May 22, 2026
Report

Laboratory Testing of Portable Air Cleaner Products for Energy Efficiency and Clean Air Performance at Various Fan Settings

Abstract

This document contains the results of a product review and laboratory testing experiment of portable air cleaning devices (PACs). Thirty-four commercially available PACs were reviewed, and from those, 7 products were purchased and underwent AHAM AC-7 clean air delivery rate (CADR) testing. The following research questions were explored: 1) What is the relationship between clean air delivery rate (CADR) and energy across a range of products and what is the general decrement in CADR as a result of operating at lower fan speeds? 2) How might the multiple units at lower power compare to fewer, larger units at full power in terms of energy efficiency and total cost? 3) How do the measured CADR, power, and efficiency compare to the manufacturer specs? 4) Are there product attributes that can be identified that might contribute to better CADR/W performance?

Published: May 22, 2026

Citation

Keene K.M., A. Ormanova, J.R. Tuenge, M.K. McNulty, and G.E. Arnold. 2026. Laboratory Testing of Portable Air Cleaner Products for Energy Efficiency and Clean Air Performance at Various Fan Settings. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL-38694.