32) Lab Essentials : Laminar Air Flow

Microbiology Lab Essentials :

32) Laminar Air Flow :

A laminar flow unit creates dust free abacterial air environment. Air from the room passes through the HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing) filters and is fed into the working chamber by a unidirectional vertical descending flow.

Air is drawn in through a prefilter located at the top of the clean bench before being pulled through a HEPA filter. 

In a vertical clean bench, laminar air is then projected vertically over the work area. 

In a horizontal clean bench, laminar air is projected horizontally towards the operator.

Laminar airflow is defined as air moving at the same speed and in the same direction, with no or minimal cross-over of air streams (or “lamina”). 

By contrast, turbulent flow creates swirls and eddies that deposit particles on surfaces randomly and unpredictably.