The EnviroVent 2 is a Downdraft Ventilation System designed to
extract fumes from your electric kiln and vent them outdoors before they
have a chance to enter the room. Because it is a Down-Draft
Ventilation System the EnviroVent 2 also improves the firing atmosphere
in the kiln while it is protecting you from the odorous fumes that can
be emitted from certain clay bodies and glazes when they are fired.
What's New?
VENT 2 KILNS W/ 1 MOTOR
Now you can vent 2 Kilns with one vent. The new 140
CFM Motor allows you to vent 2 kilns up to 12 Cubic Feet each, or one
kiln between 12 and 24 Cubic Feet, with one Envirovent 2 Motor.
WALL MOUNTED MEANS NO HEAT AND NO VIBRATION
The new design is wall mounted. This moves the vent
motor away from under the kiln so the motor is no longer exposed to the
heat and can no longer transfer any vibration into the kiln.
SPRING
LOADED PLENUM CUP RETAINS SEAL THROUGHOUT FIRING
As your kiln heats up the brick expands. When it expands the hot face of
the kiln floor, the inside, expands more than the cold face or
underside. This causes the slab to cup, or become slightly concave on
the bottom. The result is that the center of the kiln floor moves upward
at higher temperatures. The spring loaded cup follows the floor ensuring
at tight seal throughout the firing process.
NEGATIVE PRESSURE MEANS NO LEAKING
Since the vent is wall mounted it pulls the air
through the duct work instead of pushing it. This means if you were to
ever form a leak in your duct work the fumes would not be pushed into
the room.
ABILITY TO CONTROL WITH SKUTT KILNMASTER OR
GLASS MASTER CONTROLLER
Now with the purchase of the new Skutt EnviroLink you
can control exactly when the Envirovent 2 turns on and off during a
firing on a GlassMaster or KilnMaster kiln.

Here's How It Works
A designated number of holes are drilled
in the lid and floor of the kiln either in the factory or on
location. A spring loaded plenum cup (see diagram) is placed under
the kiln and tensioned between the floor of the kiln and the floor under
the kiln. The holes in the floor of the kiln are drilled in a
tight pattern so the plenum cup can cover them all. The other end
of the cup is connected by 3" ducting to a fan which is generally
mounted on the wall. On the opposite end of the fan the air is
ducted through the wall to the outside air. The plenum cup has 3
additional holes from which it draws room temperature air to mix with
the heated air from the kiln. This serves 2 purposes. Since the
kiln air is mixed with cooler room air the air coming out of the end of
the vent is never hotter than an average hair dryer. Secondly, the
holes in the plenum cup are sized to reduce the vacuum on the kiln
chamber so only a small amount of air is moving through the kiln.
This ensures the firing time is not affected and the ware is not at
risk.
Better Heat Uniformity
Most people are aware of the fact that heat rises.
The EnviroVent 2 helps compensate for this rising heat by creating a
flow of air moving back down the kiln chamber. As the air moves in
a downward direction it is also deflected by ware and shelves causing
turbulence. This turbulence helps move heat to cooler areas of the
kiln like the center.
Better Kiln Atmosphere
When you are firing in an electric kiln you are
firing in an Oxidation atmosphere. The EnviroVent 2 helps bring in more
oxygen and flush out fumes which can form a reduction atmosphere.
A reduction atmosphere can be desirable in a gas or wood fired kiln
however it only causes problems in an electric kiln. Your elements
will last longer, your glazes will be clearer and brighter and you will
help prevent glazes migrating between pieces.
Better Working Environment
Prior to the introduction of venting systems it was still necessary to
vent the kiln. This was done by propping the lid open with a wedge of
brick until the kiln reached 1000°F (538 °C). Not only was this
inconvenient, it also radiated the fumes right into the room.
A Better Vent
A new benefit of the EnviroVent 2 is that it is now a
Negative Pressure System. This means that since the motor is
pulling the air instead of pushing the air, if there is ever a hole in
the ducting the fumes will not escape into the room. Also since
the motor is now mounted away.