Laminar Flow Unit
Laminar Air Flow helps to maintain control over a work surface for applications that requires the absence of the contaminations. This laminar flow unit helps to eliminate contamination by creating a continuous airflow across the surface. Laminar flow units provide air streams that travel in the same direction and at the same speed. This helps to eliminate that cause uncontrolled or unwanted results.
Laminar flow unit are of two types,
- Horizontal Laminar Flow Unit
- Vertical Laminar Flow Unit
It mainly now depends on many conditions or factors when to choose any one from these two types;
HORIZONTAL LAMINAR FLOW UNIT :Horizontal flow can be selected if any application requires less turbulence on the work surface, while both horizontal and vertical produce very little turbulence, horizontal laminar flow unit supply relatively less airflow as it does not hits any hindrance until exiting the flume unit wherein the case of vertical one it hits the bottom of the unit.
Horizontal flow can also be selected if you want to use basically small utensils and equipment that will avoid causing airflow disturbance, because using larger equipment may cause greater turbulence in airflow.
Horizontal Laminar Flow Unit is mandatory when required most control over contamination, as hand & gloves are positioned downstream over the sample in the horizontal flow which creates greater protection over contamination.
Pros of having horizontal Laminar Flow Unit :- It requires less floor space.
- It requires less work surface for turbulence
- It creates a larger work surface depth.
Vertical flow can be selected if any application requires large equipment to be sued on the work surface, this is because in vertical flow it does not produce as much turbulence while hitting large items.
A vertical flow system can be used if it requires soldering fumes or fine powders, as while soldering vapors can be toxic due to the existence of metal oxides & acidic fumes from flux. It should be only used when there is a requirement of handling non-hazardous materials or irritant odors are being generated on the work surface.
Vertical flow can be adopted if a larger, taller work surface is there, this is because filters are generally to be set on the top of a vertical laminar flow unit, as it has greater height available for a work surface.
Pros of having Vertical Laminar Flow Unit :- It requires less floor space.
- It has very less chances of cross-contamination of items places on the work surface.
- It has a top filter that allows for easy access.
- It has a top filter that allows for easy access.
