AirClean® Systems Independence™ Ductless Fume Hood
As research and laboratories evolve, AirClean® Systems continues to innovate with sophisticated, efficient fume containment solutions.
As research and laboratories evolve, AirClean® Systems continues to innovate with sophisticated, efficient fume containment solutions. Independence™ is the culmination of two decades of research and development in airflow design, gas-phase filtration, fume detection and hood control technologies. Drawing on feedback from thousands of customer applications, the Independence™ fume hood incorporates unique features not currently incorporated into other fume hoods.
AirSafe™ TOUCH, the first touch-screen microprocessor controller with software written exclusively for use with ductless fume hoods, serves as the technology backbone for many features debuted by Independence™. An engaging, userfriendly interface, AirSafe™ TOUCH allows the user to quickly access all controls while providing displays of vital data such as fume hood face velocity, gas levels and alarm status.
Moving beyond the industry-standard metal oxide sensor, a PID (photo ionization detector) monitors the system’s gas-phase filtration, providing gas saturation readings in parts-per-million. The filtration bed, fume hood exhaust and laboratory air are all monitored by the PID. User-defined alarms can be enabled for each sensor and monitoring location, ensuring the user is notified of any potential exposure.
Carbon-based filtration, as found in most ductless fume hoods, has been in use for centuries. With the invention of Silconazyne™, AirClean® Systems has improved upon carbon filters by increasing the adsorption capability on a wider spectrum of commonly manipulated laboratory chemicals. Silconazyne™ has an improved efficacy for capture of polar organic solvents, nonpolar organic solvents, inorganic bases and inorganic acids.
Filtered air is recirculated by ductless hoods, making it imperative that the filtration be capable of capturing chemicals used within the hood. Built into the Independence™ software is a chemical reference library containing more than 1,000 chemicals approved for use with Silconazyne™. During factory QA/QC, the approved chemical application is programmed into Independence™. In the event another chemical is to be added, the administrator can updated the approved application through AirSafe™ TOUCH. The system then validates the new application against the installed filters and gas detection package to confirm compatibility.
For years, fume hoods have been seen as the laboratory’s biggest consumer of energy. Ductless hoods such as Independence™ recirculate clean, filtered air, limiting the amount of energy spent removing and reconditioning air within the laboratory. To further reduce energy use, lack of operator interaction activates the Independence™ ‘standby mode’. Once in standby mode, energy consumption is reduced to a minimum while maintaining operator safety.
Independence™ provides three methods of airflow monitoring and control. The most popular is automatic mode, where a user preset value is entered into the microprocessor and face velocity is maintained automatically during the course of operation. Manual mode allows the end user to increase or decrease blower speed at their discretion while high/low mode sets the blower to one of two speeds based on sash position.
For labs with multiple hood users, Independence™ includes the ability to have eight unique user profiles with definable operation perimeters for each. At the owner’s or administrator’s discretion, an individual user can be given access to certain features. Examples of definable user access include enabling burning gas, modifying alarm settings, and changing blower modes.
Engineered as a platform capable of evolving as technology and market demands change, Independence ™ is the foundation for all future ductless fume hood solutions.
