www.PDHcenter.com PDH Course M143 www.PDHonline.

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pass through them uninterrupted. Turbulent areas can have countercurrents of higher

velocity, reverse flow or even stagnant or no flow. Small clusters of particles can cluster

in stagnant areas and finally settle on the product.

3. Unidirectional airflow is used when low airborne concentrations of particles or bacteria

are present. Non-unidirectional flow is used where particle sizes are relatively large.

4. Air changes per unit of time are related to the volume of the room and are many times

greater in unidirectional flow design than those supplied to a turbulent airflow clean room.

5. The non-unidirectional or mixed air flow patterns differ in the location of the supply and

return air registers and air filter locations. In non-unidirectional arrangement, the airflow is

typically supplied through diffusers with HEPA filters in them, or in the ductwork or air

handler. Unidirectional airflow requires greater attention to strict design guidelines. A

vertical flow room would have air supplied through a perforated ceiling with HEPA filters

and returned through a raised floor, producing nominally parallel airflow. Where grated or

perforated floors are not suitable, such as in pharmaceutical applications, low-level

sidewall returns are used. Clean spaces of different classes and airflow patterns can be

combined in the same room by proper design and arrangement.

6. In unidirectional arrangement, HEPA filter banks must be "pinhole" tight and checked for

any pinhole leaks in the media, sealants, frame gaskets, and supporting frames.

Unidirectional Design Configuration

The unidirectional design is available typically in one of the three major configurations:

a. Clean Work Stations

#"Involved the use of hoods with HEPA filters

#"Large volume of air (90-100ft/min) at low velocity

#"Filtering efficiency of 99.99% - filter of choice in all clean room designs.

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