CREO – new software for planning air filtration systems for cleanrooms

CREO - new software for the planning of air filtration systems for cleanrooms

What should an air handling system for cleanrooms be equipped with to not only achieve the required air quality but also keep the lifecycle costs of the filter media as low as possible? To efficiently answer these equally important and complex questions, Camfil Farr has developed the optimization program CREO. The software assists design engineers and cleanroom technicians in determining the optimal air filtration system while simultaneously reducing energy costs. CREO stands for "Clean Room Energy Optimization" and is a fast yet precise tool for creating various cleanroom configurations based on the design parameters of a cleanroom and comparing different design alternatives.

In addition to the high requirements for air purity, energy efficiency plays an increasingly important role in the planning and outfitting of cleanrooms. This complicates the selection of tailored ventilation systems, especially for the microelectronics, pharmaceutical, and food industries, as well as for research, with particular consideration of upcoming lifecycle costs. To facilitate these tasks, Camfil Farr has adapted its already established design program CREO for the European market. After entering various design parameters, professionals, builders, investors, and future operators of cleanrooms receive a precise analysis of the planned cleanroom in the first step. This includes, among other things, the costs of the filter system over a predefined lifecycle and the potential optimization options related to energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and filter replacement costs. The data required for designing a cleanroom are derived from the intended room geometry and usage by personnel, considering possible contamination sources, as well as the specific equipment of the cleanroom and air conditioning system.

Considering international industry standards (such as ISO 14644, EN 779:2012, and Eurovent Energy Classification 4/11), various technically current housing and filter configurations can be generated and compared in terms of efficiency and lifecycle costs. Additionally, individual values such as expected CO2 emissions can be retrieved using the program.

The results achieved with this tool serve to help planners and architects verify calculations for tenders and specific orders — and to evaluate planning proposals submitted by clients accordingly.