I. Core Difference: Airflow Direction
Vertical flow workbench
Airflow direction: Clean air flows vertically downward from the top of the workbench, passes through the operation area, and is discharged from the bottom or side.
Features: The airflow coverage is uniform, effectively isolating the operation area from the external environment and reducing cross-contamination.
Horizontal flow workbench
Airflow direction: Clean air is horizontally blown out from the back or side of the workbench, flows horizontally through the operation area, and is finally discharged from the front or the other side.
Characteristics: The airflow path is short and directly acts on the operating surface, but it is easily disturbed by external airflow.
Ii. Differences in Structure and Working Principle
| Dimensión | Vertical flow workbench | Horizontal flow workbench |
| Fan position | It is usually located at the top and works in conjunction with a high-efficiency air filter (HEPA) to supply air downward | Mostly on the back or sides, the fan is linked with the HEPA for horizontal air supply |
| Operating space | The top is unobstructed and the vertical space is spacious, making it suitable for handling large samples | There is ample space in the horizontal direction, but there is an air supply structure at the back, which may restrict the placement of large equipment |
| Air flow circulation | Vertically downward, part of the airflow passes through the bottom return air filter, which has better energy-saving performance | Horizontal unidirectional flow, long return air path, and relatively high energy consumption |
Iii. Differences in Applicable Scenarios
Vertical flow workbench
Advantages: The clean area is fully covered, which can prevent the contamination of samples by operators and reduce the impact of volatile substances from samples on the human body.
Applicable fields
The electronics industry (such as chip assembly, semiconductor testing);
The pharmaceutical industry (such as drug research and development, production of sterile preparations);
Microbiological experiments (such as pathogen culture, cell cloning).
Horizontal flow workbench
Advantages: Wide operating field of vision, large hand movement space, suitable for scenarios that require close-range operation.
Applicable fields
The food industry (such as food inspection, microbial counting);
Optical industry (such as lens cleaning, optical component assembly);
General laboratory (such as sample weighing, routine reagent preparation).
Iv. Comparison of Advantages and Disadvantages
| Tipo | Advantages | Disadvantage |
|
Vertical flow workbench |
1. High cleanliness and strong anti-cross-contamination ability; 2. Good energy-saving performance; 3. Protect the operators and samples |
1. The top structure may block some light; 2. When handling large samples, the airflow is prone to obstruction |
| Horizontal flow workbench |
1. Good operating field of vision and flexible hand movement; 2. The equipment has a low height and is easy to install. 3. Low maintenance cost |
1. It is susceptible to external air flow interference and has a limited clean range; 2. The volatile substances in the sample may affect the operators |
