March/April 2016 • www.cemag.us 15
New construction
cleanroom monitoring
and control architecture.
Embedded cleanroom
photo: Courtesy of Terra
Universal Inc.
scape. Facility managers may opt for ECM based FFU
units that save energy and comply with California
TITLE 24 specifications that specify EC motors/fans
for <1HP rating (typical of FFU specifications).
Using smart-motor (or smart-motorized) impellers that rely on EC motor control, many cleanrooms
use FFU control systems to save energy and improve
cleanroom filter lifetimes. Both AC and EC based
FFU control systems are preferred to allow rapid balancing of a cleanroom, identification of faulty FFU
operation, and improve energy consumption.
The cost and complexity of small cleanroom
management is reduced by addressing both needs on
a common system. Coupling the FFU controls with
sensors creates easy-to-install packages that meet
most facility managers needs for cost and performance. HMI interface systems provide comprehensive facility management that optimize cleanroom
performance, monitor critical performance factors,
alarm and notify when the facility requires
adjustment/attention and captures information.
Conclusion
Compliance with USP 797 and USP
800 will require ongoing certification
updates — often twice annually — to
existing facilities. Easing the burden of
determining when the cleanroom needs
rebalancing or adjustments, facility managers can install non-invasive sensors to
raise their awareness when their facility is
bordering on non-compliance.
Existing facility solutions range from
simple individual sensors mounted in each
room to centralized sensor monitoring systems that capture the measurements, notify
the facility when the cleanroom is compromised, and stores data for documentation
and reference.
New facility construction benefits from
centralized systems that provide FFU con-
trol, exhaust adjustments, and environment
monitoring that provide automatic notifi-
cation (of unexpected variances) and data
storage. Cost-effective monitoring/control
systems allow for airflow (FFU) optimiza-
tion, exhaust adjustment that eases balanc-
ing and certification and provides added
benefits of reducing
energy consumption
and extending filter
media life. These same
systems address sensor
measurement, alarm
notification, and
data storage useful in
monitoring cleanroom
performance stability in-between certification visits.
Howard Abramowitz is President and founder of
AirCare Automation Inc. Howard is actively involved in
the monitoring and control of cleanroom facilities with a
focus on energy efficiency and simplifying monitoring and
compliance. He has many years of experience in power
management and controls systems design. howard@
aircareautomation.com; www.aircareautomation.com
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