Enter the fuel consumption rate (by mass) and the fuel sulfur content into the calculator to estimate a chimney/stack height using a common SO₂-based rule-of-thumb.

Chimney Height Calculator

Pick your scenario, enter the values, and get the recommended chimney height.

Residential (3-2-10 rule)
Industrial (SO₂)

Chimney Height Formula

This calculator uses a commonly cited empirical rule-of-thumb that relates stack height to sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission rate. It first estimates SO₂ emissions from the fuel burn rate and fuel sulfur content (assuming 100% conversion of sulfur to SO₂), then applies the stack-height relation.

Q = 2 \cdot FR \cdot (SC/100)
H = 14 \cdot Q^{0.3}

Variables:

  • H is the chimney/stack height (meters)
  • Q is the estimated SO₂ emission rate (kg/hour)
  • FR is the fuel consumption rate (kg/hour of fuel, by mass)
  • SC is the fuel sulfur content (mass %, w/w)

To calculate the chimney height, first compute the sulfur dioxide emission rate Q from the fuel burn rate and sulfur content, then compute H from Q. Because regulatory requirements vary and dispersion depends on site conditions, treat the result as an estimate and verify against applicable standards.

What is Chimney Height?

Chimney height is the vertical distance from the base of a chimney to its top. It is an important design parameter that affects the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere. The height of a chimney is determined based on several factors, including the type of fuel used, the rate of fuel consumption, the sulfur content of the fuel, and local environmental regulations. Proper chimney height is crucial for minimizing the impact of emissions on air quality and ensuring compliance with environmental standards.

How to Calculate Chimney Height?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Chimney Height.

  1. First, determine the fuel consumption rate (FR) in kilograms per hour (by mass of fuel).
  2. Next, determine the fuel sulfur content (SC) as a mass percentage (w/w).
  3. Estimate the SO₂ emission rate using Q = 2 × FR × (SC / 100) (kg/hour), assuming sulfur converts to SO₂.
  4. Use the formula H = 14 × Q0.3 to estimate the chimney/stack height (H) in meters.
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Fuel consumption rate (FR) = 200 kg/hour

Sulfur content (SC) = 3%