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 andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar
 
Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,357
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 andymc's flow hood build  1
#14236778 - 04/04/11 02:16 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Just thought I'd add my contribution to the long list of people who have posted about their flow hood projects. I'm making a point of using metric here 'cause I had to look a little bit harder to find calculations in metric (Anno's site was a big help). I've also included links to the UK vendors for my filter and blower.
First thing's first; I found an H14-standard (99.995% - ISO class 5) HEPA filter from these guys:
http://www.airclean.co.uk/1510_HEPA_Filters.htm
Here are the filter stats from their data sheet. This one cost £177 delivered:
So, the filter is 609x609mm (2x2') and 146mm (6") deep. Here are the calculations I used:
Area of the filter:
.609m x .609m = 0.37m2
I wanted a linear airflow speed of 0.5m/s (100'/min), so I needed a total airflow of:
0.5m/s x 0.37m2 = 0.185m3/s
The filter can do 0.24m3/s at 250Pa (1") static pressure, so I double-checked that that it could easily give me enough airflow at the rated pressure:
0.24m3/s / 0.37m2 = 0.65m/s 
I found a blower here:
http://www.aircontrolindustries.com/products-centrifugal/191/centrifugal
Taking into account an extra 50 Pa (0.2") of pressure for the pre-filter, the VBL8 model (data sheet) can output more than the required 0.185m3/s (666m3/h) at 300Pa (1.2"). This cost *cough* £443 delivered:
The HEPA filter and blower:
  
I spent a fair bit of time thinking over the dimensions of the cabinet, and how each piece of wood would slot into place. Complicating things slightly was the fact that the filter wasn't exactly square (off by ~1-2mm here and there) so I was very careful to account for that when speccing out my wood pieces. I went with 18mm heavy plywood, buying a big sheet and asking the guys at the store to cut it up into precise pieces. I designed the cabinet to be a total of 400mm deep; subtracting 147mm for the depth of the filter, and 22mm for the wood at the back, that gives me a plenum depth of 231mm - about 1.5 times the filter depth.
I sanded the pieces smooth and gave them some stain/varnish:
   
First I attached the sides and bottom of the main (lower) part of the cabinet. The side pieces stand on top of the bottom. I pre-drilled each screw hole and gave each one a little countersink to they'd be mostly flush with the surface, and used wood glue as well:
  
Next I glued and screwed the filter into place. I was careful to use screws that were long enough to pass through the plywood, but only penetrate partially into the filter's wood casing:
   
Then I attached the top of the main cabinet, with a pre-cut hole for the blower output.
  
I put together the top cover the same way, 300mm tall to give enough space for the blower motor, with a little bit of extra to spare:
I mounted the blower on top the the main cabinet, and wired it up to the switch. This was one of the most challenging (for me) parts of the project - getting it lined up in exactly the right place, supported and secured properly, with pre-drilled holes of precise gauges, etc. It probably wasn't designed to be mounted on a wooden block  , but I knew from an ill-advised attempt at powering it up unsecured (nearly launched itself off the table) that I needed to get this right. I used a heavy-duty switch and heavy-gauge cables to handle the large initial electrical load:
    
Attach good, strong handles. Important :
Next I added silicone to all the seams inside the main cabinet, and attached wooden blocks near the back at each of the 4 corners, for securing the back piece. I attached a small handle to the back piece, just in case I ever need to remove it, since it's a very snug fit. The back piece is also recessed a little bit (4mm) so that I could seal it with silicone from the outside:
    
I secured the top cover with L-brackets, and used wood blocks for attaching the back piece, but didn't use silicone inside it - the top portion is mainly there for aesthetic reasons.
 
I secured the back piece, with a pre-cut hole matching the blower input port, and nailed on a patch of pre-filter material (I used part of a filter designed for a stove/cooker hood):
 
Here's the nice power switch with the glowy light. I also mounted a temporary protective cover that came with the filter -- I'd like to make something nicer later:
 
Finished
 
Looks about right
Ready for work
-Andymc
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How I make spore prints
Trade List
My flow hood
If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say,
"Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
Edited by andymc (04/04/11 02:20 PM)
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biologys
Mycologist in Trainning
Registered: 12/21/09
Posts: 4,622
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 Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: andymc]
#14236866 - 04/04/11 02:30 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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good job man.
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 esquaredx
Registered: 10/23/09
Posts: 1,460
Loc: Anywhere the air is fair.
Last seen: 13 days, 1 hour
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: biologys]
#14236879 - 04/04/11 02:33 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Hell ya!
I needa get off my ass and build one of these bad boys.
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar
Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,357
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: esquaredx]
#14236920 - 04/04/11 02:40 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Cheers bio and e2x
It's a good weird feeling to be working outside of a glovebox for the first time 
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How I make spore prints
Trade List
My flow hood
If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say,
"Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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FractalXplora
Grainiack
Registered: 02/11/06
Posts: 2,343
Loc: UK 
Last seen: 8 days, 10 hours
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: andymc]
#14236959 - 04/04/11 02:48 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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oh dude, im so jealous, i was pouring plates in my glovebox today and cussing to my self, need a god damm hood, cant take much more of this.
Excellent post and tek Andy, this will be a massive help to mw when i finally can afford my parts for a flowhood.
 also shocked at the fan price! will Need to find something cheaper than that.
What was the price of the full build m8?
Fractal.
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar
Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,357
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 pouring agar in a glovebox used to be my least favourite mycology task. It's really awkward and it sucks 
Yeah, I wasn't very cost-conscious with this project. I'm sure it could be done more cheaply. This is an industrial-grade blower (it's kinda loud too - might think about adding some soundproofing inside the upper portion).
Wood and sundries probably added about another £100 I think, though I didn't really keep track.
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How I make spore prints
Trade List
My flow hood
If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say,
"Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar
Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,357
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: andymc]
#14238362 - 04/04/11 07:23 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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What's the advice for spraying Oust around a flow hood?
I reckon I don't want it in the HEPA filter.
I tried spraying the room, and then turning on the hood a few minutes later, but it seems like the prefilter is wet with it. That seems bad...
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How I make spore prints
Trade List
My flow hood
If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say,
"Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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Fungal growth
Wee Todd
Registered: 03/21/10
Posts: 2,102
Loc: under a rock in your yard
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: andymc]
#14238431 - 04/04/11 07:35 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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i read that RR sprays his filter directly.
i do it the way he did in the post and it goes a little like this:
spray a big cloud of oust around the room,
turn on the hood. let it run for an hour or so,
turn it off and spray another big cloud, and also spray
the filter face. turn the hood back on and run it
for another 20 minutes or so, then begin sterile work.
i read this many bags ago so it may not be exact,
but ive done it this way for almost a year now and
i get no contams as far as sterile work goes.
congrats on the hood man, you'll love the freedom of movement.
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hamloaf
Cannonball Freight Train.
Registered: 12/23/09
Posts: 6,523
Loc: The Electric Guitar. 
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: andymc]
#14238466 - 04/04/11 07:43 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Cool andy. Let us know how the quadrant tests go. I'mma be right behind you on a flowhood build. I just picked up a 2' by 4' hepa-filter (and an AA molde 941 PC in cherry condition) that could use a contemporary plenum built to fit it.
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[quote]Enlil said:
[quote]hamloaf said:
You can't mail cutless enlil's address because you don't have it and, are a lying piece of shit and, in general a manipulative and bad person.[/quote]
QFT
And hamloaf is a guy I genuinely dislike![/quote]
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar
Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,357
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: hamloaf]
#14240220 - 04/05/11 03:28 AM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Fungal growth said:
i read that RR sprays his filter directly.
i do it the way he did in the post and it goes a little like this:
spray a big cloud of oust around the room,
turn on the hood. let it run for an hour or so,
turn it off and spray another big cloud, and also spray
the filter face. turn the hood back on and run it
for another 20 minutes or so, then begin sterile work.
Hmm, the Oust that I get here in the UK leaves a kind of filmy/oily residue. I'd be afraid to get that in/on my filter on purpose, unless someone (RR?) could explain the benefit of that! 
Quote:
Fungal growth said:
congrats on the hood man, you'll love the freedom of movement.
Thanks fungal, I do love it 
I'm paranoid about my breathing, though. I find myself holding my breath a bit while I'm working. Unnecessary? Should I be using a surgical mask?
Quote:
hamloaf said:
Cool andy. Let us know how the quadrant tests go.
Right on hamloaf. Can I ask what a quadrant test is?
I poured a big stack of plates the other night, so I guess that'll be a test!
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How I make spore prints
Trade List
My flow hood
If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say,
"Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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UK Explorer
Viva La Colonización!
Registered: 09/19/08
Posts: 927
Loc: UK
Last seen: 7 days, 2 hours
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: andymc]
#14240248 - 04/05/11 03:51 AM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Wow I work with them fan units every day, hella powerful (and noisy) but I'm in an ideal position to source something like that (hmmm, second hand). I'm wondering if a lesser fan unit could be used -or did you find it hard to reach the numbers required? Perhaps an inline or flat panel mount fan could be used.
When I get chance I'll give this a proper read then see, only done glovebox work a couple of times but yes, very awkward and frustrating!
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar
Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,357
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Quote:
UK Explorer said:
Wow I work with them fan units every day, hella powerful (and noisy) but I'm in an ideal position to source something like that (hmmm, second hand). I'm wondering if a lesser fan unit could be used -or did you find it hard to reach the numbers required? Perhaps an inline or flat panel mount fan could be used.
When I get chance I'll give this a proper read then see, only done glovebox work a couple of times but yes, very awkward and frustrating!
This fan unit doesn't exceed requirements by much. The graph shows that there isn't too much wiggle room. I haven't throttled the intake at all, but it seems like the "lighter test" only shows about 45deg of bend. I guess it would make a big difference to the fan requirement if I'd gone with a 1x2' hood instead, but I have to admit I love the working space with this one, and the fact that I can plonk my 18L PC in front of it and open it in the flow 
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How I make spore prints
Trade List
My flow hood
If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say,
"Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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Ozzy
TimeLord
Registered: 12/28/08
Posts: 1,031
Loc:
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: andymc]
#14240537 - 04/05/11 06:34 AM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Very nice build Andymc!
On your oust question..when I first built my flow hood, I sprayed oust as well. Then I ran out and always forget to pick some up. Not using it has saved money and no noticeable contams have been seen since not using it.
Also I DEFINITELY recommend the face mask. I have seen the few bacterial infections drop to 0 since I started using them and no longer have to hold my breath. It made for a more pleasant experience using the hood.
Edited by Ozzy (04/05/11 06:46 AM)
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar
Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,357
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: Ozzy]
#14240726 - 04/05/11 07:34 AM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Ozzy said:
Very nice build Andymc!
 thank you!
Quote:
Ozzy said:
On your oust question..when I first built my flow hood, I sprayed oust as well. Then I ran out and always forget to pick some up. Not using it has saved money and no noticeable contams have been seen since not using it.
That sounds like a good solution. Better not to use it if I don't have to, I guess 
Quote:
Ozzy said:
Also I DEFINITELY recommend the face mask. I have seen the few bacterial infections drop to 0 since I started using them and no longer have to hold my breath. It made for a more pleasant experience using the hood.
The chemist near my work happened to have surgical masks, so I bought them out this morning. They already think I'm a weirdo anyway, with all the latex gloves, tongue depressors, syringes, and other assorted medical gear I've asked them for  
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How I make spore prints
Trade List
My flow hood
If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say,
"Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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badman
It begins again
Registered: 06/14/06
Posts: 4,039
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: andymc]
#14241009 - 04/05/11 09:14 AM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Very nice build.
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EvilMushroom666
Heretic
Registered: 11/18/09
Posts: 9,507
Loc: Canada 
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Re: andymc's flow hood build [Re: badman]
#14241550 - 04/05/11 11:07 AM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Good job brother, welcome to the club 
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Fungal growth
Wee Todd
Registered: 03/21/10
Posts: 2,102
Loc: under a rock in your yard
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i wear a surgical mask. fer shur.
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FractalXplora
Grainiack
Registered: 02/11/06
Posts: 2,343
Loc: UK
Last seen: 8 days, 10 hours
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where would you source those fans second hand anyone know? Never been able to locate one ()uk)
Like old warehouse? can you pull one out of anything industrial?
any ideas?
I can afford the filter and wood, but the fan.......
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EvilMushroom666
Heretic
Registered: 11/18/09
Posts: 9,507
Loc: Canada
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I got mine from an old furnace for $30 second hand. I had to clean it
all out as it has been in service for a few years, but it works just
fine.
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virus1824
Mr Mushroom
Registered: 09/25/05
Posts: 1,705
Loc: Europe
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Does it need to be so big?
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A weekend wasted is never a wasted weekend
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