THE CREATION OF AEROCLAUS
Researcher Aki Valkeapää from the Oulu Regional Office of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health had an idea about further developing the air curtain technology when working on the “Preventing cold air flows in industrial halls” research project. During the study it was discovered, amongst other things, that there were no proper tools for dimensioning air curtains. Curtain equipment was installed on the basis of rough estimates and the results varied from working to
a certain extent to completely inoperative. Proper tools for measuring the tightness of the curtains were also non-existent.
The study showed that an air curtain blowing from below was the most efficient in preventing
a cold draught, but clearly much remained to be developed in the dimensioning and controlling
of the product. The idea of Aeroclaus was born. The goals set were improving the tightness of
the curtain and reliable dimensioning. Aeroclaus is a result of long and systematic product development. The air curtain was studied and developed for over a decade before it was publicised. The research project began in 1997 and it was managed by Aki Valkeapää.
The participants were the Oulu Regional Office of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health,
the Otaniemi University of Technology, Fläkt Woods Oy and Sah-Ko Oy.
The first prototype of Aeroclaus was introduced at the old Sah-Ko Oy premises in 1998. The prototype's operations were continuously measured and tested until 2004. The results were
used to produce a second generation version. The new prototype was built at the new Sah-Ko Oy premises in 2005. The version in question is still in daily use.
To collect information on user experiences, the device was installed at sites in Oulu, Raahe
and Jyväskylä a year before the unveiling of the product in the autumn of 2008. Experiences
of the device have been very positive. It can be said that the current third generation Aeroclaus
air curtain is well designed and is shown to be the most efficient air curtain on the market for
large doorways .
Researcher Aki Valkeapää from the Oulu Regional Office of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health had an idea about further developing the air curtain technology when working on the “Preventing cold air flows in industrial halls” research project. During the study it was discovered, amongst other things, that there were no proper tools for dimensioning air curtains. Curtain equipment was installed on the basis of rough estimates and the results varied from working to
a certain extent to completely inoperative. Proper tools for measuring the tightness of the curtains were also non-existent.
The study showed that an air curtain blowing from below was the most efficient in preventing
a cold draught, but clearly much remained to be developed in the dimensioning and controlling
of the product. The idea of Aeroclaus was born. The goals set were improving the tightness of
the curtain and reliable dimensioning. Aeroclaus is a result of long and systematic product development. The air curtain was studied and developed for over a decade before it was publicised. The research project began in 1997 and it was managed by Aki Valkeapää.
The participants were the Oulu Regional Office of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health,
the Otaniemi University of Technology, Fläkt Woods Oy and Sah-Ko Oy.
The first prototype of Aeroclaus was introduced at the old Sah-Ko Oy premises in 1998. The prototype's operations were continuously measured and tested until 2004. The results were
used to produce a second generation version. The new prototype was built at the new Sah-Ko Oy premises in 2005. The version in question is still in daily use.
To collect information on user experiences, the device was installed at sites in Oulu, Raahe
and Jyväskylä a year before the unveiling of the product in the autumn of 2008. Experiences
of the device have been very positive. It can be said that the current third generation Aeroclaus
air curtain is well designed and is shown to be the most efficient air curtain on the market for
large doorways .