AirAngel: A Novel Forced Air Breathing Mask

人们越来越多地戴口罩，以防止空气传播的病原体和污染。当佩戴者吸入空气时，其工作原理是过滤周围的空气，通常可以去除约95%的直径大于5微米（百万分之一米）的水滴和颗粒。冠状病毒，如Covid-19，只有0.3微米小，只有附着在更大的颗粒上才能阻止其进入佩戴者的鼻腔和口腔系统。幸运的是，这种情况通常是由受感染的人产生的。位于牛津郡的初创企业牛津动力公司（Oxford Dynamics）正在开发一种可穿戴的个人空气净化设备，名为“Air2”。USB充电设计的目的是提供卓越的保护，防止空气中的颗粒物和病原体，以及中和在密集的城市环境中与污染有关的气体，如氮氧化物，硫氧化物和多环芳烃。Air2目前还处于概念阶段，许多关键部件正在进行设计和原型制作。为这个项目提供的资金将有助于加速产品向商业发布的发展。在全球30个污染最严重的城市中，有22个来自印度。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，初步的谈判正在进行中。所有产品开发和产品认证将在英国进行，生产预计将在英国和印度进行。影响扩展影响扩展赠款将用于生产更高质量、更高TRL的预生产原型，该原型可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，用于空气处理单元（APU）的车身。预生产单位也将用于补充牛津动力公司在印度的活动。影响延期拨款还将允许预生产单元进行正式的EMC合规性测试（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.