Air Shower: Principles and Functions in Cleanroom Environments

Essential Equipment for Contamination Control

I. Introduction to Air Showers

Air showers are specialized self-contained chambers installed at cleanroom entrances to remove particulate contaminants from personnel or objects before they enter the controlled environment. These contamination control devices play a critical role in pharmaceutical, semiconductor, biotechnology, and other industries requiring stringent cleanliness standards.

II. Working Principle

Air showers operate on a simple but effective principle:

1. High-velocity HEPA or ULPA filtered air jets (typically 20-25 m/s) are directed from multiple nozzles
2. The turbulent airflow creates a scrubbing action that dislodges particles from surfaces
3. Contaminated air is drawn through floor grilles and recirculated through the filtration system
4. The cycle continues for a preset duration (usually 15-30 seconds)

III. Key Components

Modern air showers consist of several essential components:

• Stainless steel or powder-coated steel enclosure
• High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters (99.99% @ 0.3μm)
• High-velocity air nozzles (typically 12-36 nozzles depending on size)
• Interlocking door system (prevents both doors opening simultaneously)
• Control panel with programmable timer
• Emergency stop button and safety features

IV. Primary Functions

Air showers serve multiple critical functions in contamination control:

1. Particle Removal: Effectively removes surface particles from personnel and materials
2. Air Barrier: Creates positive pressure barrier preventing unfiltered air entry
3. Personnel Awareness: Reinforces cleanroom protocol compliance
4. Contamination Reduction: Can remove up to 95% of surface particles

V. Applications

Air showers are essential in various industries including:

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing (GMP compliance)
• Microelectronics and semiconductor fabrication
• Biotechnology research facilities
• Medical device manufacturing
• Aerospace component production
• Hospital operating theaters

VI. Selection Considerations

When specifying an air shower, consider these factors:

1. Required cleanliness class (ISO 14644-1 standards)
2. Anticipated personnel/material traffic
3. Available space and installation requirements
4. Material compatibility (stainless steel for corrosive environments)
5. Additional features like air ionization or static control

Guangzhou Cleanroom Construction Co., Ltd specializes in custom air shower solutions for pharmaceutical, medical, and high-tech industries. Our engineers can help you select the optimal contamination control system for your specific requirements.