Clean Air is a leading manufacturer of safety-critical laboratory equipment, and we take our responsibility to our clients very seriously indeed. We are committed to continuously improving our fume cupboards to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
Our exploration of innovative methods to test and optimise our fume cupboard designs will not only protect operators; we take our responsibility to the environment seriously too. Since 2017 we have reduced our carbon footprint by 50%, even as our turnover has doubled.
Over more than two years we have invested in high-powered computers and advanced software. We worked with Manchester Metropolitan University and Innovate UK to recruit an engineer with a PhD in CFD to develop a method of modelling airflow behaviour in our fume cupboards.
We now have a reliable and reproducible method of fume cupboard development to reduce our dependence on SF6, the powerful greenhouse gas traditionally used to test new fume cupboard designs.
CFD allows us to simulate and test new fume cupboard designs without the need for SF6 or manufacturing physical prototypes. By leveraging CFD, we significantly reduce energy consumption, waste generation, and overall environmental impact associated with traditional testing methods. Furthermore, CFD provides us with vivid visualisations, offering clear insights into the airflow patterns and dynamics within the fume cupboards, complemented by comprehensive quantitative data.
The adoption of CFD has brought an exciting and low-carbon design testing method to Clean Air. It empowers us to make informed decisions regarding the design and optimisation of fume cupboards without compromising safety, efficiency, or sustainability. The ability to visualise results in great detail and acquire reliable quantitative data means we can develop fume cupboards that meet the highest safety standards for operators while minimising our environmental footprint.
