These clearance requirements necessitate a deeper bench and more floor space than a vertical flow system.Īlthough both airflow designs provide effective sweeping action near the filter face, their respective flow patterns eventually encounter disruptions that often tip the scale in favour of one or the other configuration. By contrast, a horizontal-flow cabinet requires additional depth to accommodate the rear-mount filters with some additional rear clearance to allow air to enter the system. Because this configuration stacks the fan/filter module on top of the cabinet, a vertical laminar flow cabinet can generally be installed on a standard lab bench. Vertical Laminar Flow Diagram Horizontal laminar flow cabinetsĪ clean bench using a vertical laminar flow design is also preferable where floor space is at a premium. Micro-contaminants may not have substantial mass, but most particles do eventually settle on a work surface or the floor of a room, and vertical flow helps get them there faster. By directing the laminar flow downward, vertical laminar flow reinforces the effect of gravity and sweeps particles out of the enclosure, generally through a front access area. Vertical laminar flow cabinets are often chosen because they resemble, on a small scale, the design of a cleanroom, in which fan/filter units are typically positioned in the ceiling. Depending on your needs, you may also need to consider Vertical laminar flow cabinets Air flow in laminar hoodsīut which direction should the laminar flow move: vertically (downward from a filter positioned above the work surface) or horizontally (forward from a filter positioned behind the work surface)? There are compelling reasons to choose either airflow system, depending on clearance requirements, process type/ location, work surface design and of course, operator safety. Work is generally done in that clean zone, as far as possible from obstructions that create turbulence. This design ensures that the cleanest (and most germ-free) area will always be the upstream area closest to the filter face. Most contamination-sensitive environments such as healthcare environments or dust-free cabinets require laminar flow because it predictably sweeps particles in a uniform direction, from the cleanest area under the cabinet (the filter face) to the exit area, which is generally the sash opening or vents along the back or bottom of the cabinet. By contrast, turbulent air flow creates swirls and eddies that deposit particles on surfaces randomly and unpredictably. Laminar airflow is defined as air moving at the same speed and in the same direction, with no or minimal cross-over of air streams (or 'lamina'). A laminar flow system is a vital concept in the control of particulate contamination.

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