Effective chimney height (simple plume rise)

The plume rise Δh and effective stack height He are estimated from the buoyancy and momentum of the exhaust gas and the stability of the atmosphere.

Important notes (educational/approximate use)
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Presets and sharing

Inputs

Advanced settings

Results

Effective chimney height He
Plume rise Δh
Modified chimney height hs'
branch
Domination judgment
usage formula
Wind speed u_eff used for calculation
Show intermediate value
ΔT (K)
Fb (m^4/s^3)
Fm (m^4/s^2)
ΔTc (K)
s (1/s^2)
√s (1/s)

Assumptions & limits

How to use this calculator effectively

This guide helps you use Effective chimney height (simple plume rise) in a repeatable way: define a baseline, change one variable at a time, and interpret outputs with explicit assumptions before you share or act on results.

How it works

The page applies deterministic logic to your inputs and shows rounded output for readability. Treat it as a comparison workflow: run one baseline case, adjust a single parameter, and measure both absolute and percentage deltas. If a result seems off, verify units, time basis, and sign conventions before drawing conclusions. This approach keeps your analysis reproducible across teammates and sessions.

When to use

Use this page when you need a fast estimate, a classroom check, or a practical what-if comparison. It works best for planning and prioritization steps where you need direction and magnitude quickly before investing in deeper modeling, manual spreadsheets, or formal external review.

Common mistakes to avoid

Interpretation and worked example

Run a baseline scenario and keep that result visible. Next, modify one assumption to reflect your realistic alternative and compare direction plus size of change. If the direction matches your domain expectation and the size is plausible, your setup is usually coherent. If not, check hidden defaults, boundary conditions, and interpretation notes before deciding which scenario to adopt.

See also

FAQ

What is the effective chimney height He?

This is the representative height used in diffusion calculations, which is the sum of the physical chimney height hs and the plume rise amount Δh. The higher the He content, the easier the ground surface concentration will fall.

How do you choose the stability (A to F)?

As a guideline, the stronger the solar radiation during the day, the more unstable it is (A to C), the more likely it is to be neutral (D) if it is cloudy or windy, and the more stable it will be (E to F) if there is strong radiation cooling at night.

Can it be used for regulatory purposes?

No. This tool is for educational use only. Please use the official model in practice as it omits building downwash and terrain effects.

What should I do first on this page?

Start with the minimum required inputs or the first action shown near the primary button. Keep optional settings at defaults for a baseline run, then change one setting at a time so you can explain what caused each output change.

Why does this page differ from another tool?

Different pages often use different defaults, units, rounding rules, or assumptions. Align those settings before comparing outputs. If differences remain, compare each intermediate step rather than only the final number.

How to use Effective chimney height (simple plume rise) effectively

What this calculator does

This page is for estimating outcomes by changing inputs in one controlled workflow. The model keeps your focus on variables, not output shape. Start with stable assumptions, then test sensitivity by changing one key input at a time to observe directional impact.

Input meaning and unit policy

Each input has an expected unit and a typical range. For reliable interpretation, check whether you are using the same unit system, period, and base assumptions across all runs. Unit mismatch is the most common source of unexpected drift in numeric results.

Use-case sequence

A practical sequence is: first run with defaults, then create a baseline log, then run one alternative scenario, and finally compare only the changed output metric. This sequence reduces cognitive load and prevents false pattern recognition in early experiments.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid changing too many variables at once, mixing incompatible data sources, and interpreting a one-time output without checking robustness. A single contradictory input can flip conclusions, so keep each experiment minimal and document assumptions as part of your note.

Interpretation guidance

Review both magnitude and direction. Direction tells you whether a strategy moves outcomes in the desired direction, while magnitude helps you judge practicality. If both agree, you can proceed; if not, rebuild the baseline and verify constraints before deciding.