A stainless steel flow wall moduleis an enclosed unit used to create a contamination-free work and storage environment. It features HEPA filters that trap all the contaminants that enter the cabinet. This unit is useful when you are working with materials that are not harmful to personnel health.
It is widely used in various industries, such as medical, research, and education (as well as optics and electronics), to name a few. A clean and sterile environment is required for the experimentation, study, and storage of materials in all of these businesses. It is important to note that a flow unit does not give any protection because it is intended for use with nontoxic substances.
Working of the airflow module
Stainless steel flow wall modules are generally used in medical and research labs to create a dust-free and bacteria-free environment. The air of the room passes through the HEPA filters and then enters the working chamber in a unidirectional manner. From the functional space, the air is projected out to the environment. Some of the air is projected out partially through the perforation in the bottom region of the module. The majority of the air escapes out through the space between the working surface of the table and the protective glass.
The airflow unit circulates the filtered air with a constant velocity. Some of the standard components are the UV light, air intake fan, glass shield, etc. Each of these elements plays a vital role in creating and maintaining a clean and sterile surrounding.
The use of this equipment is simple. The fan on the model provides pressure, which pulls the air through the filter pad, where the dust is held by the filter pad. Once the dust has been removed from the air, it is sent through the HEPA filter, which further cleanses the air by removing all airborne contaminants.
Types of flow modules
There are two types of flow units categorized according to the direction in which the air circulates. The airflow movement is very critical, and each of them is used for a particular work or function. The main types of Stainless Steel Flow Wall Modules are horizontal and vertical. Let us understand their work and purpose in brief.
Horizontal airflow
The air enters from behind the unit and then goes through a blower towards the HEPA filter. The filtered air circulates in a horizontal direction to the workspace. The airflow, while you use a horizontal stainless steel flow wall module, is parallel to the work area and purifies the air with a constant velocity.
Vertical airflow
The vertical stainless steel flow wall module is the most used unit because of its advanced technology to remove all the contaminants from the surrounding. The distinct design of the unit ensures that there is no minimum air turbulence inside the unit. It features electronic shield panels which are easy to use and maintain.
The operation of this unit differs from that of horizontal units. It uses a fan located on the ceiling of the cabinet. The fan is responsible for filtering out the contaminated air in this arrangement. A positive pressure system is used to drive a vertical stream of air from the benchtop downwards and away from the bench.
Which is better?
It is essential to know which is the best equipment for your experiment. A horizontal unit requires more floor space and depth, making it hard to manage. On the other hand, the vertical unit requires less area, making it more manageable and reducing the chance of air obstruction or accumulation of contaminated air downstream.
Furthermore, the safety provided by the vertical unit is more significant as it does not project air directly on the operator. Cleaning the HEPA filters of a horizontal stainless steel flow wall module requires moving the cabinets and hoods. One can replace the filters of the vertical modules easily and quickly as they are situated on the top of the unit.
Lastly, the vertical stainless steel flow wall module has a more stable unidirectional airflow that reduces the unit’s turbulent effect.
Conclusion
Airflow units do not protect toxins or harmful gases, but they are vital in creating and maintaining a clean, dust-free, and abacterial environment. Whether you want to purchase a vertical or horizontal stainless steel flow wall module, cleatech got them all. Cleatech manufactures high-quality and highly feasible cleanroom supplies and lab equipment , making them the most reliable brand.