Coway R&D Genius Spotlight #3: Airmega
Meet genius Hyun Jin Hong, Senior Research Engineer on the Coway AirCare Development Team. Together with the rest of his team, Hong leads the development of Airmega products that will ship out to create healthier homes worldwide.
Innovating Air Purification
“We breathe every second for 24 hours every day to live. But the air we breathe has dust, various harmful gasses, VOCs, pollen, pet hair, viruses, and other invisible particles,” says Hong. “The smaller the particle, the more chances of breathing that into our bodies. Air purifiers will help collect those and give us clean air and protect us from harm.”
When asked about the creation of Airmega, Hong said the sources of inspiration were all around. “Even 10 years ago, many air purifiers had different designs by one single suction structure. Over time, it seems everyday tasks and the products would go hand in hand together. For example, wouldn't be more intuitive to show quality numerically but also in color? Or how about installing it on walls or ceilings in public facilities besides the home? All these ideas helped lead to the creation of the product,” Hong said.
“When developing a product, unexpected issues come and go without warning,” Hong added. “However, despite obstacles and setbacks, we are a company that strives to do our best in a never-ending effort to provide quality products to consumers.”
His partner, Hyun Kuk Choi, added, “The most important feature is to provide clean air in the shortest amount of time. However, it is not only the performance but also the design that is appealing to consumer interest.”
A Network of Capture Technologies
The Coway filter system removes 99.999%1 of particles as small as 0.01 micron. Our Max2 filter has both the Green True HEPA™ filter and an activated carbon deodourization filter. Not only does the Green True HEPA™ filter capture the virus, but also destroys it.
“The Green True HEPA™ filter technology is unique only for Coway by applying a green anti-bacterial surface to stop viruses from going through,” explains Hong. “After some time passes, viruses like the H1N1, influenza, or MERS-CoV are collected in that filter and are inactivated. This was achieved due to the collaboration with leading universities through proven experiments.”
Although in general other HEPA filters alone are expected to trap 99.97%2 of particles 0.3 microns in size, some particles will inevitably get through. Airmega’s Max2 filters include an activated carbon filter that uses small pores to capture the chemicals, odours, and smoke that a standalone HEPA filter might not catch.
Instead of a corner, Hong recommends placing your purifier in the middle of the room to evenly distribute air. “We also recommend regular maintenance on filters to keep them running at top performance. Coway products have features that will let you know if filters need to be changed.”
Watch this video to learn more about how certain Airmegas can capture and remove over 99.98%3 of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Viruses.
To learn more about Airmega and shop for a purifier of your own, visit cowaymega.ca/airmega.
1Coway air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing. They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2018 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum fan speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers. Tested with Coway Airmega 150, AP-1216L, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 200M, 250S, 250, 300, 300S, 400, 400S.
2Source: EPA
3Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with Coway Airmega air purifier models, Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes, and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Results showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This results from a laboratory experiment condition and may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. The Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and have equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.
Disclaimers
1 Airmega air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander in the air based on KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing. They have been tested according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers. Tested with Airmega Aim, 50, 100, 150, Tower AP-1216L, Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, 230, 240, 250, 250S, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
2Our HEPA filter complies with IEST-RP-CC007 standards at speed level 1 as tested by SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance). SGS's test report only reflects SGS's evaluation of the sample and does not reflect the evaluation of the batch of goods from which the sample was taken. Tested with Airmega 100, 150, 160, Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 200M, 230, 240, 250, 250S, 250 Art, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
3 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to JEM 1467: 2015 condition, the concentration of acetic acid was proven to be reduced up to 99.5% in 60 minutes. Results may vary depending on actual environment. Tested with Airmega 150, Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
4 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022, showed result of over 99.5% removal rate of common household gases including Ammonia, Acetaldehyde, Acetic acid, Formaldehyde, Toluene, Benzene, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) within 30 minutes. Results may vary in different environments and not all odors or gas particles may be removed. Tested with Airmega MightyS AP-1512HHS, 250S, 300S, 400S, 350, 450
5 Test conducted using Coway Allergen filter media (5×5 cm) placed in a polyethylene bag. The allergen solution and sample were immersed in 2 mL of phosphate buffer (100 ng/mL) prior to the reaction and heat-sealed to specimen size. The reaction was maintained at 4°C for 24 hours. Nichinichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. conducted the test using ELISA to measure allergen concentration. Results may vary in actual product usage environments. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
6 Removal rates of Ammonia (NH₃) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) were tested in a 1 m³ chamber under EL608:2023 conditions for 30 minutes. Gas Detector Tubes were used for measurement, and testing was conducted by KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories). Results may vary in actual product usage environments. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
7 Reduction rates of Naphthalene, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide were tested using the Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH in 1㎥ chamber, following JEM-1467:2015 standards. Tests were conducted by Intertek. Actual performance may vary depending on the living environment. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
9 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022. The test was conducted with Methyl mercaptan, Isovaleraldehyde, Isovaleric acid in a 1.0±0.1 m³ chamber with a test time of 60 minutes at (24±4)°C and (46±10)% Relative Humidity. A removal ratio of over 99.5% was achieved. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
10 Tested by the Guangzhou Institute of Microbiology, exposed the filter media to protein solutions for 24 hours under ISO 4333-2022 standard. The results showed strong reduction performance: >99.79% for pollen, >99.60% for dog allergen, >99.90% for cat allergen, and >99.80% for dust mites matter allergen. Actual results may vary depending on room size, airflow, and pollutant levels. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
11 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022. The test was conducted in a 1.0±0.1 m³ chamber for 60 minutes at (24±4)°C and (46±10)% Relative Humidity. A removal ratio of >99.5% was achieved for Formaldehyde and Toluene in 60 minutes. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
12 Tested by Intertek. The evaluation was conducted against designated test materials: Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Naphthalene. The test was performed in a sealed 1.0×1.0×1.0 m (1.0 m³) odor chamber at a test room temperature of (23±2)°C (measured between 23.6∼23.9°C) and a test room humidity of (45±5)% R.H. (measured between 40∼48)% Relative Humidity. It met the odor removal rate of ≥99.9% for Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Naphthalene. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
