Can a $65 DIY box outperform expensive commercial air purifiers?
In short: During the COVID-19 pandemic, engineers developed a simple, low-cost solution to combat airborne viruses. By combining basic hardware store supplies, they created a device capable of significantly reducing respiratory aerosols, dust, and wildfire smoke in indoor spaces like classrooms and offices.
The Corsi–Rosenthal Box is a do-it-yourself air purifier designed to reduce the concentration of virus-laden aerosol particles in the air. Created by Dean of Engineering Richard L. Corsi and Jim Rosenthal, the design was a response to the need for improved indoor ventilation to mitigate COVID-19 transmission risks. While previous DIY attempts existed, this was the first to specifically target the airborne viral load in indoor settings.
The mechanism relies on a cube-shaped shell made of four or five MERV 13 filters. A 20-inch box fan is placed on top to draw air through the filter media. To ensure maximum efficiency, all seams must be sealed with duct tape so that air is forced through the filters rather than leaking around the edges. A cardboard bottom, often salvaged from the fan's packaging, completes the structure.
The device is remarkably efficient for its price point. A 2022 study found that the five-filter design can achieve a clean air delivery rate between 600 and 850 cubic feet per minute, depending on the fan speed. At an estimated cost of about $65, the box costs roughly a tenth of the price of commercial air filters and can be more effective than much more expensive HEPA units.
The design has evolved through various iterations. In October 2020, HVAC specialists Neil Comparetto and John Semmelhack altered the layout to incorporate a cardboard base and four filters, creating the Comparetto Cube.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Science in Action: How to Build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box
- Also: Corsi–Rosenthal Box
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