Px. Hu et al., EFFECT OF THE LOCATION OF THE EXHAUST DUCT, AN EXTERIOR OBSTRUCTION AND HANDLE ON THE AIR-FLOW INSIDE AND AROUND A FUME CUPBOARD, The Annals of occupational hygiene, 40(2), 1996, pp. 127-144
In order to be able to reduce the leakage of contaminant out of a fume
cupboard it is first necessary to investigate the detailed fluid flow
patterns inside and around the fume cupboard. Because of the difficul
ties and expense of performing these experiments, in this paper a comp
utational fluid dynamics approach has been used. The aim of the work i
s to investigate the potential of various factors which cause the leak
age of contaminant from the fume cupboard. In particular the effect of
: (i) the location of the exhaust outlet on the roof of the fume cupbo
ard; (ii) exterior obstructions of different shapes and sizes in front
of the fume cupboard; and (iii) the fume cupboard handle, which takes
various shapes and positions, in laminar and turbulent fluid flow bot
h inside and around the fume cupboard. From the fluid hows observed, f
or each configuration, their importance in relation to future experime
ntal work to be performed and possible new designs of fume cupboards i
s discussed. Wherever possible comparisons have been made with existin
g experimental data and in all cases good qualitative agreement is ava
ilable. Copyright (C) 1996 British Occupational Hygiene Society.