They can also help to remove certain industrial pollutants such as welding smoke. An ionic air cleaner works via two essential stages. First the indoor air is ionized in a wire-plate section of the purifier. Then the charged particles are attracted by static electricity and trapped in a plate-to-plate collection system (electrostatic air filtration). The first section, the air ionizer, can use either positive or negative ionization. Positive discharge is more common as it is then easier to reduce ozone generation.

You can also find just an air ionizer, a generator of negative ions in the air. Though typically sold as an indoor air purifier, the air purification is not their most import or strong feature. What matters is that they enrich the indoor air with negative ions, which have good physiological and psychological effects. There are large concentrations of negative ions near waterfalls, rivers, forests, and they help to improve physical and mental performance.

Positive ions have negative effects, especially for some more sensitive people. The symptoms may include migraine headaches, limb swelling, hart palpitations, and asthma. Positive ions can also be generated under certain weather conditions, such as dry warm dusty winds (the "Witches' Winds"), and those ions is one of the factors behind weather sensitivity of people.

An ionic air purifier can work as a stand along unit, one per room. There are also centralized whole house electrostatic air cleaners that can be installed in the heating and air condition paths. Stand alone ionic air purifiers work better in enclosed spaces, where there is not too much air flow, as otherwise the charged particles just flow with the air, rather then get trapped in the purifier. Well, if you have strong enough air flow (ventilation) you probably do not need such kind of an air purifier in the first place.

 

Ionic Air Purifiers

Ionic air purifiers (Ionizers) contain negative ion generators that charge airborne particles so they become attracted to and settle on room surfaces, effectively removing harmful particles from the air you breathe. However, room activity may stir up and release the particles back into the air. For this reason many ionic air cleaners contain electrostatic precipitators which trap particles on oppositely charged metal plates. The plates need to be cleaned periodically for optimal performance.

Ionic air purifiers are desirable because they are often very quiet or silent, they do not release chemicals into the air, are energy efficient and typically ionizers do not need replacement filters.

The history of the science of Ionizers

In 1974, the Swiss Meteorological Institute first studied problems related to seasonal winds in various regions of the earth. The Foehn that blows across Switzerland, the Sirocco in Italy, the Sharav in the Middle East, and the Mistral in southern France were determined to cause physical and mental effects ranging from headaches and depression to heart attacks.

The one common denominator in all these wind variants was the type of electrical charge of the ions in the air. A very high concentration of positive ions was found to be the culprit. Conversely, the air quality studied at the site of a waterfall, in the mountains, or after a spring rain showed significant amounts of negative ions. Further research revealed that human beings respond to negative ion levels above 1000 ions per cc.

Scientific research concluded that negatively charged ions have positive effects on living organisms. Plants grow faster and healthier, lab animals are calmed and more able to perform certain tasks, and humans respond with increased alertness and relaxation.

The PHI Cell Ionizer below used in the Vision Air Ionic Air Purifiers produces large amounts of negative ions and almost no ozone!  This is the most advanced ionic air purifier to date. 

What are Negative Ions?
Ions are nothing more than atoms or molecules that have gained or lost an electron. Ions are formed when an electron is detached from a neutral molecule (or atom). The molecule losing an electron becomes a positive ions and the molecules gaining an electron becomes a NEGATIVE ION.


How do Negative Ions and Ionic Air Purifiers Work?
Ionic Air Purifies emit a stream of negative ions. Negative ions collide with airborne molecules- which are large raft for hundreds of toxic chemical and diseases organisms. The Negative Ion gives up its negative charge to the molecule. These new negative molecules are then attracted to the positive molecules surrounding them. This accumulation process continues until the particles become heavy enough to fall to the floor. It is this process that removes the small pollutant from the air we breathe. With an Air Ionizer the air is clean, NO CIGARETTE SMOKE , NO POLLUTED AIR, NO AIRBORNE PARTICLES FLOATING AROUND.

Almost all surfaces within a room are positively charged. In addition to the accumulation, the negatively charged air particles are attracted to positively charged surfaces within the occupied space. The surface near the ionizer will darken proving its effectiveness. Be sure the surface is washable.

Negative ions aid in increased oxygen intake. Research has been conducted since the 1950's about negative ions and improvement in mood, anxiety, increased cognitive ability, increased energy, reduced depression, and improved sleep, as well as improvement in breathing and air quality. One gets the feeling of alertness and vitality, similar to the feeling we get when we are in a beautiful forest or near a crashing waterfall or breathing crisp, clean mountain air.
 

What is the difference between dust particles and gas molecules?
The optimum particle size that negative ions remove from the air is 5 microns. This size is 100,000 times larger than a gas molecule. Can you imagine how many gas molecules can attach to a dust particle? Dust particles soak up gas molecules. Gas molecules cause odors in the air. If negative ions can remove dust the attached gas molecules also are removed.
 

What is the difference between odors and gases?
Odors come from the gas molecules. If you remove the gas molecules, you remove the odor.