A baffled exhaust steam head turns wet exhaust around an internal impact surface so entrained liquid can collect and drain while steam vents upward. Compare the inlet, outlet and annular passage areas. These geometric results do not predict liquid separation, noise reduction or back pressure.
Exhaust Steam Head Interactive Calculator
Inspect the inlet, baffle, annular turn, outlet and drain while comparing their ideal geometric areas.
Equation Used
- Equivalent circular inlet and outlet diameters.
- Concentric shell and baffle for annular area.
- Open geometric areas only.
- No flow coefficient, two-phase behaviour, pressure, strength or code-sizing model.
Geometry-only comparison. The minimum passage ratio is the smaller of annular baffle-clearance area and outlet area divided by inlet area. Discharge coefficients, two-phase flow, separation efficiency, acoustics and transient back pressure are omitted.
Impact, turn and drain
Wet exhaust rises through the inlet and impinges on an internal baffle. Steam turns around the baffle edge and leaves through the upper opening, while separated liquid collects below and reaches a drain passage.
The animation keeps the vent and drain paths distinct and does not imply that every droplet is removed.
Atmospheric vent service
A vent head can reduce liquid carry-over from an atmospheric steam discharge. Suitability depends on the actual service, allowable back pressure, drainage, materials, weather exposure and applicable piping and safety requirements.
Open-area comparison
For circular diameters, area is pi D²/4. Annular clearance area is pi(Dshell²-Dbaffle²)/4. The displayed minimum passage ratio is min(Aout,Aannulus)/Ain.
This area ratio does not measure flow loss or separation performance.
Reading the geometry
A ratio below one identifies an ideal open area smaller than the inlet. A ratio above one does not prove low back pressure because real flow depends on turns, contractions, two-phase behaviour and discharge coefficients.
Scope and limitations
The model does not predict droplet capture, noise reduction, rain exclusion, drain capacity, pressure loss, erosion, corrosion or safe relief-system operation. Those require a rated design and service-specific analysis.
Questions
Is minimum passage ratio an efficiency score?
No. It is only an area ratio.
Where does separated water go?
It falls into the collection region and leaves through the drain path.
Can this size a safety-valve vent?
No. Safety discharge piping requires code-compliant pressure-loss and reaction-force analysis.
References
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