Atmosphere Vortex Carbon Filter 12 x 40 | 1700 CFM, RC-48 Carbon

Inside the Vortex Carbon Filter, Pro-Lite 12 x 40

The body carries a 12 in integrated flange and stands 40 in tall. Carbon is virgin RC-48 Australian activated granular, and the filter is rated to remove 99.5% of volatile organic compounds. Recommended maximum airflow is 1700 CFM. Pressure drop at that rate is 125 Pa, which is about 0.5 in of water gauge. Top and bottom are aluminum rather than steel, and that is where the Pro-Lite name comes from. Shipping weight is 66 lb, the figure that decides whether it hangs from the ceiling or sits on a stand. A pre-filter ships with it, wrapped around the outside of the housing. Maximum operating temperature is 175 °F. Atmosphere names the VTX1200, VTX1200L and VBC1200 as the fans matched to this size. Part number is ATPLF1240 with UPC 628507304089. Virgin carbon is the specification worth understanding on any scrubber. Reactivated carbon has already been through a service life and comes back with less pore volume than it started with. RC-48 is a coal-based grade whose pore structure suits the heavier aromatic molecules a flower room produces.

Matching a 12 Inch Carbon Filter to an Exhaust Fan

A 12 inch carbon filter gets matched to a fan rather than to a room. Take the fan's rated output at the static pressure your duct run actually produces, then choose a filter rated above that number. A filter pushed past its rating stops scrubbing, because air crosses the bed faster than the carbon can adsorb. Running well under rating is fine and gives a longer service life. Mount it inside the room on the intake side of the fan, so everything downstream of the filter is already clean. That also holds the room under slight negative pressure, which stops smell pushing out around the door. Keep the pre-filter facing the dirty air and change it on sight rather than on a calendar. A grey pre-filter is costing airflow, and a clogged one is costing the carbon underneath it. The bed itself cannot be washed. Water driven into the pores takes capacity out permanently. Service life depends on how hard the room works it, and on humidity more than anything else. Carbon adsorbs water vapour alongside odour, so a room held wet exhausts a filter faster than a dry one. Hang it level, carry the weight on the frame rather than on the ducting, and leave clearance at the intake end.

Key Features

• 12 in integrated flange: No separate collar to fit, so duct clamps straight on.
• 1700 CFM maximum: Matched to the VTX1200, VTX1200L and VBC1200 fans.
• Virgin RC-48 carbon: Australian activated granular rather than reactivated stock.
• 99.5% VOC removal: Rated across the Pro-Lite line.
• Aluminum top and bottom: Lighter than a steel-ended filter of the same size.
• Pre-filter included: Wraps the outside and takes the dust before the carbon does.
• 175 °F maximum: Rated for the warm air coming off a sealed flower room.

Technical Specifications