The Design Evolution of an Energy Efficient, Low-Flow Fumehood

Kevin C. Gilkison, Labconco
Scott D. Reynolds, CAES, a Division of Bearsch Compeau Knudson, PC

Abstract:

This presentation provides an overview of the design evolution of a new and innovative fumehood that is both energy efficient and exhibits excellent containment at low flow rates.

At the onset, it was believed that a low-flow fumehood could be designed that would fit into a conventional fumehood superstructure without significant additions such as auxiliary fans and special ducting and plenums. Observations were collected on the shortcomings of conventional fumehoods, and several design enhancements were consequently designed and implemented to eliminate these problems. Through a refining process, issues such as uniform airflow through the back of the hood, flow around the sash handle and flow at the sashfoil of the unit were dramatically improved.

After each design implementation, standard ASHRAE testing was performed to assess each specific scenario. Feedback from the testing was examined and used to implement additional rounds of design changes. This process continued until the new fumehood design exhibited superior ASHRAE containment results at both standard and low flow rates.
Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to verify design changes on the hood as it was being developed and to verify airflow patterns at all positions within the fumehood. The results of the CFD compared very well to the experimental values and provided a comprehensive "view" of the flow patterns, velocities and SF6 concentrations.

The presentation will provide details on the design, testing and modeling of the fumehood as well as pictures at various design stages and sample CFD output.

Biographies:

Kevin Gilkison has a B.S. in Construction Engineering from Kansas State University. He previously worked as a Project Manager for Owens-Corning Fiberglass. He has over 25 years of experience in laboratory ventilation.

Kevin Gilkison is currently employed by, Labconco Corporation as Senior Product Engineer. His group is responsible for the development of the new High Performance/ Low Flow line of laboratory fume hoods and other laboratory ventilation products. He is currently serving on the NFPA 45 "Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals" technical committee and the ASHRAE Standard 110-1995 "Method of Testing Performance of Laboratory Hoods" technical committee.

Scott Reynolds has a BS in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from Clarkson University, an MS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Rochester, and is a registered professional engineer in the State of New York. He has worked for General Electric, Xerox and IBM before founding CAES in 1992, an engineering consulting firm specializing in numerical analysis using CFD and FEA methods. CAES became a division of Bearsch Compeau Knudson Architects and Engineers, PC in 1999.

Scott is currently involved in the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to predict air currents, the transport of airborne contamination, temperature stratification and particulate movement on both the inside and outside of buildings. The particular focus of his work applies CFD to understanding airflow in research facilities, labs, fume hoods, electronics enclosures and in the wind wakes around buildings. He has completed analyses on nearly 200 animal holding rooms for medical and pharmaceutical research as well as many studies of chemical labs and various designs of fume hoods. Scott has presented nearly 30 seminars, workshops, poster sessions and university level classes on the application of CFD on buildings and equipment. He has also published 15 trade journal or magazine articles and holds 8 US patents.