Kitchen Ventilation Systems: The Main Course and Tasty Sides

In the February 2022 blog, Tim H. walked us through the essentials required to design an effective Kitchen Ventilation System (KVS). The two (2) main pieces of equipment being the hood and the exhaust fan, but the hood and the exhaust fan are just the appetizer to our KVS meal. Let us take a closer look at what else awaits us at the table.

Kitchen Hood

There are many parts and pieces that go into the design of the kitchen hood itself. After all, the kitchen exhaust hood is the component that captures the grease-laden, malodorous air from the immediate cooking and baking space. The hood is also designed to protect kitchen personnel and equipment should a fire break out and can also provide ventilation air in kitchens that do not have the space to do it otherwise. How can a kitchen hood accomplish all of this?

Greenheck’s Type I Grease Hoods are designed for grease-producing equipment – think Heavy Duty rating. The hoods can be single-wall or double-wall, which provides one-inch (1 in.) thick insulation between the two front panels for strength and rigidity. If required, exhaust-only supply air can be introduced though an external supply plenum located at the face of the hood. Hoods can be manufactured in single or multiple section lengths. Wall Canopy Hoods are mounted to the wall above cooking equipment, while island hoods and single or double v-bank hoods are over a row or two of equipment where no wall exists. Island hoods can be seen from all directions and will have four (4) finished sides. Proximity Hoods are for light or medium duty cooking applications in areas with low ceilings. This hood sits closer to the cooking equipment allowing for lower exhaust rates and smaller hoods. Hoods are available in sectional lengths from three (3) to sixteen (16) feet. Longer heads are available in multiple sections to appear as one hood but utilize continuous capture.

Type II Hoods are designed to capture heat and condensate from non-grease producing appliances such as ovens or dishwashers. These models include a gutter and have an optional drain connection. These models are geared more toward staff comfort and fume removal. Hood lengths are also available in sectional lengths from three (3) to seven (7) feet.

Kitchen hoods can be designed for residential and commercial use. When you need a custom, state-of-the art Type I or Type II system for serious commercial cooking, look no further than Kees. The Kees Kitchen Hood can be fabricated in any size to cover any arrangement and type of cooking equipment. Their continually welded, all stainless-steel construction has a sophisticated look, is easy to clean and delivers optimal performance under the most strenuous conditions.

Kitchen Hood Accessories

Kitchen hood filters are used to combat grease buildup. They range from light-duty baffles to Greenheck’s proprietary Grease X-tractor™ with Grease Grabber™. The baffle filter works on inertial force by turning the airstream back and forth once while traveling through the filters, capturing grease particles. Baffles are the least efficient filter design on the market. The Grease Grabber™ incorporates a primary stage stainless steel centrifugal filter as well as secondary stage filters working on principles of interception. The dual filter grease extraction process has a removal efficiency of 100% at eight (8) microns.

Auto Scrubbers can be used in conjunction with the filters. Scrubbers consist of a hot water detergent spray through a full-length manifold which cleans the entire length of the exhaust plenum upon fan shutdown. The extractor housing terminates in a pitched, full length collection trough with stainless steel drain fitting.

For applications where an owner has close neighbors to consider or a stiff code to contend with, a Pollution Control Unit (PCU) is an option for smoke and odor removal. A PCU incorporates activated carbon panels to remove odor molecules prior to discharging the air, reducing the impact of the kitchen exhaust to the surrounding area.

An alternative method of treating grease and odor laden air is by using AirMaid’s V-series PCU. This product uses a Corona Glass cell which produces ozone by electrical charge to break down grease into water and dry minerals. The unit is installed outside of the dirty airstream which extends the product’s lifetime and requires very little maintenance. The V-series reduces duct cleaning and energy costs, has very little impact on the environment and has an incredibly small footprint. Tests have proven that the AirMaid can reduce odor by up to 96%.

All Commercial kitchen hoods are designed with fire suppression systems. Be sure to check with your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to find out the requirements for your kitchen hood and your building. Remember, certain cities with older buildings that do not have a fire suppression system in the building may require you to have additional accessories on your kitchen ventilation system. Horn strobes and specialty gas valves may be required. Greenheck even makes a fire-ready range hood for residential kitchens (GRRS).

Exhaust Systems

Various types of exhaust fans can be used in a kitchen hood setting. The most requested fan for a Type I Hood is Greenheck’s Centrifugal Upblast Exhaust (CUE/CUBE) fan. The CUE is designed to discharge air upwards and away from the roof line, where grease can accumulate and cause danger with the slippery discharge from the hood system. This fan can also be wall mounted. The CUE comes in direct or belt drive and is a single piece, continuously welded, spun aluminum housing.

For a Type II application, Greenheck’s Centrifugal Downblast Exhaust (G/GB) fan is ideal for a downward discharge of relatively clean air. This model comes with certifications for seismic, high wind and hurricane.

Consider Greenheck’s kitchen blowers (USF) for continuous high-temperature, grease laden exhaust. Various discharge configurations are available, as well as corrosion resistant coatings and spark resistance. Kitchen Inline fans (QEI/QEID) can handle many applications while offering in-duct mounting, indoor or outdoor locations, ceiling or base-mount.

If your design calls for a heavy-duty grease duct system, Jeremias’ CK model duct is your answer. Used for Type I or II hoods, the stainless steel CK duct comes in single-wall, double-wall reduced clearance, double-wall zero clearance and two-hour fire rated. The duct system connects with Jeremias’ patent-pending overlapping joint system and is a no-weld alternative to field-welded black steel.

Make-Up Air Unit

In a kitchen environment, Makeup Air units replace the air being exhausted through the kitchen hood with fresh, lightly tempered air from the outdoors. Without makeup air, your building will have pressurization issues – back drafts, doors standing open or being sucked closed, poor temperature and odor control.

Greenheck manufacturers a Direct Gas (DGX) and Indirect Gas (IGX) makeup air handler with various features, from 100% Outdoor Air, Recirculation and VAV options, direct or belt-driven arrangements and either Packaged Direct Expansion, Chilled Water or Evaporative cooling, Indirect Gas, Hot Water or Heat Pump.

These are just a few of the Kitchen Ventilation System pieces that we represent at Brucker. Contact your local Brucker representative for help with your next Kitchen Ventilation System design!

References:

1. H., Tim. February 25, 2022. Avoiding Unwanted Odors from a Kitchen Ventilation System. The Brucker Company Blog. https://www.bruckerco.com/avoid-unwanted-odors-kitchen-ventilation-system/
2. Greenheck Fan Corporation. 2020. Kitchen Ventilation Systems: Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Hoods, Filters, External Supply Plenums and Accessories brochure. https://greenheck-cms-prod.azureedge.net/atg-cms-prod/docs/default-source/pdf-downloads/catalogs/kvshoods_catalog.pdf?sfvrsn=4c39ad92_6
3. Kees, Inc. 2023. Products / Kitchen Hoods. https://www.kees.com/products/kitchen-hoods
4. Greenheck Fan Corporation. August 2020. Grease Hoods – Type 1: Wall Canopy Hood Options and Accessories brochure. https://content.greenheck.com/public/DAMProd/Original/10012/KVSOptions_%20WallCanopy.pdf
5. Greenheck Fan Corporation. Auto Scrubber. https://www.greenheck.com/products/kitchen-ventilation-systems/kitchen-ventilation-products/kitchen-exhaust-hoods/grease-hoods-%E2%80%93-type-i/auto-scrubber
6. Greenheck Fan Corporation. Engineered Kitchen Ventilation Systems: Grease Trapper Pollution Control Unit brochure. 2017. https://greenheck-cms-prod.azureedge.net/atg-cms-prod/docs/default-source/rep-documents/product-resources/greasetrapper_catalog.pdf?sfvrsn=25331c23_7
7. AirMaid® by Growth Team. 2022. Commercial Kitchen / V-Series Pollution Control Unit. https://www.airmaid.com/en/about-3-4
8. Greenheck Fan Corporation. 2022. Fire Ready Range Hood (GRRS) brochure. https://www.greenheck.com/products/kitchen-ventilation-systems/kitchen-ventilation-products/kitchen-exhaust-hoods/fire-ready-range-hoods
9. Greenheck Fan Corporation. Centrifugal Upblast Exhaust Fans. https://www.greenheck.com/products/air-movement/fans/roof-mounted-fans/centrifugal-upblast-exhaust-fans
10. Greenheck Fan Corporation. Centrifugal Downblast Exhaust Fan. https://www.greenheck.com/en/products/kitchen-ventilation-systems/kitchen-ventilation-products/kitchen-exhaust-fans/kitchen-centrifugal-downblast-exhaust-fans
11. Greenheck Fan Corporation. Kitchen Blowers. https://www.greenheck.com/en/products/kitchen-ventilation-systems/kitchen-ventilation-products/kitchen-exhaust-fans/kitchen-blowers
12. Greenheck Fan Corporation. Kitchen Inline Fans. https://www.greenheck.com/en/products/kitchen-ventilation-systems/kitchen-ventilation-products/kitchen-exhaust-fans/kitchen-inline-fans
13. Jeremias Exhaust Systems. SWCK Single Wall Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Ductwork. https://jeremiasinc.com/commercial-exhaust-systems/sw-single-wall-systems/swck/
14. Greenheck Fan Corporation. Makeup Air. https://www.greenheck.com/products/air-conditioning/make-up-air