AirAngel: A Novel Forced Air Breathing Mask

越来越多的人戴上口罩，以防止空气中的病原体和污染。这些装置的工作原理是，当佩戴者吸入空气时，过滤周围的空气，通常会去除大约95%的水滴和直径大于5微米(百万分之一米)的颗粒。像新冠肺炎这样的冠状病毒只有0.3微米，只有当附着在更大的颗粒上时，才能阻止病毒进入佩戴者的鼻子和口腔系统。幸运的是，通常情况下，这种情况是由感染者产生的。牛津动力公司，一家位于牛津郡的初创公司，正在开发一种可穿戴的个人空气净化装置，被称为“空气2”。USB可充电设计旨在提供针对空气中颗粒物和病原体的卓越保护，以及中和与密集城市环境中的污染相关的气体的能力，如NOx、SOx和PAHs。Air2目前处于概念阶段，目前有许多关键元素正在进行设计和原型制作。该项目的资金将有助于加速该产品的开发，使其走向商业发布。在英国国际贸易部(DIT)的支持下，印度已经表达了海外的兴趣，并正在进行初步的谈判。所有的产品开发和产品认证都在英国进行，预计将在英国和印度进行制造。IMPACT的延期IMPACT将能够生产出更高质量、更高TRL的预生产原型，可以作为营销和促销活动的资产。例如，目前的3D打印塑料材料将被拉丝铝取代，用于空气处理装置(APU)主体。前期制作单位还将用于补充牛津动力公司在印度的活动。延长Impact资助期还将允许试生产单位接受正式的EMC合规测试(在英国)，以确保符合适当的电气安全和排放标准，以获得所需的CE标志。

Face masks are increasingly being worn to protect from airborne pathogens and pollution. These work by filtering the ambient air when the wearer breathes in, typically removing around 95% of moisture droplets and particles greater than 5 microns (millionths of a meter) in diameter. Coronaviruses, such as Covid-19, are as small as 0.3 microns, and can only be stopped from entering the wearer's nasal and oral system when attached to a larger particle. Fortunately, this is generally the case when the moisture droplets are generated by an infected person.Oxford Dynamics, an Oxfordshire based start-up, is developing a wearable, personal air purification unit, known as “Air2”. The USB rechargeable design aims to offer superior protection against airborne particulates and pathogens, as well as the ability to neutralize gases associated with pollution in dense urban environments such as NOx, SOx and PAHs. Air2 exists at a concept stage with a number of key elements currently undergoing design and prototyping. Funding for this project will help accelerate the development of the product towards commercial release.Overseas interest from India, home to 22 of the world's 30 most polluted cities, has been expressed and nascent talks are underway, supported by the UK's Department for International Trade (DIT).All product development and product accreditation with take place in the UK, with manufacturing expected to take place both in the UK and India.EXTENTION FOR IMPACTThe Extension for Impact grant will enable the production of a higher quality, higher TRL pre-production prototype that can be used as an asset for marketing and promotional activity. Current 3D printed plastic materials will be replaced by brushed aluminum for the Air Processing Unit (APU) body, for example. The pre-production unit would also be used to complement the activity of Oxford Dynamics in India. The Extension for Impact grant would also permit the pre-production unit to undergo formal EMC compliance testing (in the UK) to ensure compliance to the appropriate electrical safety and emissions standards in order to obtain the required CE Mark.