How is the suction power of a chimney calculated?
One of the most important factors to consider when selecting the best chimney for your kitchen is the suction power.
Simply put, this is the capacity of your kitchen chimney to suck the gaseous wastes freely floating in your kitchen.
It is more or less a relationship between the volume of air sucked and the amount of time. As such, it is measured in cubic meters per hour (m3 / hr).
So, how will you know the right suction power for your kitchen? Well, this article is aimed at answering that question, but first, here are some of the factors to consider.
Factors Affecting Suction Power
Duct bends
This factor increases resistance to airflow. Therefore, if there are many duct bends, then more power will be required to drive the air through this channel to the desired destination.
As such, the number of duct bends is directly proportional to the amount of suction power needed.
Cooking habits
If you use many spices in your food while cooking, there tends to be more steam produced. This is also the case for those who cook in their kitchen regularly.
Both situations will demand that you purchase a kitchen chimney with high suction power.
Size of the ducts
Size here refers to both the length and diameter of the ducts. Smaller diameter, as you might have guessed, builds too much resistance.
As such, you will need more power to drive the air through, which is the same aspect for longer ducts. A combination of the two will require even more suction power for your kitchen to be effectively ventilated.
Calculation of Suction Power
If you have a more spacious house, then you will require more suction power. The rule of thumb is that the chimney has to fill the kitchen with fresh air at least ten times within one hour.
As such, the first thing you’ll need to know is the volume of the kitchen.
The volume of a room is calculated by finding the product of the length, width, and height of the space.
This product is the volume of your kitchen, but you’ll need to multiply it by ten to find the amount of volume that should be filled by the chimney within one hour.
So, for example, if your kitchen measures 5 by 5 by 3, the volume will be 75 cubic meters.
Your ideal chimney should supply 750 cubic meters of fresh air within one hour (75*10). Therefore, the suction power you will need will be 750m3/hr.
Conclusion
You need to find the right suction power for your kitchen to avoid using more energy or having poor suction mechanism.
The larger the room, the more the power required. However, some variables, such as your cooking habits, duct bends, and size of the ducts, could impact the final result.
Therefore, as you install, make sure you use the least bends possible on your ducts.
Also, if your cooking style brings more steam, then make sure to consult with the manufacturer’s manual on how to increase the power since this may vary with brands.
