Betting on freshness and health
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Air conditioners are going hi-tech this summer with Samsung, Panasonic and Sharp setting the pace. The end goal is to keep freshness in the air and cut down people’s vulnerability to air-borne diseases through their new technology based on plasma ions.
How does it work?
While Sharp calls its air purification technology as ‘Plasma Cluster Ion Generators’, Samsung christened it ‘Virus Doctor’ and Panasonic has named it ‘Adv-anced E-Ion Air Purification System’. Though each company labels the purification system differently, all of them use the same plasma ion technology.
A plasma discharge generates positive ions (hydrogen) and negative ions (oxygen) from water vapour in the air. These ions cluster around micro-particles and surround harmful substances such as airborne viruses and allergens. The ions are then transformed into OH radicals, which later bind with hydrogen to form water vapour.
This system, a Sharp official claims, generates the ions in a concentration, which is found in a forest, where the air is pure and fresh. Apart from removing bad odour, these companies claim, ions can inactivate mold, fungi, and allergens and airborne viral infections. The device also supposedly protects the skin by neutralising OH radicals which causes the ageing of skin.
Dust filter
Apart from rendering inactive harmful viruses and microbes, the companies also claim to have provided in-built dust filters which can remove dust, prevent morning allergy, and offer a great aid for asthma patients. With India housing around one-third of the world’s asthma patients, this feature seems to be quite appealing for white goods companies.
However, the dust filter may not be as effective as the companies claim because of the inherent limitations of the machine in filtering all the air in the room, says a senior official with one of these white goods companies.
Apart from the demand from households, the companies are likely to focus more on the demand from offices and places with a very high density of people like malls and airports, where susceptibility of people getting infected with viruses is relatively high.
Other devices
Ahead of others, Sharp is planning to expand the use of this technology to other equipment such as refrigerators, dish washers, humidifiers, etc. Currently, it is also offering the Plasma Cluster Ion Generator as a stand-alone product. Samsung on the hand is reportedly in talks with global car makers for developing a product for high-end cars.
End game
Though the ‘live healthy’ concept sells more than anything, the jury is out on whether the companies will be able cash in on the fear psychosis.
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