WAYU: Air pollution control device inaugurated in New Delhi

Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Environment Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated air pollution control device WAYU (Wind Augmentation PurifYing Unit) for traffic junctions at ITO intersection and Mukarba Chowk in New Delhi. The device aims at tackling toxicity in air by sucking in particulate matter and release fresh air

WAYU (Wind Augmentation PurifYing Unit)

It has been indigenously developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) as part of Technology Development Project being funded by Department of Science and Technology. Its prototype has capacity to purify air in area of 500 meter square. It consumes only half unit of electricity for 10 hours of running and has maintenance cost of only Rs. 1500 per month.
Working: The device works on two principles mainly wind generation for dilution of air pollutants and active pollutants removal. It has filters for particulate matter (PM) removal and activated carbon (charcoal) and UV lamps for poisonous gases removal such as Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and Carbon Monoxide. It has one fan and filter for sucking and removing PM. It also has two UV lamps and half kg of activated carbon charcoal coated with special chemical Titanium Dioxide.
Bigger version: CSIR-NEERI is in the process of developing bigger version of WAYU which can purify air in area of 10,000 meter square. It will also make designs of future WAYU devices better in aesthetics and can be deployed in bus shelters etc.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2018