AIR WATTS - TECHNICAL DATA - LAMB ELECTRIC
An AirWatt (or air power) is a measure of power in classical terms of physical units of force, distance and time.
More simply put, it is a measure of the work done in a given period of time.
Mechanical power is also measured in watts, with 746 watts equal to one Horsepower.
AirWatts measure the power available to perform the cleaning function of a vacuum
cleaning system.
It correlates closely to the dirt pick-up and solution transport capabilities of the
extraction equipment.
AirWatts has also become a recommended method of determining the power of
a extraction vacuum cleaning system by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the
standards agency for the vacuum industry.
To calculate AirWatts, the vacuum (in inches of water lift) and the air flow (in cubic feet of air per minute) must be known.
Ametek measures the vacuum on an ASTM test box by recording the vacuum at a number of orifice points and calculates airflow based on the vacuum recorded.
The formula used for calculating AirWatts is:
AirWatts = Vacuum (inches of water) x Air Flow (cubic feet/minute) / 8.5
The maximum number of AirWatts generally occurs at an orifice point between 3/4" and 5/8".
Most extraction equipment has been designed to operate at an effective orifice in this range to take advantage of the maximum efficiencies available from the vacuum motor.
The
effective orifice of a vacuum cleaning system is the total of the resistance to air flow that the system places on the motor.
These would include the filtration system; hose length, construction and diameter; cleaner housing design and most important, floor wand tools.
The final test of a extractor would be to determine AirWatts at the end of the hose as this will measure the amount of effective work being done by the system.
Speedster Hi-Airwatt LX Extractor Link
This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 31 March, 2013.