All About Tek-Air



		What we believe
		Tek-Air has provided laboratory airflow control systems since our incorporation in 1983. The experience gained through the completion of hundreds of installations, for a wide variety of customers, is reflected in our design philosophy. Our design for each project is intended to embody the following key elements of this philosophy.
		“If a parameter is important” “Measure it directly”
		Be it airflow, space pressure, or face velocity; if a parameter is important enough to be controlled, it should be measured directly. Most competitors of fume hood controls measure sash open area only and then position a calibrated mechanical volume regulator (springs, bearings, and levers) to achieve volumetric flow control.
		Tek-Air has designed fume hood controls for many specialized Hood applications using three different methods of control.
		Control based on the Velocity Measurement of the air drawn from the room through the open sash over our velocity sensor. Virtually any occurrence which affects the face velocity is detected by the sensor, even those which are caused by improper use of the hood. This measured face velocity is used as the parameter for the controller to change the flow in the duct to maintain face velocity set point.
		Control based on Sash Position with Flow Measurement is an enhanced version of what our competitors provide using the sash position to determine the volume set point for the hood. Tek-Air takes accuracy and safety a step further by providing flow measurement in the fume hood duct where the volume set point is used as an input to the controller which is monitoring and controlling the duct air flow.
		Control based on Constant Volume or Two Position Control where a constant face velocity at the sash is not as critical as the two other methods. Even though this is simpler to accomplish with less hardware, Tek-Air still measures and controls the duct air flow, and provides face velocity monitors to alarm individuals when the hood is outside of acceptable limits.
		Tek-Air Actually Measures the Volumetric Flow Rate. Tek-Air measures duct air volume with sensors which have been specifically designed for laboratory airflow measurement. VorTek sensors are digital in operation, immune to fouling and calibration drift, offering a wide turndown. Rather than position a mechanical volume regulator and assume that the airflow is sufficient to insure worker safety,
		“Keep it simple. Only incorporate the minimum number if devices required to accomplish control objectives.”
		The majority of laboratories are a combination of constant volume and variable volume exhaust valves each having an affect on the room. All variable volume fume hoods require accurate measurement for safety, but other less critical exhaust flows in the lab can be combined to a single point of measurement, simplifying the design and ensuring all flows are monitored for offset flow tracking resulting in stable room pressurization. Tek-Air offers simple, unitary, and easy to maintain control valve assemblies without complicated external interdependent mechanical assemblies to control larger ducts in both round and rectangular configurations.
		“Utilize the best components available”
		Given the fact that a Tek-Air design minimizes the quality of control devices, it becomes economically feasible to apple the best quality devices to the application; industrial strength Tek-Air products.
		The elements of “simple design” and “the best components available” are a powerful combination. Every building operator knows that fewer components means less maintenance and that high quality components require service less frequently. These two factors work together to slash long term maintenance requirements and costs. Again, this fact will be appreciated years after your project is completed and out of warranty.