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K&N Engineering, Inc. Manufacturer of the World's Best Filters

K&N ENGINEERING AIRFLOW TESTING PROTOCOL


 
K&N Engineering performs all airflow testing on a SuperFlow Corporation SF-1020 flow bench.  The SF-1020 is a computerized flow bench capable of measuring airflow rates up to 1020 cubic feet per minute (cfm) at test pressures of up to 50 inches of water. 

The procedure K&N has developed for performing airflow testing is as follows:

1)  Check SF-1020 calibration using the test orifice plate supplied by the manufacturer.  The airflow through the test orifice plate, with both the 1.875 and the .312 holes open, at 10”, 25” and 50” of H2O pressure differentials should read as follows: 10”=150 cfm, 25”=240 cfm and 50”=340 cfm.  This calibration check shall be performed before testing has begun in the morning and also before the afternoon test session.

2)  For testing round or flanged conical air filters, one of three radiused entry plates will be installed on the air intake duct of the SF-1020.  A plate will be selected with an entry diameter closest to the inside diameter of the filter.  These plates have hole diameters of 5”, 7.375” and 10” with a .250” entry radius and incorporate a Dwyer Instruments 166-12 pitot / static pressure tube to read the static pressure inside the filter element.  The filter to be tested is to be centered over the hole in the entry plate. An appropriate diameter, 0.250” thick, aluminum top plate is used to seal the top of round air filters.

3)  For testing flat panel air filters, the panel filter air box will be installed on the air intake duct of the SF-1020. The plenum of the box measures 17” long x 10.5” wide x 5.75” deep. The bottom of the box has a 9” diameter hole with a 0.500” entry radius. A Dwyer 166-12 pitot/static tube is positioned in the lower corner of the plenum. The top of the box features 4 adjustable slides to accommodate various size panel filters. The panel air filter to be tested is to be placed in the air box and the slides adjusted to provide a positive seal on all 4 sides. 

4)  Connect the static pressure tap of the SF-1020 to the static pressure side of the Dwyer 166-12 ( the pitot tube tap of Dwyer 166-12 is to be capped ).

5)  Program the SF-1020 flow computer to maintain a test pressure of -1.5” H2O.

6)  To determine the appropriate flow range for the filter under test, a preliminary flow test must be performed. Select flow range #10 (1000 cfm ) Start the flow bench motor and allow the test pressure to stabilize at –1.5” H2O. Observe the cfm reading on the digital readout. Shut off the flow bench motor and select the flow range that is one step higher than the preliminary test reading. 

7)  The airflow test may now be run. Push the motor start switch. Allow the test pressure to stabilize at –1.5” H20. The operator will then freeze the digital display reading at exactly –1.50” H2O and record the cfm reading. 

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