Selecting the Right Battery for Modern Air Filtration Devices — A Practical Guide for Engineering Teams

Selecting the Right Battery for Modern Air Filtration Devices — A Practical Guide for Engineering Teams

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Selecting the Right Battery for Modern Air Filtration Devices — A Practical Guide for Engineering Teams

A practical battery selection guide for portable, desktop, and smart air filtration devices, helping engineering and R&D teams balance runtime, safety, cost, and structure.

Author: Miah (PKNERGY)
Updated: November 26, 2025
Tags: Lithium Battery, Air Filtration, LiPo Battery, Custom Battery Pack

Whether you’re developing a portable air purifier, a mini air filter for personal use, or a compact USB-powered desktop
filtration device, the battery is one of the most important components influencing performance, runtime, user experience,
and safety. As air filtration products continue evolving toward mobility, low-noise operation, and smart sensing, choosing
the right battery chemistry and configuration early in the design phase is essential to avoid structural conflicts,
insufficient runtime, or compliance challenges.

At PKNERGY, we collaborate with OEM/ODM teams in the air purification sector worldwide. Through extensive project
experience, we’ve summarized key insights to help engineering, R&D, and procurement teams select an optimal battery
solution for their next-generation air filtration products.

1. Understanding Power Consumption in Air Filtration Devices

Air filtration devices differ widely in power requirements depending on:

  • Fan motor size and speed
  • HEPA or activated carbon filter resistance
  • UV-C or ionizer modules
  • PM2.5, VOC, CO₂, humidity, or smart sensors
  • Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Sleep, auto, and turbo operation modes

Portable devices typically consume 1–5 W, while small desktop units fall in the 5–15 W
range. Accurately determining power consumption is the foundation for selecting a suitable battery.

2. Selecting the Right Battery Chemistry

2.1 Best option for portable air filters: 3.7 V Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Battery

For portable air filters and compact devices, 3.7 V Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries are widely used due to:

  • High energy density for longer runtime in small devices
  • Lightweight structure for better portability
  • Flexible, customizable shapes (e.g., 402030, 502540, 703048)
  • Stable discharge for continuous fan operation
  • Compatibility with PCM protection boards

Typical capacity ranges from 500 mAh to 3000 mAh, depending on airflow and desired runtime.
For projects that require fully tailored shapes or wiring harnesses, you can work with a

Custom Lithium Polymer Battery

partner to match your structure and performance needs.

2.2 For higher airflow and longer runtime: 18650 Lithium-ion Cells (1S/2S/3S packs)

For devices needing higher airflow and longer runtime, such as tabletop air purifiers or USB-powered desktop filtration
units, 18650 lithium-ion cells are an excellent option. Key benefits include:

  • Large single-cell capacity (typically 2000–3500 mAh)
  • Lower cost per Wh compared with many other formats
  • Easy configuration into packs (e.g., 1S2P, 2S1P, 3S1P, etc.)
  • Good thermal stability and mature supply chain

18650-based packs are commonly used in tabletop purifiers, USB-powered filtration devices, and compact medical-grade
air treatment systems. For OEM projects, PKNERGY can design a complete

custom LiFePO4 / lithium battery pack

solution based on your expected power curve and mechanical constraints.

2.3 For household systems with backup mode: LiFePO₄ Battery Packs

Although most household air purifiers run on AC power, models with emergency backup or off-grid capability benefit from
LiFePO₄ battery packs. Their advantages include:

  • Superior safety and thermal stability
  • Long cycle life (often 2000+ cycles under proper conditions)
  • Suitable for 12 V or 24 V backup battery systems

LiFePO₄ is a strong option for air filtration units integrated into smart home or energy storage ecosystems, especially
where frequent charge/discharge cycles are expected.

Battery Options for Air Filtration Devices — Quick Comparison

Battery Type Typical Applications Main Advantages
LiPo 3.7 V (pouch) Portable personal air filters, mini air purifiers, wearable filters Ultra-thin, flexible sizes, lightweight, good for space-constrained designs
18650 Li-ion pack Desktop purifiers, USB air filters, compact medical-grade filtration units Higher capacity per cell, cost-effective, modular pack configurations
LiFePO₄ pack Household purifiers with backup mode, integrated smart-home systems High safety, long cycle life, suitable for 12 V / 24 V backup systems

3. Safety Requirements for Air Filtration Batteries

Air filtration devices operate continuously and often very close to users in homes, offices, hospitals, and children’s
environments, so battery safety is critical. Recommended protection features include:

  • PCM/BMS for over-charge, over-discharge, short-circuit, and overcurrent protection
  • Optional NTC temperature sensor for thermal monitoring
  • Reinforced insulation and wiring for long-term reliability
  • UN38.3 certification for safe transportation
  • IEC 62133 compliance for global market entry
  • Fire-retardant materials (optional) for premium or critical applications

These protections are especially important for medical, commercial, and children-related scenarios. For medical-grade
air filtration devices, you can also reference our

Medical Device Power Solution

to align battery design with regulatory and safety requirements.

4. Realistic Runtime Modeling

Air filtration devices rarely run at a single fixed power level. Typical operation profiles include:

  • Sleep mode (minimal power consumption)
  • Low, medium, and high airflow levels
  • Periodic sensor sampling cycles
  • Occasional wireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi or Bluetooth updates)

PKNERGY supports engineering teams with real-world runtime simulations, so that capacity planning is based on realistic
usage patterns instead of idealized discharge values. This helps avoid under-sizing the pack (leading to customer
complaints) or over-sizing it (which increases cost and volume).

5. From Prototype to Mass Production

Whether you are designing:

  • A portable personal air filter
  • A USB desktop air purifier
  • A larger mobile filtration or sterilization unit

PKNERGY offers:

  • Custom lithium battery pack design
  • Electrical matching and safety assessment
  • Structural design support and 3D model review
  • Rapid prototyping for engineering validation
  • Stable mass production capability for long-term programs

For consumer devices, our

Consumer Electronics Power Solution

and

custom Li-ion polymer battery

services can be combined with your ID and mechanical design to create compact, user-friendly air filtration products.

6. PKNERGY Custom Battery & Application Solutions

PKNERGY focuses on custom lithium battery packs for OEM/ODM clients across multiple industries. For air
filtration and related devices, you can leverage our existing solution platforms:

By integrating the right chemistry, pack configuration, and protection scheme early in your design, you can ensure that
your air filtration products deliver clean air reliably, quietly, and safely throughout their service life.

FAQ: Battery Design for Air Filtration Devices

1. How do I estimate the battery capacity needed for my air filtration device?

First, measure or calculate the average power consumption (W) for typical operation, including fan, sensors, and
communication modules. Then use:

Battery capacity (Wh) ≈ Power (W) × Required runtime (hours)

Convert Wh to Ah using the nominal battery voltage. For example, a 3.7 V LiPo pack that needs to support 4 W for
4 hours requires around (4 W × 4 h) ÷ 3.7 V ≈ 4.3 Ah, so a 4300 mAh pack or equivalent configuration.

2. Should I choose LiPo or 18650 cells for a compact desktop air purifier?

It depends on your priorities. If you need a very slim or irregular shape and lightweight design, LiPo is usually
better. If your main concern is cost per Wh and longer runtime, 18650 cells are often more economical and offer
higher capacity per cell. PKNERGY can help compare both options based on your ID, structure, and target price.

3. What certifications are recommended for exporting battery-powered air filtration devices?

At minimum, the battery pack should pass UN38.3 for transportation and comply with
IEC 62133 (or equivalent regional standards) for safety. Depending on your target markets and
applications, additional system-level certifications (e.g., for medical devices) may be required.

Discuss Your Air Filtration Battery Project with Miah

If your team is developing a new air filtration product, PKNERGY can help evaluate power needs and select the best battery
configuration for safety, cost-efficiency, and performance.

You can also follow PKNERGY on social media to get more application cases and technical updates:
YouTube,
LinkedIn,
X (Twitter),
Facebook,
TikTok.



Post time: Nov-26-2025