Effect of Baffle Openings to the Flow Distribution in a SERVCO Fume Cupboard

Abstract

Recirculation region behind a fume cupboard sash is the potential contributor to the leakage of the contaminants due to its large size. This is found from the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of SERVCO fume cupboard using κ-ω turbulence model. For a good fume cupboard, the recirculation zone needs to be minimized while maintaining the flow distribution to all area in the fume cupboard. The opening on the baffle may reduce the recirculation zone which in turn may reduce back flow that is the cause of leakage. In this paper, the effect of shape of baffle openings on flow distributions of a SERVCO fume cupboard will be presented as a result of CFD. The results are presented in terms of velocity vectors Vy (in the direction towards the sash opening) at different cross sections for 4 opening shapes. The opening is found to improve the airflow distribution.