Fan filter units are increasingly used in contamination control environments such as cleanrooms. They consist of a small fan, controller, and a HEPA/ULPA filter enclosed in a box. They maintain specific airflow, and are commonly installed into ceiling grids, typically 2x4 ft or 4x4 ft.

Until recently, there was no standard procedure of measuring FFU performance or energy use, which presents an obstacle for users who seek to control their energy costs. LBNL has developed a standard method of evaluating fan-filter-unit (FFU) performance, providing a set of useful metrics. This test standard yields baseline information on energy use and air movement performance that can be applied to utility incentive programs.

Among the 17 units tested to-date we have seen power consumption ranging from 100 to 400 watts per FFU, and huge variations in efficiencies (in excess of ten-fold) depending operating conditions, defined in terms of air flow rates (or velocity) and pressure loss elsewhere in recirculation system. Also, for a given typical operating condition we have observed a factor of three or more variation in energy efficiency.

Partnerships - The test procedure is intended for industry use, including fan-filter unit manufacturers, end users, utility companies, and designers. We have built strong partnerships with these industry stakeholders and other industry associations during the development of the standard procedure for testing FFUs' energy performance. Key partners include:

• The Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST)
• Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)
• Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA)
• International SEMATECH
• Suppliers and users

For the construction of large cleanrooms, Texas Instruments and Seagate have required FFU suppliers to perform the LBNL tests.