Spiral Vane or Cowl Mechanism Explained: How It Works, Parts, Diagram, and Uses

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This calculator evaluates the selected comparison Qproxy=CeAv for a circular flue area A=πd²/4. Ce is an entered dimensionless factor, so the result is an airflow proxy—not a tested cowl extraction rating or a prediction of chimney draft.

Spiral Vane Cowl · Selected Airflow-Proxy Ledger

Explore selected circular-area and CeAv airflow-proxy arithmetic without treating it as a tested cowl rating or chimney-draft prediction.

0°

Selected Airflow Proxy
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Same Proxy in cfm
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Factor-Scaled Velocity Proxy
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Selected Circular Area
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Equation Used

A=πd²/4; uproxy=Ce v; Qproxy=CeAv.
Selected scalar proxy only; pressure, rotor aerodynamics, duct losses, stack effect and tested performance are not predicted.
  • The selected flue section is circular.
  • Wind speed is a scalar comparison input, not a resolved local velocity field.
  • Ce is a user-selected dimensionless factor, not a universal efficiency or certified coefficient.
  • Qproxy is simple area-times-scaled-velocity arithmetic.
  • Rotor aerodynamics, wind direction, pressure, duct losses, stack effect, weather and safety are excluded.

Former extraction-rate and draft-velocity labels are narrowed to a comparison proxy and factor-scaled velocity.

Same mechanism and inputs as the interactive calculator.

Selected comparison only

The cross-section identifies wind, a generic rotating-vane cowl and the selected flue diameter. Arrow density and rotor motion are illustrative; they do not solve the external flow, pressure field or rotor speed.

What the calculator determines

Select comparison wind speed, circular flue diameter and a dimensionless factor. The calculator reports exact circular area, Ce times wind speed, and the resulting Qproxy in m³/h and cfm.

Selected proxy ledger

A=πd²/4; uproxy=Ce v; Qproxy=A uproxy=CeAv. The cfm tile is only a unit conversion of the same proxy.

Selected-input example

For v=5 m/s, d=300 mm and Ce=0.16, A≈0.0707 m², uproxy=0.8 m/s and Qproxy≈203.6 m³/h (about 120 cfm).

Proxy, not ventilator performance

Actual flow depends on tested ventilator geometry, wind direction and turbulence, rotor speed and drag, duct pressure losses, stack effect, screens, installation and system operating point. Use manufacturer or standards-based performance data for design.

Questions

Is Ce a universal cowl efficiency?

No. It is a selected comparison factor with no universal physical value.

Does zero wind mean zero chimney flow?

No. The proxy becomes zero, but real buoyancy-driven stack flow may remain.

References

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