Xi’an, China, implemented a smog control tower prototype in 2018 to help
reduce air pollution. This structure, known as the “Xian Smog Tower,” is
reported to be the world's largest air purifier, reaching a height of about
60 meters (197 feet). The tower was developed by researchers from the
Chinese Academy of Sciences and uses solar-powered air purifying
technology to improve air quality.
### Key Features
1. **Functionality**: The tower filters air by drawing polluted air into a
series of greenhouses at the base, where it is heated by solar energy. This
warm air rises through the tower and passes through multiple cleaning
filters to remove fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), which are
common in smog.
2. **Purification Area**: It is reported that the tower can purify air over a
10 square kilometer area, significantly reducing smog levels in the vicinity.
3. **Effectiveness**: During testing, it was estimated that the smog tower
could reduce PM2.5 levels by around 15% in areas close to the tower,
although results may vary depending on weather conditions and pollutant
concentration.
4. **Sustainability**: The system is solar-powered, making it a more
environmentally friendly approach to air purification compared to other
methods.
### Challenges
Despite its promise, the Xi’an Smog Tower has faced skepticism regarding
its effectiveness on a larger scale. Critics argue that while it may improve
air quality locally, smog in cities like Xi’an, Beijing, and others requires
broader measures, such as reducing emissions from industry, traffic, and
coal-based energy.
This prototype served as a pilot project, with the aim to test the viability of
smog towers as a part of China’s broader air quality initiatives.
While I can share additional details on the Xi’an smog control tower’s
general design and operation, unfortunately, shop drawings are not
publicly available, as they are typically proprietary documents created by
the designers or contractors involved in a
Structure and working principles:
### Design and Structure
1. **Height and Scale**: The tower stands approximately 60 meters (197
feet) tall, which helps increase the range of its air purification. The
surrounding area includes greenhouses, which are fundamental to its
functioning.
2. **Greenhouse System**: The base of the tower comprises a series of
glass greenhouses spread over a large area. This greenhouse setup
captures solar energy, warming the polluted air drawn into these
enclosures.
3. **Airflow Mechanism**:
- **Air Intake**: Polluted air enters the greenhouse enclosures. As the
sun heats the air within these greenhouses, it begins to rise naturally.
- **Filtration and Purification**: As the warmed air rises, it passes
through the tower's central filtration system. These filters primarily target
PM2.5 and PM10 particles, both of which are significant contributors to
smog. The filters capture these particulates, purifying the air.
4. **Release of Cleaned Air**: The purified air is then released from the
top of the tower, where it disperses and improves air quality in the
surrounding area.
5. **Power Source**: The tower is solar-powered, reducing its reliance on
non-renewable energy sources. Solar energy not only powers the airflow
and purification system but also contributes to warming the air within the
greenhouses, creating a continuous upward airflow.
### Performance and Outcomes
The Xi’an tower reportedly reduces PM2.5 levels by up to 15% locally,
covering a 10 square kilometer area, though this effectiveness varies
based on external factors. The tower can purify approximately 10 million
cubic meters of air per day under optimal conditions, which is significant
but still a localized solution.
### Shop Drawing Insights
While direct access to shop drawings is restricted, the general structure
would likely include:
- **Foundation Plans**: Stable foundations to support a 60-meter tower,
factoring in both height and airflow requirements.
- **Greenhouse Detailing**: Structural and glazing details for the
greenhouse enclosures at the base, designed to optimize heat capture.
- **Filtration System Layout**: Specifics on air filters, including
placement within the tower, maintenance access, and replacement
mechanisms.
- **Ventilation and Airflow Design**: Cross-sectional and elevation
details illustrating how air is drawn in, heated, filtered, and released.
The Xi’an Smog Tower was a pilot project primarily led by **researchers
from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)**, specifically under the
direction of **Professor Cao Junji** from the Institute of Earth
Environment, CAS. Professor Cao’s team spearheaded the research,
design, and testing of the tower as a large-scale air purification
experiment. Here’s a breakdown of the key roles involved:
### Key Players
1. **Research and Development Team**:
- **Lead Researcher**: Professor Cao Junji, Institute of Earth
Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
- **Research Institution**: The Chinese Academy of Sciences, one of
China’s most prominent scientific institutions, played a central role in
developing and testing the smog tower concept. They conducted the
studies on air quality, pollution mitigation, and system design.
2. **Funding and Client**:
- **Local Government of Xi’an**: The project was supported by the
**Xi’an local government**, which funded the construction as part of
China’s broader initiatives to combat air pollution. The government’s goal
was to test new technologies to address smog and improve urban air
quality, especially in heavily polluted areas.
3. **Contractor/Builder**:
- **Unknown Specific Contractors**: Information on the specific
construction company or contractors involved in the building process has
not been widely disclosed. Generally, local construction firms or
contractors experienced in infrastructure projects in Xi’an may have been
engaged under the supervision of the CAS team.
4. **Collaborative Partners**:
- **Environmental and Engineering Consultants**: While exact names
aren’t available, it’s likely that environmental and engineering consultants
would have been involved to assess the project’s feasibility, structural
requirements, and long-term environmental impact.
- **Local Monitoring Agencies**: For testing effectiveness, local agencies
likely worked with the CAS team to monitor air quality and gauge
improvements in PM2.5 and PM10 levels.
### Additional Background
This pilot project forms part of China’s broader Clean Air Action Plan,
which includes various pollution-reducing strategies from green energy to
air purification methods. Although specific contractors and detailed
architectural partners haven’t been officially identified, for public sector
projects in China, collaborations usually include a mix of government-
backed institutes and local construction entities under the regulatory
frameworks of environmental and urban development agencies.
For precise details about the contractors or to obtain technical documents,
directly reaching out to the Institute of Earth Environment at CAS or the
Xi’an municipal government’s urban development offices may be
beneficial.
