Brussels, 26th of April 2022 – Daikin Industries, Ltd., mother company of Daikin Europe N.V., and Osaka University’s Research Institute for Microbial Diseases [1] have tested and confirmed the effectiveness of the Flash Streamer technology against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants [2].
· The research confirmed that the Flash Streamer technology inactivates more than 99.9% of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Omicron variants, and 99.8% of the Delta variant after 4 hours of exposure to Streamer discharge compared to without Streamer.
· This means the Flash Streamer technology can be used to improve indoor air quality when the air is contaminated with these respiratory viruses.
As a specialist in indoor air quality management, Daikin sees it as its mission to create comfortable and sustainable interior environments. Daikin not only develops new technologies, but also continuously verifies the effectiveness of its technologies and their importance for solving societal challenges such as today’s pandemic.
Daikin’s unique air purification Flash Streamer technology was developed in 2004 and since then Daikin has conducted tests on its effectiveness with many public research institutes around the world. Following these tests, it has been confirmed that the Flash Streamer technology inactivates over 60 types of harmful substances, such as bacteria, allergens and viruses, including the influenza virus, RSV and mouse noroviruses. In July 2020, the inactivation effect against the SARS-CoV-2 strain isolated in the early stages of the pandemic has also been confirmed.
Osaka University, which Daikin commissioned to test the effectiveness of the Flash Streamer technology against variants of the SARS-CoV-2, prove that the Flash Streamer technology inactivates the Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Omicron variants.
Takashi Namikawa, Senior Engineer of Daikin’s Technology and Innovation Center for this project, says: “I am delighted that Daikin's unique air purification Flash Streamer technology, has been proven effective in inactivating coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) variants, including the Omicron variant. It shows that the Flash Streamer technology has the potential to be applied to solve societal issues such as the quality of indoor air in schools or offices. This is very significant for Daikin and for society”.
Experimental Results
Irradiation with Streamer discharge for 4 hours inactivated more than 99.9% of the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Omicron variants and 99.8% of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, compared to without Streamer discharge.
-variants/_jcr_content/root/main_container/content_container/simple_container/one_column_content_b/column-container-1/image_cc80.coreimg.jpeg/1665287529613/par-one-column-content-b-column0-colpar-image-cc80.jpeg)
Explanatory video
This video explains the main features and characteristics of Daikin patented Flash Streamer technology, the evaluation method and the test results.
To watch the video click here: Daikin Streamer Technology, Inactivation of Coronavirus, Omicron and Other Strains [DAIKIN]
Evaluation method
In the verification test, hCoV-19/Japan/QHN002/2020 strain (Alpha variant), hCoV-19/South Africa/KRISP-EC-K005321/2020 strain (Beta variant), hCoV-19/Japan/TY7-503/2021 strain (Gamma variant), hCoV-19/USA/PHC658/2021 strain (Delta variant) and hCoV-19/Japan/ TY38-873/2021 strain (Omicron variant) were used. Two acrylic boxes of about 31 litres were prepared, and a Streamer discharge device was installed in one of the boxes. Six-well plate with 0.5 ml/well of virus solution were placed on Seesaw shaker in both boxes. Streamer irradiation was performed with shaking. After 1, 2, and 4 hours, the virus solution was collected, and the virus titer was measured by TCID50 using Vero E6/TMPRSS2 cells.
-variants/_jcr_content/root/main_container/content_container/simple_container/one_column_content_b/column-container-1/textimage_a9ec/image.coreimg.jpeg/1651306602953/omicron-variant.jpeg)
Flash Streamer technology
The Flash Streamer technology is a technology that uses Streamer discharge, which Daikin developed in 2004, to perform oxidative decomposition of harmful substances. It is a type of plasma discharge featuring an innovative air purification technology that stably generates high-speed electrons. When combined with air components, these high-speed electrons have a capability for powerful oxidative decomposition, and this capability enables Streamer discharge to continuously remove odors, bacteria and indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde.
The mechanisms of the Flash Streamer technology and the test results are also introduced in our website: DAIKIN Streamer Research Institute
Types of viruses that have been tested so far
-variants/_jcr_content/root/main_container/content_container/simple_container/one_column_content_b/column-container-1/textimage_43d4/image.coreimg.jpeg/1651306602862/streamer-discharge-table.jpeg)
In addition to above viruses, the effectiveness against 7 types of bacteria such as Legionella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 30 types of allergens such as cedar pollen and Dermatophagoides farinae (excrement/carcass), and 19 types of harmful chemical substances have been verified by public institutions.
[1] The test is conducted by Professor Tatsuo Shioda and Assistant Professor Tadahiro Sasaki for the Department of Virus Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University.
[2] The test described herein only concerns the patented Flash Streamer technology. The effects of products equipped with the Flash Streamer technology or the effects in actual use environment may differ. For more information on the Daikin products incorporating the Flash Streamer technology, please refer to the relevant product information.
Every year in May we will provide an update of this text.
About Daikin
Daikin Europe N.V.
Daikin Europe is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. and the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification and refrigeration solutions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company designs, manufactures and brings to market a broad portfolio of equipment, as well as tailor-made solutions for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. To date Daikin Europe has over 12,000 employees working at more than 59 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 12 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria and the UK. The headquarters of the Daikin Europe group are in Belgium, Ostend. The company was established in 1972, production in Europe started in 1973.
About Daikin Industries Ltd.
Based in Osaka, Japan, Daikin Industries employs over 89,000 people worldwide. The global company is market leader for heat pump and air conditioning systems, as well as air filtration. It is the only air conditioning manufacturer in the world that researches, develops and produces all important system components, such as refrigerants, compressors and electronics, in-house. The company achieved € 23.7 billion sales turnover in financial year 2021 (1 April 21 – 31 March 22).
Media Contacts Daikin Europe N.V.
Sofie Sap – T.: +32 472 580 482 Mail: sap.s@daikineurope.com
Daisuke Kakinaga – T.: +32 465 462 321 Mail: kakinaga.d@bxl.daikineurope.com