Method and apparatus for air treatment employing catalyst material

An air treatment apparatus comprising:

• a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet;
• an air mover arranged to move air along an air flow path in the housing from the air inlet to the air outlet;
• a plurality of catalyst layers including a first catalyst layer and a second catalyst layer, the plurality of catalyst layers arranged in the air flow path such that air moves along the air flow path from the first catalyst layer to the second catalyst layer downstream of the first catalyst layer, the plurality of catalyst layers each being arranged to adsorb and oxidize contaminants;
• a heater including a heating element positioned along the air flow path upstream of the plurality of catalyst layers to heat the plurality of catalyst layers, the heater being spaced from the plurality of catalyst layers and positioned, constructed and arranged to emit radiated heat at least some of which travels along a straight line path directly from the heater to the first catalyst layer;
• and
• a radiation shield positioned along the air flow path upstream of the heating element and constructed and arranged in the air flow path such that air flows around the radiation shield and toward the plurality of catalyst layers, the radiation shield being arranged to reflect at least some of the radiated heat from the heating element to be incident on the first catalyst layer,
• wherein the air treatment apparatus is free of any structure between the heater and the first catalyst layer along the straight line path.