HIGH PERFORMANCE LABORATORY FUME HOODS
Vortex II Technology by Flow Safe, Inc.
Air patterns inside of a fume hood are turbulent and create a vortex (spinning) effect during normal operation. Maintaining a strong vortex is critical to ensure excellent containment. When this vortex fails the hood will spill (leak) into the laboratory environment. A variety of factors can cause the vortex to fail:
- Sash Movement (Changes hood geometry)
- Cross Drafts
- Work Procedures
- Internal Obstructions
- Procedures and Reactions
- Pressurization
- Response Rate
- Mechanical Systems
- Personnel Walk By
Traditional fume hood design attempts to overcome this challenge with relatively high inflow rates with mixed results – some designs work quite well, while others show more shortcomings. The high inflow rate correlates with the constant exhaust of a large volume of expensive conditioned air. At best case this is simply expensive at worst it puts personnel in harm’s way.
The Vortex II Fume Hood technology was first installed commercially in 1999. This proven technology incorporates sophisticated controls that act on pressure to constantly adjust the hoods internal geometry maintaining a constant vortex regardless of the challenge presented. This approach provides a demonstrably safer solution that costs approximately 50% less to operate.
The images and videos below compare traditional hood design to the Vortex II approach.
(Available as new fume hoods or as a kit to convert existing)
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| Traditional Hood |
Flow Safe Bi-Stable Fume Hood |
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How it Works: Low Pressure – Sash Opened
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How it Works – Low Pressure – Sash Open
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How it Works: Medium Pressure – Sash Half Open
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How it Works: Medium Pressure – Sash Half Open
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How it Works: High Pressure – Sash Closed
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How it Works: High Pressure – Sash Closed
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Inside of a Traditional Fume Hood
Fixed Baffles – Mono Stable Vortex
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Inside the Flow Safe High Performance Fume Hood
Dynamic Venturi Valve (Red)
Bi-Stable Vortex
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- EPA tested & approved as high performance, low flow hood
- Combination sash 4 Foot, 5 Foot and Six Foot Hoods as Standard, 34” deep
- Combination Sash 8 Foot Hoods, 39” or 45” deep
- Reduces aisle spacing requirements
- Easy installation - pass thru standard 3.0 doors
- New shorter silhouette --- a full 8” shorter than competitors
- CFD enhanced design
- Zero spills, ASHRAE performance tested at unrestricted, full vertical sash opening in less than ideal conditions @ <50 FPM face velocity
- Zero spills, ASHRAE performance tested against multiple hotplate challenge @ < 50 FPM face velocity
- Zero spills, ASHRAE performance tested for shorter workers @ < 50 FPM face velocity
- Exclusive Stable Vortex TM design at effective Reynolds Numbers
- Energy Saving LEED’S point, maximum 50 cfm/square foot work surface
- Zero Risk Guarantee