follows:

1. Fine dust and suspended particulate matter in cooking fumes

In addition to the liquid oil mist produced by cooking, kitchen exhaust fumes also contain fine solid dust particles such as flour, spices, and food debris. Examples include flour particles raised when frying pasta or food fragments dislodged when stir-frying dried goods. Although these dust particles are small in diameter, when passing through the high-voltage electrostatic field of the electrostatic air cleaner, they are ionized and charged, just like oil mist particles, and then adsorbed by the positive dust collecting plate. The device can precisely capture suspended particulate matter with a size of 0.1-10 microns through the electric field, reducing its release into the air with the exhaust fumes, preventing dust from spreading and polluting the surrounding air environment, and reducing the cleaning pressure caused by dust accumulation in the exhaust duct.

2. Sticky impurities and condensed oil associated with some cooking fumes

During cooking, high-temperature cooking fumes cool and form condensed oil. This condensed oil often mixes with fine impurities in the air (such as dust and food fibers), forming a highly viscous mixture. If discharged directly, it can adhere to the inner walls of ducts or outdoor walls, causing pollution.

The dust collecting plates of electrostatic air cleaners not only absorb oil mist but also capture this viscous mixture.When the mixture enters the electrostatic field, it is first ionized and then absorbed by the plates along with the oil mist. Gravity then causes it to drip into the oil collection pan along with the oil mist, ultimately allowing it to be collected and processed through the oil drain pipe. This process not only reduces the environmental pollution caused by sticky impurities but also prevents them from clogging the exhaust pipe, reducing the frequency of cleaning.

3. Small amounts of non-polar volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Kitchen fumes also contain small amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by cooking ingredients (such as aldehydes and olefins released when frying or grilling meat). Although these compounds exist in gaseous form, some non-polar VOC molecules are temporarily adsorbed on the surface of the dust collecting plate due to the polarization effect of the high-voltage electrostatic field.

However, it is important to note that electrostatic air cleaners have limitations in their ability to treat VOCs:

They cannot completely decompose VOCs, but can only physically capture some molecules, and their treatment efficiency is far lower than that of oil mist particles. If the VOC concentration in kitchen exhaust fumes is high (such as in environments where grilling or heavy cooking produces heavy oil smoke), it is usually necessary to use UV photolysis, activated carbon adsorption, or other equipment for more comprehensive purification.

It's important to note that electrostatic air cleaners are still designed to target oil mist particles. Their effectiveness in treating these pollutants is affected by factors such as device model (e.g., electrostatic field strength, plate area), pollutant concentration, and exhaust air velocity. They cannot replace specialized organic waste gas treatment equipment. However, in typical commercial kitchens, their ability to treat fine dust and sticky impurities beyond oil mist can further enhance the overall effectiveness of exhaust purification, providing comprehensive foundational support for kitchen environmental management.