Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling on effect of fume extraction
In anodizing industries, fume hoods are essential at the workplace since long term exposure to the acid fumes released may lead to adverse health effect. The design of fume hood is always referring to the guidelines in ACGIH’s Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice, yet there is no definitive validation regarding the guidelines stated in the manual. A numerical simulation using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was conducted to study the effective region of a slot fume hood. With assumption on that turbulence in the suction hood does not affect the slot velocity, the model of simulation focus only on the cross-sectional area of slot entry. From the results, it is clear that the effective region of a slot fume hood with designated exhaust air flow rate is more than half the width and height of solution tank. Meanwhile from the case studies, further increasing the slot velocity of a single slot fume hood is capable to reduce more hazardous fume form the work place, but it is not as effective as using two fume hoods. Two fume hoods can reduce the concentration of fume to a value below the permissible threshold limit with better power efficiency and cost effective.