AirRing

What it does

This design turns any ceiling fan into a passive air purifier using a lightweight, clamp-on filter ring. It tackles indoor air pollution affordably, providing clean air without added electricity, noise, or devices taking up floor or wall space.

Your inspiration

I was struck by the scale of the problem. 14 of the top 20 most polluted cities globally are in India. In 10 major cities, 7.2% of daily deaths (around 33000 per year) are linked to PM 2.5 exposure. India loses 1.5 million lives yearly due to PM 2.5 beyond WHO limits. Air purifiers are too costly for rural or middle class homes. But ceiling fans are everywhere across India, running day and night. That sparked a question. Why just circulate air when we can clean it too? Thus AirRing was born! A lightweight clamp on filter ring that turns any ceiling fan into a passive air purifier that is affordable, reusable and universally compatible.

How it works

AirRing is a lightweight purifier add-on that clamps onto the metal rod above a ceiling fan’s motor. Made of durable ABS plastic with an embedded magnet and tightening screw, the clamp installs easily without tools and fits standard fan rods. Grooves on the clamp anchor two lightweight aluminum arms that arc around the motor to support semi-circular mesh filters. These filters are made from electrostatically charged polypropylene (N95-grade), designed to trap over 95% of PM 2.5 particles while allowing airflow with minimal resistance. As the fan operates, it draws surrounding air through the mesh before pushing it downward—passively purifying the room without consuming extra power. The modular design allows filters to be detached for washing or replacement. AirRing is cost-effective, silent, reusable, and universally compatible—turning every ceiling fan into an accessible air purifier for households across income levels.

Design process

The idea began with a simple question: if ceiling fans already run in nearly every Indian household, why not use their airflow to clean the air? I started with intense research—understanding fan aerodynamics, how PM 2.5 particles behave, and evaluating filter materials like cotton, HEPA, and electrostatically charged mesh—finally choosing one similar to N95 standards that balances filtration and breathability. Initially, I explored multiple configurations—attaching filters directly to the blades, or placing them below the motor. But those increased drag, reduced airflow, and strained the motor. I realized the only way to retain fan efficiency was to position the filter above the motor, near the rod. This led to a lightweight, magnetic clamp design that fastens to the rod above the fan using a screw-tightening mechanism. Two grooved slots hold aluminum arms that extend outward to support semi-circular mesh filters. These filters are removable and washable, making maintenance easy. The design prioritizes simplicity, reusability, and universal compatibility—built around user insights from rural and middle-class households. The next phase involves prototyping and field testing to optimize performance and scalability.

How it is different

Most air purifiers are expensive, bulky, and confined to a single room—making them impractical for middle-class and rural homes. AirRing flips that logic by leveraging something already present in nearly every Indian household: the ceiling fan. Instead of filtering air using power-hungry motors, AirRing purifies air passively as the fan runs, slashing both cost and energy use. Unlike purifiers placed below the motor or attached to blades—which increase drag, lower coverage, and disrupt airflow—AirRing mounts above the motor dome, preserving full fan performance. Its clamp fits securely onto the rod using a screw-tightening system with embedded magnets for easy, tool-free installation. Two arms hold semi-circular, reusable N95-grade mesh filters that clean air while allowing smooth airflow. It’s washable, affordable, universally compatible, and needs no maintenance or learning curve. AirRing isn’t just different—it’s radically practical.

Future plans

My goal is to redesign every single fan—not just ceiling fans, but pedestal, wall-mounted, table fans—every type that exists. Fans haven’t evolved in decades, yet they’re everywhere. With AirRing, I’m starting a revolution: turning ordinary fans into dual-purpose devices that cool and purify the air we breathe. I aim to build a startup that brings this innovation to every home across India and eventually the world. Clean air is a necessity, not a luxury. The potential here is massive, the market is untouched, and no one else is even trying to reinvent the wheel. I am.

Awards

This is a new concept that has not yet been submitted to any competitions or awards. However, it has received strong early validation for its originality, practicality, and potential to scale, and is being prepared for broader exposure and recognition.