1. The Historical Development of Air Cleanliness Technology
Traditional air conditioning systems could only regulate air temperature, humidity, and airflow speed (collectively termed “three-degree control”). With technological advancements and rising living standards, demands for production and living environments have increased significantly, driving the evolution of air conditioning technology. Modern systems now extend beyond temperature, humidity, and airflow control to manage air cleanliness, pressure, composition, and odor. This expansion has catalyzed the rapid development of air cleanliness technology.
2.Origins of Air Cleanliness Technology
This technology first emerged in developed nations:
- 1920s: The U.S. aviation industry, while manufacturing gyroscopes, pioneered the concept of controlling dust particle contamination in production environments. A missile company discovered that in standard workshops, producing 10 gyroscopes required an average of 120 rework attempts, but in dust-controlled environments, rework dropped to just 2 instances.
- Korean War (1950–1953): The U.S. military found that 84% of electronic equipment failures were caused by dust, spurring the invention of high-efficiency air filters . This technology was later applied to aerospace (e.g., precision component production for the Apollo Moon landing program) and maritime industries, leading to advancements like laminar flow technology and Class 100 cleanrooms (ultra-clean rooms with ≤100 particles per cubic foot).
- Same Era: The UK and Japan adopted cleanrooms for gyroscope and semiconductor production, while the Soviet Union designed “sealed factory buildings.”
- Industrial Validation: Cleanroom technology proved to enhance material purity, product precision, equipment longevity, and production efficiency. Coupled with international technological competition, these benefits accelerated its global adoption.
Breakthrough in Microbial Control:
- 1960s: Scientists discovered that microbial concentrations in industrial cleanrooms were far lower than in ordinary environments. Research confirmed that bacteria and viruses spread by attaching to dust particles, meaning dust control inherently enabled microbial control.
- Early 1970s: Based on this principle, bio-cleanrooms dedicated to microbial control were developed.
China’s Development Timeline:
- Late 1950s: Initial research and applications began, primarily in military sectors.
- Mid-1980s: The technology entered the pharmaceutical industry, accelerating after the implementation of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification.
- Recent Applications: China has constructed extensive bio-cleanrooms for pharmaceuticals, biologics, food, cosmetics, hospitals (clean operating rooms, PCR laboratories, and biotherapy labs), significantly improving surgical success rates and medical research capabilities.
