TECHNOLOGYFOR AIR QUALITY IN

URBAN ENVIRONMENTS

Company

• system(life) s.r.l. specialises in the manufacture of high-tech products for reducing atmospheric pollution and particulate matter in urban and extra-urban areas.

• Research and development work is focused on the production of the Filtering Station, a device capable of filtering enormous amounts of urban air.

• The company's headquarters and production facility are located in Camposampiero (Padova) ITALY

• The system(life) filtering station and projects are currently distributed all over the world.

Headquarters

Mission

system(life) intends to improve the quality of external air by making a technological approach.

It aims to optimise the wholesomeness of urban and suburban areas by reducing airborne particulate matter in order to protect people, the environment and monuments.

For this purpose, system(life) proposes innovative solutions for reducing the presence of fine particulate and polluting substances, decreasing the microbe count and balancing the concentration of positive and negative ions.

Benefits

• Technology

• Research and innovation

• Design

• Quality

• Flexibility

• Service and Maintenance

• Production Capacity

Patents

system(life) s.r.l. – Italian Patent “for the concept and sequence of filtration processes for outdoor air quality” N° 3.11.2006 PD A 406

system(life) s.r.l. – Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) international patent n° PCT/IT2007/000113 “for the concept and sequence of filtration processes for outdoor air quality”N° 3.11.2006 PD A 406 Additions to the PCT and filing of patents for other innovative products for outdoor areas, covered car parks, metro and railway stations are currently being made.

The basic concept behind all the products involves a patented method for:• eliminating particulate pollution• reducing the active microbe count• contributing towards creating a wholesome and comfortable environment

Know-How

• system(life) s.r.l, a technological leader in cleaning outdoorair, is essentially an engineering company whose objective is to implement innovation and a technological approach towards marketing products capable of providing answers to environmental issues connected with air quality.

• The technology used to filter outdoor air is the outcome of close collaboration with primary companies specialised in the development of electrostatic filters. The company also works with professors from leading Italian universities

• To consolidate the scientific nature of its initiatives, system(life) s.r.l. has established a Scientific Committee comprising professors from the universities of Rome, Naples, Ferrara and Padova.

The Filtering Station

The system(life) Filtering Station is a specific innovative project for cleaning the air in built-up areas.

The Filtering Station comprises the following elements:• a high-tech filtering system with which the filtering station continuously intakes the polluted air, captures particles of dust, polluting substances and smells, and returns clean air to the atmosphere.

• an automatic management system known as "Climate Box", which controls the filtering system and is able to calibrate operation in relation to the real external conditions of the air and, therefore, according to weather conditions.

• an air quality monitoring system which makes it possible to detect the presence of other pollutants.

The Filtering System The Filtering System The Filtering Station comprises four complementary filtering The Filtering Station comprises four complementary filtering stages:stages:

1 The first comprises wide mesh F3 fabric filters which capture 1 The first comprises wide mesh F3 fabric filters which capture coarser particles, thus simplifying the subsequent filtering coarser particles, thus simplifying the subsequent filtering operations; operations;

2 The second stage uses narrow mesh F7 fabric filters which 2 The second stage uses narrow mesh F7 fabric filters which are designed to capture particles as small as 0.2 microns, are designed to capture particles as small as 0.2 microns, the so-called fine particulate; the so-called fine particulate;

3 the third filtering process features woven metal mesh filters 3 the third filtering process features woven metal mesh filters which optimise the air flow. The filters capture impurities which optimise the air flow. The filters capture impurities whilst optimising the air flow so that lamellar flow is totall whilst optimising the air flow so that lamellar flow is totall absent from the air leaving the unit (absent from the air leaving the unit (abatement of harmful abatement of harmful gases with titanium dioxide (TiOgases with titanium dioxide (TiO22): nitrogen oxides, sulphur ): nitrogen oxides, sulphur

oxides, benzenes, formaldehyde, ethylbenzene, oxides, benzenes, formaldehyde, ethylbenzene, acetaldehyde, toluene, ethanol, methanol, m-xyleneacetaldehyde, toluene, ethanol, methanol, m-xylene););

4 The last high-tech filtering system comprises an electrostatic 4 The last high-tech filtering system comprises an electrostatic filter capable of capturing over 95% of pollutants, including filter capable of capturing over 95% of pollutants, including those with diameters as small as 0.001 microns. In this those with diameters as small as 0.001 microns. In this phase, the airflow is subject to electric discharges which phase, the airflow is subject to electric discharges which electrically charge the polluting particles which are electrically charge the polluting particles which are subsequently captured by a collector which is also subsequently captured by a collector which is also electrically charged.electrically charged.

The Filtering System

Optimisation technologies

• The efficiency of the electrostatic cells is guaranteed by a microprocessor known as the AFC System which automatically adapts filtration levels to specific operating conditions, guaranteeing excellent long-term performance and minimum external work.

• The information is managed from a control panel which, making use of probes, can modify the conditions of use at any time.

The presence of any system failures means that the electrostatic cells require cleaning.

• Before being expelled, the air is electrically charged in order to generate a large quantity of negative ions. This system has the advantage of reducing the air near reducing the air near the outlets.the outlets.

A possible solutionA possible solution

PERFORMANCE DATA

Quantity of cleaned air

10,000 m3/h

Area involved in relation to themorphology ofthe territory

Filtering performance with 4 subsequent filtration stages

> 95 %

Diameter of filtered particulate

≥0.001 μm

Overall dimensions

450 x 160 x 375 cm

Rated power input

5 kW

Services

• system(life) assists customers as regards the

choice of location of the Filtering Station during the feasibility study phase, installation and start-up.

• It provides all the information required to optimise the efficiency of the station, it organises and produces the documentation for all administrative requirements.

• It guarantees the quality of the Filtering Station,

the components of which are tested during each production phase.

• It provides a “full service” assistance and maintenance service which eliminates all after-sales costs for customers.

The installation of the Filtering Station in a town or The installation of the Filtering Station in a town or city must consider the complexity of the area it is city must consider the complexity of the area it is installed in. installed in.

For this reason, system(life) has developed For this reason, system(life) has developed simulations which give different results depending simulations which give different results depending on the typology of the buildings, the presence of on the typology of the buildings, the presence of sources of particulate matter and the various sources of particulate matter and the various currents of air in the specific experimental area.currents of air in the specific experimental area.

To develop personalised solutions, system(life) To develop personalised solutions, system(life) performs an analysis based on: the local performs an analysis based on: the local planimetry, precise weather and morphological planimetry, precise weather and morphological data and knowledge of the activities present in the data and knowledge of the activities present in the area (e.g.: factories). area (e.g.: factories).

A targeted choice

What is fine particulate matter

In towns and cities, atmospheric pollution mainly comprises fine particulate matter, that is, a mixture of solid and liquid particles with a specific characteristic of having very small dimensions.

The main source of fine particulate matter is the combustion of fuel for industrial or transport purposes. Its composition is very varied and it can bond with chemical compounds such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon combustion residues.

The most insidious particulates are those with diameters of less than 10 microns, commonly known as PM10 (Particulate Matter), as they can penetrate more deeply into the respiratory tract and reach the lungs where they deposit harmful substances.

Fine particulate matter is present in the atmosphere Fine particulate matter is present in the atmosphere in two forms in two forms primary particulate primary particulate present in the air as a result of combustion present in the air as a result of combustion phenomena phenomena

secondary particulatesecondary particulate formed from gases such as Sulphur Dioxide formed from gases such as Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Ammonium (NH3)(SO2), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Ammonium (NH3)

The CAFE ““CLEAN AIR FOR EUROPE”CLEAN AIR FOR EUROPE” European European Programme 2001 lies at the heart of all the policies Programme 2001 lies at the heart of all the policies and strategies adopted for the reduction of and strategies adopted for the reduction of atmospheric pollution.atmospheric pollution.

The financial participation of the European Union in the The financial participation of the European Union in the international programmes is often influenced by the international programmes is often influenced by the observance of the concepts contained in the “CAFE” observance of the concepts contained in the “CAFE” programme. programme.

European Parliament Directive of 2007.10.12 European Parliament Directive of 2007.10.12 establishes future objectives together with the World establishes future objectives together with the World Health Organisation:Health Organisation:objectives for 2015 ……..objectives for 2015 …….. PM10 50/40 μg/m PM10 50/40 μg/m33 limit limitobjectives for 2015 ……..objectives for 2015 …….. PM 2.5 20 μg/mPM 2.5 20 μg/m33 limit limitannual limits for 2010......annual limits for 2010...... 20 μg/m 20 μg/m33 current annual limits …... current annual limits …... 40 μg/m 40 μg/m33

European Programmes

The main problems of fine particulate:The main problems of fine particulate:

Health Emergency Health Emergency

Environmental Environmental EmergencyEmergency

Monumental Monumental EmergencyEmergency

OverviewOverview

The image illustrates the capacity of fine particulate matter to penetrate the lungs

Health emergencyHealth emergency

EFFECTS OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

Health data

WHO

100,000 units

Increase in pollution-derived hospital cases in Europe (WHO)

400,000 units

Deaths attributed to atmospheric pollution in Europe (WHO)

8,220 units

Deaths in Italy caused by pollution (WHO)

Children's health data

5,537 units

Annual increase in cases of bronchial asthma in children

10% Children aged from 0 to 14 years suffer from allergies and respiratory problems

5,000,000 units

Children who die in the world for environmental causes

6,700 m³g

Quantity of carbon monoxide inhaled by a child in a pushchair during a one-hour walk

Economic data

28 billion Social costs of pollution-related illnesses in Italy

Environmental emergencyEnvironmental emergency

Fine particulate and other pollutants cause serious environmental damage which affects the quality of life of citizens.

Fine particulate matter is the main cause of smog in large cities

Phenomena such as acid rain, caused by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, cause considerable damage to forests and crops.

Monumental emergencyMonumental emergency

Marble and other construction materials used in the most important city monuments are routinely damaged by the presence of air-borne pollutants.

The particulate deposits on the stone and blackens the façades of buildings and other monuments, making continual cleaning and restoration work necessary

Additionally, chemical substances aggregated with PM10 can corrode the stone until the damage becomes irreversible.